The Athlete for 1866

PREFACE . ) The taste forAthletic Sportshas increased in a very marked man­ ner of late years. Formerly Athletic Meetings were almost confined to the Universities and Public Schools, butlatterly numerous Clubs nave been formed both in London and the larger provincial towns. Many public bodies, such as the Civil Service, the Honourable Ar­ tillery Company, the National OlympianAssociation, and the prin­ cipal London Eowing Clubs have instituted meetings for Athletic competitions. Meetings of this nature have in consequence become so numerous that a greatdemand has arisen for a Standard Work of reference in which Athletes will notonly find their own perform­ ances accurately recorded, but will be able to compare them with those of members of other Clubs. In the presentbook I have endeavouredpartially to supply this want, but owing to its not having been generally known in the Athletic world that sucha work was in course of preparation, I have experienced great difficulty in getting together reliable information, and even when obtained it has been deficient in important particu­ lars, such as the times in whichraces were run, the weights ofham­ mer and shot used, the height of hurdles, &c. Now, however, that this Annual is fairlystarted, I hopeI shall receive from secretaries