Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

CROSSCOUNTRY RUNNING in I 880 Birchfield Harriers, who had defeated Moseley Harriers for the Midland title, challenged the holders of the National title. The race was held at Roehampton, and Birchfield Harriers won, being the first pro– vincial club to bring away from London the National Crosscountry Championship, scoring 52 points. Thames Hare and Hounds finished second with 74 points, and P. H. Stenning was the individual winner for the fourth successive year. It should be noted that the prize awards in those days were small medals, the individual winner and team receiving a little Maltese cross. REAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS It was a happy inspiration of Mr. Walter Rye and the officials of the London Clubs when they made the National Championship of 1881 open to all amateur clubs, and, inspired by the Birchfield Harriers' success, other clubs began to aspire to National honours. The value of this step is proved by the growth and popularity of the winter sport. Midland, Northern and Southern Crosscountry Associations were formed, and in I 884 the National Crosscountry Union came into existence, Mr. Walter Rye being the first President, and Mr. D. T. Mayson (Blackheath Harriers) the first Hon Secretary. The work of the National Crosscountry Union was so much in accord with the A.A.A. (founded in I 880 at Oxford) that power was granted to the Union to govern crosscountry running from September 1st to March 31st (or to Easter Monday, if it should fall later than March 31st) in each crosscountry season. The Midland, Northern and Southern Associations are affiliated to the National Union and the Executive Committee comprises officials elected from the delegates representing these Associations, together with those of the Navy, Army and Counties Athletic Union, and all races are held under A.A.A. Laws. I do not propose giving a full record of various performances in the National Championships, but merely to summarise the clubs who have been successful in winning team and individual Championship honours. The successful clubs, and years of winning, since the inception of the Championship are as follows :- Thames Hare and Hounds Spartan Harriers Birchfield Harriers . Moseley Harriers Liverpool Harriers Salford Harriers Essex Beagles . Manchester H,miers 1877-9. 1878. 1880-6-7-8-1891-2*-5-1903-7 -9-1913-1920-1-2-3-4-5-6- 8-9--1930. • I 881-2-3-4. l 88 5. 1889-1890-4-6-7*-8. l 892*-3-1901. 1897*. Ill