THE GROWTH OF ATHLETICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 32

THE GROWTH OF ATHLETICS.

SOME FEATS, OLD AND MODERN.

Strange is it that it was not until early in the nineteenth century that athletics, in a fugitive sort of fashion, began to engage the attention of the sport-loving men of the day. Yet then impromptu feats were occasionally undertaken which trained men of to-day would shrink from.

For instance, a large party were assembled in Black Hall, Kincardinshire, after a heavy day's shooting in July. Conversation having turned on feats of endurance, Sir Andrew Hay suddenly challenged Lord Kennedy to walk to Inverness— nearly 100 miles distant — for a bet of L 2500 a side. They set out at 10 o'clock in their evening dress, the former arriving at his destination in 32 hours and the latter, by a different route, in 36 hours. Everyone has heard of Captain Barclay's remarkable feat of walking 1000 miles in 1000 hours — a mile in each hour. But it was not until the year 1864 that the active commencement of open amateur athleticism was witnessed, when the Civil Service Athletic Sports were organised to celebrate the tercentenary of Shakespeare. Three years afterwards the luter-'Varsity Sports were moved up to London. Vast progress has been made during the last few years. Ten years ago Myers, the "American deer," won the Quarter-mile Championship in 48sec ; and five years ago W. G. George beat the best professional ever seen iv the marvellous mile time of 4min 12sec — the finest performance witnessed in' the authentic annals of athleticism, irrespective of distance or class of contest ; in fact, a performance beside which the picked feats of most other sports paled their ineffectual fires. — Speaker.