Fifty Years of Progress 1880-1930

FiFTY YEARS 6F' PROGRESS ninety-one votes to one, Mr. J. H. Stapley, of Putney A.C., a well-known cyclist, being the courageous dissentient. This year, therefore, was remarkable for the commencement of the " war " between the A.A.A. and the N.C.U., and, like many other wars, it caused a great deal of trouble without any corresponding benefit at the finish. The original point at issue was that the National Cyclists' Union desired to obtain direct control in cycling matters of Clubs affiliated solely to the A.A.A. The result, shortly, was that the A.A.A. held a certain number of cycling races under A.A.A. Laws, though it must be admitted that they did not attract the leading cyclists in the country, who naturally remained loyal to their own Union. The following letter from Sir William Carrington to Lord Alverstone (President of the Association) was a notable event in the history of the Association :- " Marlborough House, " Pall Mall, "November rzth, r9ro. "Mv DEAR LoRn,-I have it in command to say that the King is graciously pleased to become Patron of the Amateur Athletic Association. " I remain, "Yours faithfully, "WILLIAM CARRINGTON." " The Lord Alverstone." r9r r-1920 Owing to the popularity of relay races, which had been going on since the first relay race at the Ranelagh Harriers' Meeting on September r 4th, 1895, it was decided to hold a Relay Championship in r9rr, the order of distances being 220 yards, 220 yards, 440 yards, 880 yards. At the Annual Meeting in r9rr, Mr. W. M. Barnard made his first appearance as Hon. Treasurer, and reported a record profit, up to that time, on the Championships of £394 r6s. 7d., and the late Sir George Pragnell, of the Ravensbourne A.C., a prominent Business House Club, attended the meeting in order to make an appeal for the settlement of the dispute with the N.C.U., by means of the offer of the Amateur Swimming Association to assist in a settlement. Though he made an eloquent and "uphill" speech, the proposition was defeated by 100 votes to 10. In the course of the discussion, the Chairman made the interesting state– ment that the Laws of the Association did not provide for a referendum ofaffiliated Clubs. At the meeting ofthe General Committee in October, r 9 I I, the writer's proposal that " a copy of the official programme of every open athletic or cycling meeting or competition, stating the time fixed for the decision 49 D