Shrubb "The Little Wonder"  ›  1958

June 19th in the Daily Times-Gazette a newspapers front page had headlines reading"Shrubb To Run Again Calls It “Last Race”
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Little Alfie Shrubb of Bowmanville was a great runner in his day, in fact one of the best in fact. He held about 12 world records. Alfie aged 78, ended his running career back in the early 30’s but now he has decided to run one more race -his last.

Alfie has been chosen as one of a team of relay runners to carry a scroll of greetings tem miles from Oshawa to Bowmanville which celibrates it’s centennial June 28.

The former world champion will carry the scroll on it’s last lap of the journey and hand it to Bowmanville’s Mayor Nelson S. Osborne at exactly 11 a. m. when the town’s celebrations will offically begin.

There will be ten runners in the race which will begin at Oshawa City Hall when Mayor Lyman A. Gifford will hand the scroll of greetings from the city to the first runner.

Other runners all belonging to the Bowmanville Track and Field Club, will be stationed along the route about a mile apart. The scroll will be passed from runner to runner as each completes his lap.

But Alfie’s lap will not be as long as the others. In fact he will just have to carry the scroll from Silver Street to Bowmanville town hall, a distance of about two and a half blocks.

Alfie chuckled today when he talked about the race and said “I thought my running days were over. Oh, well I guess one last little run won’t do any harm. Will Alfie actually run the two and a helf blocks?

He replied almost fiercely: “There’s a little left in the old man yet. I think I shall be able to get my knees up a little bit. But I shall not be wearing a track suit, just my ordinary clothes.

Watching Alfie when he arrives will be the Hon. J. Keiller McKay Governer of Ontario and crowds of visitors.

“It will be a great day for me and I really appreciate the honor the town has done me.” added Alfie. Taking part in the race bring back a few memories.

“I was a good ‘un once you know. I raced about 50 world champions in my time and lost to about only two of them and I held approximately 12 world records varying from the one and a half mile to the hour race. Those records have all been brocken now of course. The last one I think was broken about 1952.

“I was at my best from 1901 to 1912 and I raced during my time in Australia, United States, Britian, France, New Zealand, Belguim. Anyway, it will be great to be having a little trot again- even if it is my last race.