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Roger Bannister's four-minute mile running shoes auctioned Roger Bannister's four-minute mile spikes fetch £266,500K at auction
(about 14 hours later)
The shoes worn by Sir Roger Bannister when he ran the first sub-four-minute mile are to be sold at auction. The spikes worn by Sir Roger Bannister when he ran the first sub-four-minute mile have gone under the hammer at auction for £266,500.
Sir Roger, now 86, made his run at Oxford's Iffley Road track on 6 May 1954 when he was 25. Sir Roger, now 86, achieved his record-breaking feat at Oxford's Iffley Road track on 6 May 1954 when he was 25.
The shoes, made by GT Law and Son, are expected to attract bids between £30,000 and £50,000 at Christie's in London. The shoes, made by GT Law and Son, had a reserve price of £30,000 to £50,000 at Christie's in London.
Sir Roger said they were "the last tangible link" he had to his achievement.Sir Roger said they were "the last tangible link" he had to his achievement.
Sold to anonymous phone buyer
He said they had "served me great purpose, I'm grateful to them" but added: "I think it's the right time to part with them."He said they had "served me great purpose, I'm grateful to them" but added: "I think it's the right time to part with them."
They will be presented with an accompanying letter of provenance signed by Sir Roger and a letter written to him by his friend Eustace Thomas denoting their "lightness". Kate Summers, from Christie's, said: "Since announcing the sale of Sir Roger Bannister's running shoes, we have received a great deal of interest from across the globe.
"When bidding opened there was great anticipation. After two-and-a-half minutes of bidding, they were sold to an anonymous buyer on the telephone."
The shoes were presented with an accompanying letter of provenance signed by Sir Roger and a letter written to him by his friend Eustace Thomas commenting on their "lightness".
"I could see there was an advantage in having the shoe as light as possible," Sir Roger said."I could see there was an advantage in having the shoe as light as possible," Sir Roger said.
"The leather is extremely thin and the spikes are unusually thin, as I used a grindstone to make them even thinner.""The leather is extremely thin and the spikes are unusually thin, as I used a grindstone to make them even thinner."
Sir Roger said he planned to give some of the proceeds to the Autonomic Charitable Trust, as it "encourages the area of neurological research to which I have devoted most of my life".Sir Roger said he planned to give some of the proceeds to the Autonomic Charitable Trust, as it "encourages the area of neurological research to which I have devoted most of my life".
"Other worthwhile causes in which I have an interest will also benefit," he added."Other worthwhile causes in which I have an interest will also benefit," he added.
He ran the mile in three minutes 59 seconds.He ran the mile in three minutes 59 seconds.
In May, the stopwatch used to time the race sold for £20,000 at auction.In May, the stopwatch used to time the race sold for £20,000 at auction.
Sir Roger studied medicine at the University of Oxford and went on to work in research and clinical practice.Sir Roger studied medicine at the University of Oxford and went on to work in research and clinical practice.
He was knighted in 1975 and retired in 1993 as Master of Pembroke College, Oxford, where his trophies are now displayed.He was knighted in 1975 and retired in 1993 as Master of Pembroke College, Oxford, where his trophies are now displayed.