The Best-Developed Man

From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia
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The Best-Developed Man is an article published in The Penny Illustrated Paper on 21 september 1901.

About the Sandow competition at the Royal Albert Hall on 14 september 1901 where Arthur Conan Doyle was one of the judges.


The Best-Developed Man

The Penny Illustrated Paper (21 september 1901, p. 179)

After an exhaustive process of county competitions and a long wait caused by the absence of many competitors at the war, the great Sandow competition was decided last Saturday night in the Royal Albert Hall. The prizes offered were valued at 1000 guineas, and included a gold statuette of Sandow by Pomeroy, value £500 and replicas in silver and bronze. The proceeds of the entertainment were devoted to the Mansion House Transvaal Relief Fund. An attractive programme, full of interest, was arranged for the occasion, including physical displays by a selected team of boys from the London Orphan Asylum, Watford, and gymnasts from the Army Gymnastic Staff at Aldershot. Some interesting wrestling encounters, in the catch-as-catch-can, Graeco-Roman, and Cumberland styles, with Professor John Atkinson as referee, were included in the programme. Some sixty competitors turned up for the event of the evening, the winners being finally declared as follows: W. L. Murray (Nottingham), 1; D. Cooper (Birmingham), 2; A. Smythe (Middlesex), 3. The successful competitors received quite an ovation from the vast audience. Sir Charles Lewes and Dr. Conan Doyle acted as judges, with Sandow as referee. It is expected, as the result of the exhibition, that £600 will be handed over to the War Relief Fund.


Illustration

Physical Culture at the Albert Hall Last Saturday

Sandow presents the gold statuette to Mr. W. L. Murray pf Nottingham, the winner of the great contest for physical development.

Catch as catch can wrestling.

Sandow is referee.

Dr. Conan Doyle and Sir Charles Lewes (sculptor) judging the competitors.

Sandow on the Roman Column.