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Roger Bannister’s four-minute mile running shoes may fetch £50,000 at auction Roger Bannister’s four-minute mile running shoes may fetch £50,000
(35 minutes later)
The running shoes worn by Roger Bannister when he broke the four-minute mile are to go on sale in London.The running shoes worn by Roger Bannister when he broke the four-minute mile are to go on sale in London.
Christie’s say the leather shoes will be put up for auction on 10 September and are expected to fetch between £30,000–50,000.Christie’s say the leather shoes will be put up for auction on 10 September and are expected to fetch between £30,000–50,000.
The shoes, made by GT Law and Son, have long, thin spikes and weigh 4½ ounces, much lighter than other shoes at the time. “I could see there was an advantage in having the shoe as light as possible,” said Bannister, who started his running career while he was a medical student at Oxford in 1946.The shoes, made by GT Law and Son, have long, thin spikes and weigh 4½ ounces, much lighter than other shoes at the time. “I could see there was an advantage in having the shoe as light as possible,” said Bannister, who started his running career while he was a medical student at Oxford in 1946.
“The leather is extremely thin and the spikes are unusually thin, as I used a grindstone to make them even thinner. These shoes are the last tangible link I have with the four-minute mile. All my trophies are now on display at Pembroke College, Oxford, where I was Master.”“The leather is extremely thin and the spikes are unusually thin, as I used a grindstone to make them even thinner. These shoes are the last tangible link I have with the four-minute mile. All my trophies are now on display at Pembroke College, Oxford, where I was Master.”
Christie’s says Bannister is expected to donate some of the proceeds to a charity for medical research. “I think it’s the right time to part with them and I plan to give part of the proceeds to the Autonomic Charitable Trust which encourages the area of neurological research to which I have devoted most of my life,” he said. “Other worthwhile causes in which I have an interest will also benefit.”Christie’s says Bannister is expected to donate some of the proceeds to a charity for medical research. “I think it’s the right time to part with them and I plan to give part of the proceeds to the Autonomic Charitable Trust which encourages the area of neurological research to which I have devoted most of my life,” he said. “Other worthwhile causes in which I have an interest will also benefit.”
Bannister became the first runner to break the four-minute barrier when he clocked 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds on 6 May, 1954, at the Iffley Road track in Oxford.Bannister became the first runner to break the four-minute barrier when he clocked 3 minutes, 59.4 seconds on 6 May, 1954, at the Iffley Road track in Oxford.
He is now 86 and lives in Oxford. He is coping with the effects of Parkinson’s.He is now 86 and lives in Oxford. He is coping with the effects of Parkinson’s.