VERY RARE! antique 1909 BOSTON MARATHON MEDAL runners finishers (not 2013) NR!

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Historic 1909 Boston Marathon Medal Auction to benefit: My Grandmother (90%)& Boston Charities (10%) You are bidding on an extremely rare antique 1909 Boston Marathon medal. Over 100 years old!!! There were only 164 runners in the 1909 race so I must assume that this medal is 1 of 164 ever made. Only 73 people actually finished the race so it could even be 1 of 73??? One of very few that are actually left! The front of the medal reads: BOSTON ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION - 1887 The back of the medal reads: Marathon Race – April 19 th 1909 There is also a light engraving on the back that is hard to make out. There appears to be a “1”and possibly a second “1.” Please refer to the photos. There is also a “makers mark” on the very bottom of the back side. It reads: Dieges & Clust 129 Tremont St Boston. Dieges & Clust was founded in 1898 and were renowned specialist gold &silversmiths. The company ceased trading in 1980 and their successor, Herff Jones, Inc., continue the Dieges & Clust tradition of premiere craftsmanship producing prestigious medals for the Olympic Games, Congressional Medal of Honor, the Heisman Trophy, the National Football League and more. About the … 1909 BOSTON MARATHON Quick Facts: The only time a NH person has won! The first time a cheater was caught! One of the more historic races due to the 97 degree heat on April 19 th , 1909! Only 164 runners in 1909 (Now almost 25,000 compete)! 181 Runners signed up, 164started … only 73 finished! Henri Renaud of Nashua,NH won… he was only 19 years old! 13th Boston Marathon — Monday, April 19, 1909 Although a record of 164 runners answered the starter’s gun, the biggest story was the heat, which saw the temperature climb to 97 degrees. The intolerable conditions forced 91 entrants to exit early, and allowed the lead to change hands on nine occasions through 20 miles. New Hampshire mill hand Henri Renaud emerged from the fray to claim victory. He passed through Framingham in 53rd place, and, with two miles remaining, passed a weary Harry Jensen. Only Renaud was able to keep running without stopping over the final miles.1. Henri Renaud (NH)2:53:366. Joseph P. McHugh (MA)3:01:522. Harry Jensen (NY)2:57:137. Edward G. Ryder (MA)3:02:483. Patrick J. Grant (NY)2:57:178. Carl D. Schlobohm (NY)3:06:104. James F. Crowley (NY)2:59:429. Edward L. McTiernan (MA)3:08:085. Samuel A. Mellor, Jr. (NY)3:00:5310. Robert A. Fowler (MA)3:09:31 RUNNERS CAUGHT CHEATING! > 1909 Howard Pearce got a ride in a car after dropping out at the8-mile mark, then was let out to run the last mile. Police pulled him off the course before he finished.> 1916 A.F. Merchant tried something similar to Pearce, even finishing fifth, but was reported by a Boy Scout and a fellow runner. > 1980 Rosie Ruiz, who appeared to win the women’s division in record time, was stripped of her medal when witnesses reported having seen her watching the race and no evidence could be found that she had actually run it.8/15/12 Boston Marathon Faces Sizzling Temps With temperatures expecting go above the 80-degree mark Monday for the Boston Marathon, organizers are offering a deferment option to the 27,000registered runners. The heat can be dangerous for such strenuous activity. But this isn't the hottest weather Boston has gotten for the marathon—in 1909 the race was called "The Inferno" for its 97-degree weather, while the1976 run was held in 100-degree heat and titled "Run for the Hoses,"since it ended with the winner being cooled down with garden hoses. Deferment was also offered in 2010, when the volcano in Iceland stopped flights coming in from Europe.4/10/12Overall, the marathon raises “more than $10 million annually [for]areas of need within Greater Boston,” according to the Boston Athletic Association. Aro... read more

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