Modern Athletics 1868

46 MODERN ATHLETICS. The Oxford UniversityAthletic Club heldtheir annnal sports to decide on their representatives at Beanfort House on March 12, 13, and 14. On the first day the S ath at Marston Roadwas heavy, owing to the previous ay's rain, and the competitionswere chiefly confined to trial heats. In the high jump there appeared five com­ petitors, of whom F. W. Parsons, Hon. F. S. O'Grady, and E. L. N. Michelsl howed the best form. The leap­ ing commenced on grass,but the take-offwas so bad that the posts were removed on to a piece of path with a faggot foundation, and consequently very springy. All caught the bar _repeatedly, and required more than one try at each height; eventually, however. Parsons got safely over 5 feet 6 inches, and was declared the winner, O'Grady clearing aninch less. In the hammer throwing, T. Batson covered 87 feet 8 inches at his first attempt, which no one could approach for some time, till W. A. Burgess threw 88feet 9 inches, which Batson thenbeat by a couple of inches ; none of the other distances being remarkable. The pole jumping broughto light agood per­ former in E. C. Leeds, who cleared 9 feet 6 inches in splendid style, and quite surpassed the other three leapers. For the mile,W. P. Bowman, S. G. Scott, and J. W. Laing were the favourites. Bowman made the running at first,was supplanted by Laing in the second lap, but the latter did not seem up to his old form, and was obliged to succumb to the other two favourites, of whom Bowman won in the somewhat slow time of 4 minutes _46f seconds. Throwing the cricket ball caused little excitement, as itwas not one of the items inthe Ox­ ford and Cambridge programme; yet allthe throws,which were on the path with a rear wind, wearebove theaverage. The successful competitor wasF. W. Parsons, thewinner of the high jump, who accomplished119 yards 5 inches; E. M. Wakeman beingsecond with 116 yards, and R. B. Michell third, at 114yards 2 feet 10 inches. The four miles walking racewas an innovation in the Oxford sports and caused a good race between A. H. Johnson and J. Cosset,neither of whom walkin astyle byanymeans taking, on accountof keeping theirbodies and kneestoo nTuchbent. Johnson went to the front at half way, and won as he liked, in the slow time of 34 minutes 10seconds. W. O. Hughes-Hughes, whowas by far the fairest "goer," but •vrasencumbered with too much clothing, finished 10 yarda