Olympic Cavalcade

OLYMPIC CAVALCADE This was, indeed, a revival of Classical tradition, and the inclusion of Boxing in the Olympic programme was fully justified by the fairness of the bouts and the enthusiasm of the spectators. Nor could sufficient seats be found for those who would have wished to see the best amateur boxing yet exhibited in England. The foreign competitors and their repre– sentative officials expressed their satisfaction with the impartiality of the judging. Taking things all round, the foreign competitors were not sufficiently high class to have a real sporting chance in bouts of Olympic standard. But exceptions must be made in the case of Holberg, Denmark, and Baker, Australia. These were both first-rate men. All the bouts in the Finals were won by representatives of the United · Kingdom. The victory in the Featherweights of the veteran R. K. Gunn, at 38 years of age, was particularly noteworthy-a perfect triumph of science and skill. He had won English Championship titles in 1894, 1895 and 1896, but stepped into the Olympic ring not one ounce heavier than he had been twelve years previously. The final bout between J. W. ~· T. Douglas, an English ex-Public Schools Champion, and R. L. Baker, Australia, at the Middle-weight, was worth going far to watch. Baker was beaten on points by his 27-year-old opponent, but in the eliminating bouts the Australian had had to conquer W. Deed, English Champion, 1897, and W. Childs, the holder of the English Championship. The Englishman had had a somewhat more easy passage through to the Final. . So far as my memory serves me, the one bout with which the spectators were dissatisfied was a particularly level one, in which two minutes extra time was ordered, between the Dane, V. Holberg, and M. Wells, Lynn A. C., G.B., in the first series of Light-weights. CYCLING. Many riders came from many countries to the cement track at Wembley to take part in the Cycle races which were held under the rules of the National Cyclists' Union and the Presidency of the Rt. Hon. A. J. Balfour, M.P. The weather was not kind, but the well-banked and con– structed track was seldom flooded. In this section of the Games the United Kingdom, the host country, was also predominant, for Britishers won five out of the seven events which constituted the Cycling programme. The 1000 metres would have gone to M. Schilles, a clever French tactician, but he exceeded the time limit, so the race was declared void. Schilles did, however, have the satisfaction of sharing, with A. Auffray, the honour of winning the 2000 metres Tandem race for France. The other races won by Britishers were the 1 lap (66o yards); 5000 metres; 20 kilometres and Pursuit races, and the 100 kilometres (62·135 miles). For this race the Prince of Wales presented a Challenge Cup. This