Career
Deakin served with the Rifle Brigade and fought in the Boer War. During this time he set South African records at both the 880 yards and 1 mile. Returning to England, he joined Herne Hill Harriers in 1903 and soon established a reputation as one of the country"s finest cross-country runners, winning an individual bronze (1905) and team gold medals (1905, 1906 and 1908) at the International Cross Country Championships.
He finished second in the English national cross-country championships in 1907 and showed sufficient form in track races during the early part of the 1908 season to be selected to race in three events at the Olympic Games.
His time in the final was better, though he still finished sixth at 4:07.9. The next morning Deakin led the British team home to victory in the 3 mile team race.
After a celebratory lunch, complete with champagne refreshment, he lined for the heats of the five miles competition. Unsurprisingly, he dropped out of the race before the finish.
Deakin joined Surrey Air Corps after the Olympics and competed for his new club in the Polytechnic Marathon.
He finished in 20th place. After service in World War I, which saw him temporarily blinded, he returned to racing and improved his previous marathon performance by finishing 8th in the 1920 "Poly". He continued in competition as a veteran and his last race was not until the eve of his 90th birthday.
He died just three years after his last race.
