The leaping legend ONE of the greatest athletes the world has ever known comes leaping across this page - hotly pursued by a descendant who is keen to build up a complete picture of his sporting accomplishments.

Susie Cameron-Cornish - what a splendid drum-roll of a name! - is researching her family history which includes the legendary world champion jumper, Tom Colquitt, a spring-heeled son of Parr. But she is at a geographical disadvantage in living at Portsmouth, well out of reach of any archival guidance that might be languishing in the St Helens area.

That's why she's invited customers of this page to help her in her quest - and she's forwarded a number of interesting details, plus a drawing of the great Tom, in the hope that it will jog a few veteran minds. She asks: "Does anyone have any idea how old Tom was when at the height of his fame, and the span of his sporting career?

"And," she adds, "I would appreciate a copy of his birth certificate (a photo-copy would do, of course) if this is possible. In fact, I would be grateful to receive any information at all about him."

Tom was a tremendous 'novelty' jumper. One of his early triumphs was a leap over the Blackbrook canal. But his most spectacular party piece, during a turn-of-century professional reign, involved stand-jumping over horse-drawn hansom cabs!

Globe-trotting Tom set up a variety of extraordinary world records which, in their complexity would make today's Jonathan Edwards look like a novice.

He leapt to new horizons in forward and reverse, sometimes using hand weights - swung pendulum-style to give additional propulsion.

The illustration forwarded by Susie was from a sporting handbill advertising an October attraction at Wigan's Westwood Ground - but unfortunately the year it took place is not included in the blurb which announces that Tom Colquitt was attempting to smash two world records.

He was out to exceed the 60ft 6ins mark for six backward jumps; and he was primed for an attempt on the 81ft record for eight backward jumps. Incredible distances for a jumper in 'reverse gear.'

And there was more . . .

Tom, said to have originated from the Parr Mount area of St Helens, was all set to give an exhibition of ten spring jumps with weights. As a special incentive, a gold medal was offered for any local challenger who succeeded in beating Tom's mark - while given the benefit of a 15-foot start! The outcome of that great festival of jumping is buried somewhere in the mists of time.

Do any of our local history buffs have details about the result? If so, both Susie and myself would be delighted to be put in the picture.

Susie, meanwhile, is hoping to accept the kind invitations of relatives living in Liverpool and Lowton to visit them for a family fact-finding mission.

IF any reader can fill in some facts and figures about world champion Tom, then please drop me a line at the Star; or, alternatively, Susie can be contacted at 17 Hampshire Street, Buckland, Portsmouth, Hampshire PO1 5LG, tel. (01705) 833549.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.