Text from the Plaque
One of Canada's greatest Marathon runners, "Billy" Sherring was born in Hamilton and began his athletic career as a member of the YMCA Boys Club. He entered many county fair races and in 1897 gained his first major success at Bartonville. Two years later he recorded the first of two victories in the Around-the Bay Marathon one of the oldest long distance road races in North America, now known as the Billy Sherring Memorial Road Race. His most memorable triumph, however, was the victory which earned him an Olympic Gold Medal in Athens on May 1, 1906. In a remarkable display of stamina he defeated some 55 competitors over the gruelling 26-mile course.
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