{{short description|British athlete}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Use British English|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Billy Grantham | image = | caption = | nationality = British (English) | sport = Athletics | event = Middle-distance running/steeplechase | club = Salford Harriers | birth_date = {{birth date|1880|10|19|df=yes}} | birth_place = Wilmslow, Cheshire, England | death_date = {{death date and age|1942|11|12|1880|10|19|df=yes}} | death_place = Wilmslow, Cheshire, England | height = | weight = }}
'''William Grantham''' (19 October 1880 – 12 November 1942) was a British middle-distance runner who competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics.<ref name="SportsRef">{{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/gr/billy-grantham-1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417171211/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/gr/billy-grantham-1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 April 2020 |title=Billy Grantham Olympic Results |access-date=19 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.teamgb.com/athlete/billy-grantham/3j39zQaKXPTQaqchCvkp19 |title=Billy Grantham |website=Team GB |access-date=14 April 2025}}</ref>
== Biography == Grantham was born in Wilmslow, Cheshire, England. He was a member of the Salford Harriers and won his first mile race in 1903 and won two handicap events in 1904, which included beating the leading runner at the time, Alf Shrubb.<ref name=oly>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/69085 |title=Billy Grantham |work=Olympedia |access-date=14 April 2025}}</ref> In January 1906 he won his first club medal<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003364/19060114/257/0011 |title=Enthusiastic Harriers |work=Empire News & The Umpire |date=14 January 1906 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=14 April 2025}}</ref> and competed in the English National Cross Country Championships.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000206/19060303/163/0011 |title=Cross-Country |work=Manchester Courier |date=3 March 1906 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=14 April 2025}}</ref>
Grantham took up steeplechasing and finished third behind Reginald Noakes and Arthur Russell in the steeplechase event at the 1908 AAA Championships.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nuts.org.uk/Champs/AAA/index.htm |title=AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists |website=National Union of Track Statisticians |access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gbrathletics.com/bc/aaa.htm |title=AAA Championships (men) |website=GBR Athletics |access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000668/19080706/152/0008 |title=AAA Championships |work=Birmingham Daily Gazette |date=6 July 1908 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=14 April 2025}}</ref>
Grantham represented the Great Britain team at the 1908 Olympic Games in London,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/19080612/073/0003 |title=The Olympic Games, British Representatives |work=The Sportsman |date=12 June 1908 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=14 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000648/19080612/187/0008 |title=Olympic Games, Britain's team of athletes |work=Liverpool Daily Post |date=12 June 1908 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=14 April 2025}}</ref> where he participated in the men's 3200 metres steeplechase competition. In his heat he failed to finish after stopping with an apparent injury.<ref name=oly/>
Grantham lived in Alderley, Cheshire and by trade was a train driver with a local brickworks.<ref name=oly/>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Grantham, Billy}} Category:1880 births Category:1942 deaths Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1908 Summer Olympics Category:British men middle-distance runners Category:British men steeplechase runners Category:Olympic athletes for Great Britain Category:Sportspeople from Wilmslow Category:Sportspeople from Cheshire Category:English men middle-distance runners Category:English men steeplechase runners Category:20th-century English sportsmen