Athletics

8 ATHLETICS. 9 sees.—" very fair time for non-professionals; " Chinnery (was it one of the great Chinnerys ?),second. There was also a quarter, wonby " Franks (50 yards)." About this time a great fusswas made overa self-advertised celebrity, "Captain Patten Saunders,Amateur European Champion," who proved to be merely a paper hero. The West London Rowing Club renewed their sports at the West London Ground, Brompton—a site now built on between King's Road and Old Brompton Road,near Thistle Grove. With five entries, the sprint was run off in heats; the mile had two, and the 880 yards three entries—figures sufficient to make a modern hon. sec.of sports thankful that he did not hold office in those days. It was, in fact, extremely difficult to get men of any social standing toconnect them­ selves with the new development of sport, from the causes we have already mentioned. For sometime therewas but little open competition, and those who fancied their own prowess were driven to matches or trials against time. Amongst these we may note one which created great interest in fashionable circles, inwhich Captain Boswell, Royal Horse Guards, described by a paper of the period as "a perfect Hercules, witha strong dash of the Apollo, standingover six feet," was heavily backed to walk fifty miles in twelve hours. He accomplished 30miles in 6 hrs.27 min. 14sees., and 50 in 11 hrs. 3 min. 43 sees. It took place at West Brompton, on 4 March, 1863. Later in the year the pro­ prietor ofCremorne convertedhis Ashburnham Hall at that gay resort into an "athletic arena ;" and the West London Rowing Club held some sports by gaslighthere on7 Nov. Even early in 1864 sports had not taken much hold on the people, but already abuseswere creeping in, and pedes­ trian pseudo-names, frequently changed, were oneof the tricks of the track.