From The Exeter Flying Post, Thursday 10th October 1805:
"Monday last Thomas Pinn, a carpenter of Sidmouth, engaged for a wager of five guineas, to run from that place, to the castle yard, in Exeter, in five hours, a distance of 32 miles, over hilly country; he started precisely at six o' clock in the morning, and arrived at the castle gate, in this city, ten minutes before eight, performing the first 16 miles in one hour and fifty minutes and returned again to Sidmouth, three quarters of an hour within the time allowed; a number of bets were depending on the event."
Hardly a record by today's standard! (two-hour marathons and all that!) but what a triumph it surely was for young (?) Tom Pinn - and what a glorious run that must have been, in the month of Trafalgar too, along the coast and over the commons, Sidmouth to Exeter and back again and five golden guineas - no problem!
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