 The total entrants in the competition in 1938/39 were in excess of 280,000.Enormous interest was created that year by the London and South of England championship.A record crowd of 14,534 spectators filled the Royal Agricultural Hall, London in May to witness the final between Jim Pike (representing the Windmill Club, Southwark) and Marmaduke Brecon (Jolly Sailor, Hanworth, Middlesex).