Athletics

104 ATHLETICS. Thus was a great sport cradled by the support of the best menof the day,and, asa good start is half the battle, it is littlewonder that it prospered ;but clubs were, for six or eight years, rather slow in forming. In the seventies they grewmore numerous,and a championship began tobe talked of. At this time CheT.H. & Ho was in the fullswing of its prosperity, and took active measures to secure the end desired. The first meeting only brought together three clubs. The system of scoring was as now—clubs to enter twenty, and run twelve men. The positions of the first six men were added together, and the lowest total won. The course was over a very severe stretch of country, iif miles, 8 miles 320yards of which was grass or plough, starting from the T.H. & H. head-quarters,King's Head, Roehampton, and finishing at the Well House on the Common. The racetook place on 24 Feb., 1877,and the positions ofthe clubs were— 1. Thames Hare andHounds ... ... 35 points. 2. South LondonHarriers ... ... 58 „ 3. Spartan Harriers ... — The first four men were— 1. P. H. Stenning ... T.H. andH. ... ih. 13m. 40s. 2. W. E. Fuller ... T.H. andH. ... ih. 16m. 50s. 3. C. H. Mason ... T.H. andH. ... ih. 17m.50s. 4. C. H. Larette ... S.L.H. ... ih. 18m. 20s. In 1878 the same three clubs contended. Spartan Harriers winning, Thames second, S.L.H.third. Stenning wonthe first four years. For the first time a provincial club, Birchfield Harriers, Birmingham, came upfor, and won, the next year's championship, 6 March, 1880. There was a considerable increase — eighty-two starters from seven clubs.