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World champion middle and long distance runner Alfred Shrubb was born at Slinfold in 1879 and dominated the sport in the Edwardian era. During an amateur career lasting from 1899 to 1905 and a professional career from 1905 to 1912 he won over 1,000 races and set 28 world records.
In 1908 he became a coach at Harvard and then from 1919 to 1928 he coached the Oxford University Athletic Club. He finally settled in Canada, where he died in 1964.
Shrubb is commemorated by the annual Alfie Shrubb Museum Run in Bowmanville, Canada and the annual Alf Shrubb Memorial 5 mile cross-country run in Slinfold.