Athletics

ATHLETICS. York, did 49I sees., at Stamford Bridge, 25 June, 1881, and then won the championship at Birmingham in 48^ sees., 16 July, 1881. Much as we would like to deal with this interesting period, we must move on with rapid strides, onlypausing to note the closing ofBeaufort House grounds, andthe opening of Lillie Bridge grounds. This was announced for 1 March, 1869, but may be said to have taken placeby the celebra­ tion of the Inter-'Varsity sports there on 18 March, when for the first time the hammer was thrown over 100 ft.— H. Luke (Camb.), 103 ft. 11 in., and F. O.Waite (Oxf.), 101 ft. 5 in.—with unlimited run,however. These grounds quickly became the recognized home ofathletics, where all important meetings were held, the L.A.C. using them up till their own ground, Stamford Bridge, was opened, on 28 April, 1877, upon an adjoining tract of ground, after­ wards separated by the Small-pox Hospital. Finally, the Lillie Bridge grounds came to a sad end by riot, ravage, and fire, owing to a pedestrian fiascoon 19 Sept., 1887. Two very desirable meetings were inaugurated this year : a Public Schools Championship ;this, if refounded on proper lines in 1891—which we hope to see carried out — ought to be the success of the year; and a Civil Service and Army meeting. To go back, the head ("gentleman") and tail ("nor is a mechanic, artizan, or labourer ")of the amateur definition was much objected to by many of the new recruits to athletics, who desired a republic of sport rather than the limited monarchy which so many clubs insisted on. The first to break down the barrier of exclusiveness was the late Lord Lurgan, a generous-hearted sportsman, who was fitly described as " the patron saint of Irish athletics," The Lurgan A.C., founded 1871, held one of the best meetings