France v Britain

One of the season’s most competitive international matches took place in late July in Paris, where France faced Great Britain. The event schedule was fairly standard, although the 10,000 metres, triple jump, and hammer throw were omitted. The relay featured legs of 800, 200, 200, and 400 metres, and the final outcome was decided by the relay, where France edged ahead by mere inches.

Thomas Defeats Keller in 800m

One of the season’s fiercest battles in the 800 occurred at Colombes, where Reginald Thomas of Wales outsprinted Amsterdam Olympic finalist Jean Keller of France. Their times were recorded as 1:53.6 and 1:53.8, both ranking among the season’s top 10. Tragically, Thomas later lost his life in a Lancaster bomber crash after World War II.

English-speaking victories continued in the 1500, where British champion and librarian Cyril Ellis tactically defeated France’s world-renowned Jules Ladoumègue. The 18,000 spectators sighed in disappointment.

France was among the few European nations taking steeplechase seriously in the 1920s. Henri Dartigues, who finished fifth in Amsterdam, won the match’s steeplechase event with a world-leading time of 9:27.0. Five years earlier, Ville Ritola had won Olympic gold in the same event and at the same venue with a time six seconds slower.

France secured a clean sweep in the discus throw, led by Jules Noël and Paul Winter, who also dominated other international meets. Noël’s 46.19 (151-7) throw was close to breaking into the season’s top 10.

By the late 1920s, France had improved its level significantly and narrowly defeated Great Britain, 62–58.