Athletics

HISTORICAL. 15 pants, and withkeener competition an all round improve­ ment in the performances; but, owing to the carelessness and ignorance (of sport) of the reporters ofthe period, these are veryhard to trace. But as our treatise is but a brief resume of athletics weneed not trouble much on this score. In 1867 the Inter-'Varsity sports were moved up to London—Beaufort House, which now boasted a good cinder-path, one third of a mile in circuit. An unique report appeared in the Field (13 April) of some sports at Roehampton, the runners being "Esquired " in each case. Some prominent performers, whose names arestill famous, now came to the front—E. J.Colbeck, whowon the Civil Service strangers' 600 yards race in 1 min. 15^ sees, (record) ; the Chinnerys and others, including W. G. Grace, the cricketer, who ran as a member of the L.A.C. The only event worth noting in the latter part of the year is that W. M. Ghinnery went up to Oxford for the Worcester open mile, which he won, on 27 Nov., in 4 min, 38^ sees., being one of the first genuine "strangers," i.e. outside either 'Varsity, tocompete. The Inter-'Varsity sports were again held at Beaufort House on 3 April, 1868, and were notable for "four-thirty" being first beaten by an amateur, W.C. Gibbs (Camb.) winning in 4 min. 28^ sees. Record wasalso pulverized in the quarter, 51 sees., by J. H. Ridley (Camb.); hammer (long run),99 ft. 6 in., by T. Batson (Oxf.); and 3 miles, 15 min.2o| sees., by T. H. Morgan (Oxf.). The championships were postponed till 19 and 20 June, and were held for the last time at Beaufort House. Several recordswere made, the chief being by E. J. Colbeck, who, after being nearly thrown down by a sheep, won the quarter by 12 yards in 5of sees., a record which stood unbroken for over thirteen years, though tied by Jack Shearman 7 June, 1877, till L. E. Myers, of New