Athletics

HISTORICAL. 13 word meant. Thus, to take an instance, atsome wrestling sports held in the Agricultural Hall, Islington, London, Good Friday, 1865, some of the events are thus described:— "Half-mile race.This wasfor amateurs—the winner, ^2 ; second, ^1 ; third, IOJ ." (see Illustrated Sporting News, 22 April, 1865, p. 108). Although formed in June, 1863, not much had been heard ofthe Mincing LaneA.C., which was established to promote amateur sport. It held an important meeting, however, on22 April, 1865, at Lord's Cricket Ground, when the brothers Chinnery came to the front, W. M. winning the mile, andH. J.the quarter, both in slow time. Two events were "open to all recognized rowing and athletic clubs." There is little to chronicle in that year. Guy Pym, the Civil Service athlete, wasa very prominent performer. Early in the year 1866, the last of ancient history, the Mincing Lane was transformed into the world-famous London AthleticClub, the first sports of which were held at the Brompton Grounds, 24 Feb., when five events were decided. This yearis also notable forthe formationof the Amateur Athletic Club, the moving spirit of which was the late J. G. Chambers, C.U.A.C. It was founded chiefly to inaugurate and manage an annual amateur championship meeting, and it at once assumed a very high position in the world of sport, andin fact became a court of adjudication and appeal for athletes (and, later on, for cyclists, before the Bicycle Union was founded in 1878) till the Amateur Athletic Association wasconstituted, of which more anon. One of the first steps was to draw up and print adefinition of an amateur. This ranas follows :— 11 Any gentlemanwho has never competed in an open compe­ tition, or for public money, or for admission money, or with professionals for a prize, public money, or admission money.