Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

A.A.A. JUBILEE SOUVENIR grammes. The flying squadron race was quite the feature of the afternoon. The event could be made even more interesting by winding up with a short distance." E. H. Pelling, in later years a member of the Southern Committee, was the Hon. Secretary of the Ranelagh Harriers at the time. Looking through the programme to-day, I believe that only one or two of the competitors in the first relay race are still taking an interest in Athletics. The remaining starters seem to have drifted away from the sport. For a few years, relay races did not attract much attention. In 1909, when I included the first inter-county relay race in the programme of the Essex County Sports, a relay race was practically unknown in the pro– vinces, and it was necessary to give an explanation of the event in the programme, for the information of the visitors. In recent years relay races have become a great feature of athletic meetings, and this brief account of the first event of the kind will illustrate the development of a " new idea." H.F. P. THE FIRST RULES FOR COMPETITIONS IN 1880 [In 1930 there are 100 Rules for Competitions, occupying 27 pages.– EDITOR.] r. No attendant to accompany a competitor on the scratch, or in the race. 2. Any competitor starting before the signal to be put back at the dis– cretion of the starter, who shall have power to disqualify him on a repeti– tion of the offence ; all questions as to starts to be at the discretion of the starter. 3. In Hurdle races each competitor to keep his own hurdles throughout the race. The hurdles to stand 3 ft. 6 in. out of the ground. 4. In Spring racing each runner to keep his own side of the course. 5. Wilfully jostling, or running across, or obstructing another, so as to impede his progress, to disqualify the offender. 6. In Pole Leaping and High Jumping, three tries at each height allowed. Each height to be determined by the Judges; displacing the bar only to count as a try. 7. In Broad Jumping, Putting the Weight, or Throwing the Hammer, three tries only to be allowed. The best three competitors of the first trial to be allowed three more trials each for the final. The farthest Throw, Put, or Jump of the six attempts to win. 8. The Hammer to be thrown from a circle of 7 ft. diameter ; the throw to be measured from the nearest point of the edge of the circle to the edge of pitch of the ball of the Hammer. 124