Athletics and Football (extract)

ATHLETIC MEETINGS cinders are placed, so as to leave room for a layer of 3 inches of fine siftedcinders or brickdust upon the top. These 3inches of fine stuff have to be put on in thin layers,to be wateredfrom time to time and continuallyrolled. For the purpose of assist­ ing the drainage, the centre of the path is usually raised slightly higher (not more than an inch) than the sides, and gullies are made at the side leadingdown to cesspools to carry off water whichmaycollectafter a sudden shower. When a goodpath is once made it wantslittle but rollingin wetweatherand watering and rollingin dry weatherto keep it in good condition. After manyyears, when the fine stuff off the top has been blownor carried away,and the coarser stuff belowis workingup, the top dressingmay have to be renewed. Perhaps the better course is after each season to sprinkle a thin layerof cinders over the top of the path to keep it fresh. Just at the present it would seem that fashion is changing round from black cinders to red brickdust as a top dressing for running tracks. The brickdust was, as we have said, originally used for cycling, but upon the inner path made at Lillie Bridge for wheels many foot-races have been held with great success. No doubt the brickdust which has a slight mixtureof loamis harder, and thus better suited for wheeling, and the fact that both Myers' 48I sec. for a quarter and George's 4 min. 121 sec. for a milewereaccomplished upon the red track at Lillie Bridge seems to show that it is hardly less fitted for pedestrian contests. Probably, however, Myers and George both chose the inner track at Lillie Bridge, well knowing that the old cinder track upon the outside was getting worn out and in poor condition. The drawbackof the red paths is that they get very hard and dead in wet weather, while a really well- drained cinder path like that at Oxford or Stamford Bridge keeps its lightness, in spite of the rain, in a wonderfulmanner. We should not be surprised if the cinder track of the future for running purposes were to be a mixture of cinders and burnt brick ballast in equal proportions. Until 1866 the Oxford and Cambridge sports were held