Athletics Origins

• Origins were functional like the endurance needed by an army or accuracy of the hunter.

• Athleticism popular with Ancient Greeks, They used the term ‘man of action’

• Popular recreation athletics in 2 forms. Traditional festivals and Pedestrianism.

Traditional Festivals• Multi-sports: meeting needs of whole

community. E.g. wrestling, throwing, running, smock race.

• Ancient festivals found in Cornwall, Lake District, Scottish Highlands.

• Look at the picture of Robert Dovers Cotswold Olympick games.

• What sports can you see?• What characteristics of popular recreation are

shown?

Cotswold Games held in Gloucester at Whitsun from 1612.

Pedestrianism

• Forerunner of professionalism.

• They were race-walkers who earned a living by accepting challenges such as racing others or walking specific distances in certain times.

• They were supported by Upper Class patrons and heavy wagering.

• Upper class would also wager on races between their footmen and servants

PEDESTRIANISM

Question

• Look at the picture of the pedestrian versus the Gentleman Amateur.

• List the motives or reasons for both to be competing

Answer

• Pedestrian - For money. To support his family. Better than labouring. For fame. Because he is good at it. To prove he is as good as others.

• Gentleman - because he enjoys it. To prove himself (character development). As a challenge (physical endeavour). As a wager.

Influence of the Public Schools

• Athletics type sports were developed from Hare & Hounds (cross country).

• Not liked at Arnold stage because meant going out of school grounds and was an individual event rather than team.

• Stage 3 (1850s) saw the introduction of athletics weeks finishing with a sports day.

• Wider athletics programme including running, hurdling, jumps and field events.

continued• Public school athletics championships began.• A winter cross country season began.• Ex pupils established university athletics

clubs with inter-varsity athletics and cross country. Full Blue status.

• First recognised Athletics meeting was Exeter College in 1850. Programme was more like a horserace meeting. List of events and competitors. (Handicap)

Professional Athletics - rationalisation• Rural fairs declined and professional

athletics developed in big cities.

• Lower class made a living from running. Not as much money as pre-Victorian peds.

• Handicap system - often cheating, ‘roping’, ‘running to the book’ and ‘ringing in’ were common.

• Purpose built tracks from 1830 in most major cities. 25,000 crowds watching & wagering (spectators paid).

Amateur - Rationalisation• Amateur Athletic Club (AAC) formed 1866

by Ex-Oxbridge Gentlemen & London club.

• Did not want to be involved with professionals

• Amateur was seen as strictly no financial reward and no lower class (Gentlemen Amateurs).

• National Olympian Society(NOS) also set up in 1866. All males could compete but no prize money allowed.

Amateur Athletics Association

• The AAC was based in the South and NOS was in the North , a divide again!

• AAA set up in 1880, no class exclusion but still no financial gain.

• Regular meetings in Spring and Summer improved the standard of competition.

• Many towns also had Harrier Clubs with regular x country races in the Winter.

Rationalised athletics - a stand, spectators, organisation, judges.

Athletics today

• Discussion points.

• How has the distinction between amateurs and professionals changed?

• Think back to GCSE . USA - Scholarships, Russians being in the Armed Forces, Trust Funds.

• Is there prize money today?

• What about the Olympics?