Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

ATHLETICS IN THE COUNTIES posal of the Military authorities in their efforts to fashion Ar men out of C3 material, and the broader outlook and vision, with the fuller know– ledge and experience gained during those days, produced an added driving power at the end of the War period. It became apparent to all concerned that with the return to civil life of that great brotherhood of sportsmen who had been drawn from all parts of the country and from every walk of life, who had been trained to play the game of life-and death-for its own sake, to play it clean, hard and unselfishly, imbued with self-reliance and esprit de corps for their country, their Territorial Division, their regiment and their team, some great changes would inevitably follow. Not only had these great principles been perfectly assimilated and the democratic sportsman evolved, but his outlook on all matters pertaining to the interests of his comrades and himself, to the responsibilities and privileges which had come to them as a heritage out of the turmoil and horrors of war, had become a definite reality. A new type, fitted for a new era, had been born. To the credit of all concerned, after due representation had been made and the situation throughly examined, action was taken to meet these changed circumstances, and a Committee to consider the question of reconstruction was appointed. In the Committee's report recommendations were forthcoming to the effect that the Counties themselves might with advantage be brought more fully into partnership with the District Committees and the parent body-by entrusting them with a large measure of legislative power and separate control over their own particular areas. By these means it was felt would come to the Counties themselves the benefit of all those attri– butes which had been born and cultivated, as described above, and which would react beneficially upon the Districts and governing bodies and through them upon the whole of the amateur athletic movement. Thus we saw the birth and growth of the new athletic movement in the Counties. How executive powers were granted to them in their own areas, and certain administrative duties were delegated to them and became part of our Constitution Laws, are matters of history, and how rapidly and smoothly these changes worked, and enthusiasm grew, are not only matters of interest, but of fact. Organised County Championships became a regular feature from 1920 onwards, though it should here be remarked that Championships had previously been carried out at various Club meetings in certain Counties in a spasmodic way; that is to say, without there being any actual governing body in those Counties having executive powers. And even here there is a notable exception-viz., that of Essex, which having formed an Association-the Essex County Cycling and Athletic Associa– tion-so far back as I 883, had promoted and carried out Championship events continuously-except during the War period-to the time when the A.A.A. Counties scheme came into being. Since then this Associa– tion has fallen into line with the generally recognised County programme 8! F