Celtic Park | Other Sports at Celtic Park | About Celtic
Details
Ref: Pedestrianism
Period: 19th Century
Pedestrianism
‘Pedestrianism‘ was a 19th-century sporting form of competitive walking, often professional and funded by wagering, from which the modern sport of race-walking developed. The distances were long and before organised sports like football it was a bit of a competition. Gambling was the main reason behind its ‘popularity’.
Now it’s been superseded by the speed-walking events at the Olympics, or simply rebranded.
This curious archaic sport held an event at Celtic Park in 1896 pitting an English and American Champion against each other.
Forgive us for not being enthralled by this event, but thankfully for the spectators this one at Celtic Park was a relatively short one. Some of these contests could last all day.
Some wits might add that walking & doddling are still too often a common event on the field to this day.
1927 Seven Miles Walking Championships at Celtic Park, 16th April; GT Galloway leading
