Athletics of To-Day 1929

CHAPTER XIII CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNING ENGLISH Cross-Country racing, which was the basis of Great Britain's long reign as a distance running nation on track and road, had its origin at the Public Schools. The rick Run at Rugby, the Shrewsbury and Eton Steeplechases, and several other similar events have been mentioned lsewhere in this volume. Although the Crick Run was found d at Rugby in r837 there is some evidence that hrewsbury h ld cross-country races at an even earlier dat . From this beginning was evolved the Shrewsbury custom of holding set runs once a week during th hristmas term. I do not know how far the old cere– monial has survived, but in former years the Shrewsbury School ((Huntsman" used to appear resplendent in black– velvet cap with crossed golden whips on the p ak, a bright scarlet jersey, and stocking . In his hand he carried a hunting horn. The first and s cond ((whips" carried hunting crops, the former leading the pack and the latter acting as whipp r-in. The (( Gentl men of the Runs," who formed the first division of the pack, ran coatless and carried a short bludgeon, as a defensive weapon against the town u toughs," who took a delight in stoning the boys. Latterly the (( gentl man's " bludgeon became the r cord of his prowess. It was ringed in years and a notch cut for each run. The notch was replaced with a cross to mark a win, or ((kill," and a square bracket substituted to denote a second place. The second division, or hound , used to run in jackets and mortar-boards, from which every atom of stiffening mat rial had been removed. Anything up to 130 couples of hounds 167