Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930
CROSSCOUNTRY RUNNING instituted in r 889, but for reasons which need not be stated here, it was abandoned before the present century dawned and has never been revived. The Association, which has that great enthusiast J. F. Wadmore as its Hon. Secretary, commands the allegiance of more than thirty clubs; while others, who do not regard themselves as strong enough to compete for senior honours, are to be found as members of the North of the ThaU1es or South of the Thames Crosscountry Associations. OTHER AssocIATIONs There are many other Associations, all doing great work for the good of the sport. The annual race, Oxford v. Cambridge, is always a keen contest, and brings to light several promising athletes. Of recent years the Universities of London, Leeds, Bristol, Birmingham, Nottingham, Wales, etc., have done much to foster the sport, with Inter-'Varsity and Championship races. The various County Associations with County Championships and the Inter-County Championship are doing much to uplift and popularise the sport. * * * * * The many Business House Associations, whose Championships bring together teams composed of athletes who in club competitions would be keen rivals, now join forces for the honour of their Works Club, a movement which helps to broaden the spirit of crosscountry sport. Again, we have the Army and Navy Associations doing good service with Divisional contests and Championships; also last, but not least, Boy Scouts' Championships in many parts. I am particularly interested in Boy Scout races, for the competitors are of an age when an interest in crosscountry sport is all for their good and can easily have considerable bearing on their futures. I am also interested in the Army and Navy Associations, for here we find that the lessons of the Great War, regarding the value of crosscountry running, are being carried on in times of peace. I am certain of this, that the extra fitness and stamina developed by crosscountry running, as part of the work of troops in training, was a great asset when stern tasks had to be undertaken abroad. I am equally certain that those old officials of the National Crosscountry Union who worked so hard during the War to keep the sport going did a great service for the Union, and are mainly responsible for the greatly increased popularity of crosscountry running during the past ten years. In conclusion, I want to point out to athletes that the records of the members of crosscountry clubs stand very high in the list of A.A.A. champions. The athlete can develop stamina and gain knowledge of pace and judgment. It is headwork in a race that is so useful, and often it is judgment that leads to success. Sprinters that can stay with the leaders in a middle distance or mile race will out-pace their opponents 115 H2
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