Sports Physician - Athlete 1861-1865

1861

Abel Davies (1861-1914) was winger for the London Welsh rugby team and for the Welch international rugby. Later he was transferred to United Hospitals RFC and Llanelli RFC. He was not one of the greatest players but he was very strong and very fast: He ran the 100 yards in ten seconds. He became acquainted with the game during his medical studies in London. The game against the New Zealand Maori was lost 2-1, but Davies scored the only try for Wales. He graduated as a doctor, but little is known about his professional career.

1862

Thomas Pryce-Jenkins (1862-1922) was a winger for the Welch national rugby team and for London Welsh, the club he had founded. He interrupted his medical studies at Cambridge University to cross the country with a theater company. After four years he returned to London to complete his medical studies, he specialized in Surgery, and started a practice at London's Hills Place, just behind the Palladium theater. He specialized in athletes' injuries and therefore got a lot of well-known athletes on the floor. Alfred Schrubb (1879-1964), the professional long-distance runner who won over a thousand races and Reggie Walker (1889-1951), winner of the golden medal in the 100m at the London Olympic Games of 1908, were two of his best-known patients

1863

The Norwegian ski jumper Sigurd Gotaas (1863-1944) participated annually in the Husebyrennet, one of the main skiing events that was disputed in Ullern near Oslo. Later he also participated in motor sport events.He graduated in 1892 and settled as general physician in Nord-Aurdal. Afterwards, he moved his practice to Lillestrøm and became the physician for the garrison at Kjeller Airport.

1863

Rowley Thomas (1863-1949) was seven times forward at the Welch National Rugby Team and he played at London Welsh, as one of the founding members. He also played for Llanelli and University College Hospital. He graduated from London University and defended England during World War I as a medical officer in the Welsh Horse Cavalry Regiment, based in Egypt. After the war, he was a medical pathologist in West Carmarthenshire for 24 years.

1864

The English rower James Cardwell Gardner (1864-1935) also known under his nickname Jumps Gardner, won the 1886 Colquhoun Sculls, the year after the Diamond Challenge Sculls, in 1888 and 1889 the Oxford-Cambridge race, in 1889 the Silver Goblets and in 1890 the Wingfield Sculls. He also became university champion in boxing and shooting. He graduated at Cambridge University in 1894 and specialized in surgery at St George's Hospital. Later he set up a medical practice at Amersham, a town 43 km from London where he became Medical Officer of Health. In that same town he played association football and golf and captained the local cricket team.

1864

Edward Pegge (1864-1915) played forward in the Welch national rugby team and in his club Neath Rugby Football Club. Pegge was known for his eccentric personality. He played at club level with bare arms and legs because he did not like the sweaters and pants with long legs. After his studies, he established himself as a general practitioner in the practice of his father Charles.