Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

A.A.A. JUBILEE SOUVENIR and win. It is will power that is required, and this is found in the cross– country runner more than in those who only train for athletics on the track. I recommend slow crosscountry work for sprinters, middle distance athletes, walkers and cyclists. In fact, all who value good health should in the winter months try the pure sport of crosscountry running. I have lived in the sport for over sixty years and at seventy-seven years of age still follow this healthy sport, taking keen interest in all matters connected with the governing Associations and my own club. THE results of the National Crosscountry Championships from 1877 to 1929 are given on pages 165 to 167. In 1930, at Sheffield, there were 334 starters, a striking contrast to 33 in I 877. The Birchfield Harriers were the winners-viz., J. W. Beman, 4; F. Light, 9 ; R. R. Sutherland, 13; J.E. Webster, 19; W. H. Smith, 24; A. Bourton, 25=94 points. W. B. Howard, Kettering Town H., was the individual winner.-EDITOR. THE LATE MR. WALTER RYE THE death of Mr. Walter Rye, who has been described as" the father of paperchasing," and who was present at the first meeting of the Associa– tion at Oxford in l 880, occurred a short time before the celebration of the Jubilee of the Association, to the great regret of those who had taken part in the sport in the early days. In the third year of the Seven Miles Walking Championship ( I 868) he was first home, competing as a member of the L.A.C., in 57 min. 40 sec. It was, however, as President of the famous Thames H. and H. that Mr. Rye was known to the earlier generations of sportsmen, and it is pleasant to remember that he lived to see crosscountry running attain to a position which was probably undreamt of in the early days, when it was a pastime rather than a sport with a great number of championships, inter-club competitions, and so on. Mr. Walter Rye practised as a solicitor until 1900, when he retired and resided at Norwich. He was Mayor of Norwich in 1908, and was keenly interested in arch~ology and matters connected with the county of Norfolk. A man of strong personality and an able controversialist, he did an immense amount of work for the general good, and will be remem– bered with affection and respect in the athletic world and in a wider sphere. n6