The Athlete for 1866

THE AMATEUE ATHLETIC CLUB. THIS Club wasformed, at thecommencement of the past year,to supply a want which existed of some establishedGround onwhich competitions in Amateur Athletic Sports might take place, andto afford as completely as possible to all classes of Gentlemen Amateurs the means of practising and competing against one another without being compelled to mix with professional runners. It was resolvedthat the support of the Club should not be confined to Athletic Sportsmerely, but that other exercises, not generally included under that head—such as Cricket, Gymnastics, Swimming, &c.—should be be included in the Programmes ; but, pending the time whenthe funds of the Club should enable the Committee to carry out their designs in full, it wasdetermined toinstitute an Annual Open Champion Meeting for Athletic Sports on the daybefore the Boat race betweenOxford and Cambridge. The first of these Meetings was held at Beaufort House, Walham Green, on the 23rd of March ; and, in spite of many adverse circum­ stances of a perfectly unforeseen nature, was a complete success, and attracted a very large number of spectators. The entries, which were very numerous, comprised nearly all the principal Athletesof the day ; and, as might have been expected, the several events were keenly and closely contested.