The Cruise of the Branwen

THE WREATH OF OLIVE to stop. He weighs over I 3 stone. The pace at the start had been made far too hot, and may have accounted for Cormack getting a stitch early in the race which lost him a lot of ground. The winner had come over two months beforehand, and thoroughly accustomed himself both to the climate and the course; and it is quite possible that neither he nor any of the British competitors would have done so well if it had not been for the care of Mr. Bosanquet, of the British School, who sent his own cook with various necessaries to Marathon, the night before the race, and ensured whatever comfort was possible for the British runners. This is a race that will be difficult to reproduce elsewhere,* and it will no doubt continue in Greece, owing to the strength of local associations; but any British competitor there in the future should understand that his chances will be most remote unless he arrives at least a fortnight beforehand. It will also be necessary for the British authorities to secure, some days in advance, a house, with proper food, drink, and blankets, in Marathon, for use by our athletes the night before the race. All other details were well looked after by the Greek authorities, though the medical examination of the cornpetitors was rather a farce, and should be superseded in future by the production of a properly signed certificate by each runner. It * In 1908 it was arranged that competitors should start from Windsor, pass Eton and Harrow, and finish the twenty– five-mile course in the great Arena at Shepherd's Bush. 93