Modern Athletics 1868

REVIEW OF THE ATHLETIC SEASON, 1867-8. 53 be. In the high leap, which was the first event on the card, the Hon.F. S. O'Grrady (Oxford) wasalone np to his usual form, only touchedthe bar once, and consequently won at 5 feet 7 inches. All the others appearednervous, as the event had looked a certainty for 0. E. Green and Gr. Hoare, the two Cambridge representatives; but the latter only tied with F. W. Parsons (Oxford), at 5 feet 6 inches, and the former retired atan inch less,' seeming short of practice. In the one milerace the pace was too fast for H. Gurney(Cambridge) from the verybe­ ginning, and E. Royds, the seconCdambridge representa­ tive, reserved himself for the three miles. W. C. Gibbs, however, the third Cambridge representative, proved him­ self quite equal to theoccasion, and showed first-rateform, although he will probably never compete again owing to constitutional weakness. J. W. Laing (Oxford), whohad improved wonderfully since his University sports with the aid of a trip to the sea-side,jumped off with the lead, but W. P.Bowman led him by a yard at the topf the ground, Gibbs and S. G. Scott, the third Oxonian, being close up. Laing, however, again led during the seconladp, but Gibbs, who had tho racGScifG all the t-iniG, came away in the last third of a mile and won easily. Bowman and Lamg had a desetussle for second place, which resulted m the latter s favour by four vards. The time was 4 mi­ nutes 28| seconds,the quickest amateur mile race on record* In throwing the hammer, T. Batson (Oxford) surprised no one more than himself, as H. Leek (Cam­ bridge) was ahead for some time with 98 feet 8 inches, till Batson pulled himself together in his last attempt] and won with an unprecedented amateur throwof 99 feet 6 inches, which was effectual, though not so straight as it rmght have been. The hurdles seemed to be a very open thing in the absenceof C. N. Jackson ofOxford, owino-to an accident. C. Pitt-Taylor (Cambridge), however, who had shown good form inhis College and University hurdle races, came away at the third flighat,nd won easily in the quick time of 16| seconds.L. E. Newnham (Oxford) re- * Severaltimekeepers made it 4 minutes 31* seconds, but the author, whowas standing against the railings ina line with the winning-post, made it as above, which he believes to be correct, astwo "dockers," one a professional, in other parts of the ground, andwith whom he had no communication tilalfter­ wards, madeit the same.