Percy Hodge

Percy Hodge left the Channel Isles as a young man and took a job in Weymouth; he then moved to Bournemouth before retiring to Bexhill. Quite apart from the competitive restrictions imposed by the war, Percy Hodge was a later developer and did not win his first AAA title until he was 28 years old. But he was the winner of the AAA steeplechase in four of the five years in which he competed in the event and his only defeat came in 1922 when he surprisingly finished back in fifth place. In 1920 he had his shoe ripped off in the second lap of the AAA race and lost some 100 yards on the leaders but still went on to win by 75 yards, establishing himself as one of the favorites for the Olympic title.

Hodge was the fastest heat winner at Antwerp and his time of 10:17.4 seconds over 3000 metres represented something considerably faster than he had ever run over the “English” distance of 2 miles. Possibly, Hodge’s main concern for the final was that the race was to start at 9:00 AM and his great friend and mentor Joe Binks was unable to be at the start, because of a serious accident to his father, Hodge was well supported by other members of the British team and won the gold medal by the convincing margin of 100 metres.

Hodge had a highly unusual style of hurdling, which he brought to such a fine art that he could clear the barriers carrying a tray, complete with bottle and glasses, and not spill a drop. He often demonstrated the feat on the stage and at sports meetings. Apart from his steeplechasing ability, he was an excellent performer on the flat and in the match against France in 1921 he finished third in the 1,500 metres and was the first Englishman home.

Personal Bests: 440y – 50.2 (1917); 800 – 1:58.5e (1921); Mile – 4:32.6 (1916); 3000S – 10:00.4 (1920); 2 mile Steeplechase – 10:57.2 (1921).