Not surprisingly, the Emancipation Run caused a tremendous stir on that day in November 1896.  The participants were scheduled to arrive in Reigate (22 miles from the start) at around 12.30pm, and were due to stop for lunch at the White Hart Hotel in Bell Street. A horn would sound at 1.20pm so that they could return to their vehicles and depart on the final leg of the run at 1.30pm.

As this photo shows, Bell Street was absolutely packed with spectators to welcome the Emancipation Run participants. There was disappointment for the proprietor of the White Hart, however -  not all the starters made it as far as Reigate, and others didn’t stop for lunch, in their keenness to get to the finish first.