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FOR WOMEN FOLK.

Passing Pleasantries.

X-COUNTRY NOTES

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X-COUNTRY NOTES- Local Clubs: — Roath (Cardiff) Harriers. ADVICE ON TRAINING FOR DISTANCE RUNNERS. The Roath (Cardiff) Harriers, which enjoys the distinction of being the oldest club in Wales, was founded in 1887 by a few cross- country enthusiasts, prominent amongst them being Messrs. C. A. Dunlop, T. W. Ninnee, and -> MR. R. V. AMBROSE (Captain). I D. Hailey. For the first two seasons of it existence there was no apparent organisation but in 1839 the development of the club begar in earnest, and Mr. C. A. Dunlop was appoints the first captain, having as hon. secretary NL T. W. Ninnes. Fixtures were arranged will the district clubs, and some excellent runnei were produced. During the early nineties races were print pally held with Swansea. St. Helen's (Swanse; and St. Anne's (Cardiff. and some excitir tusscls were seen for supremacy, particular! with the Swansea clubs. In 1894 the first Wrelah cross-country char, pionship was held at Ely Racecourse, whc Roath were returned the winners, the scores, reading—Roath 25 points, Swansea 92 points, and St. Helen's (Swansea) 110 points. It may be interesting to note the first six men home for Roath on that day, viz., Hugh Fairlamb first, A. E. Turner second, R. A. Blandy third, f Bert Fairlamb fourth, A. T. Shackell fifth, and G. S. Stowe tenth. The following year the club again won the Welsh cross-country championship, beating the St. Anne's (Cardiff) Harriers, the only other entrant, by 54 points, and finishing the first six men, amongst them being R. Ambrose, the present captain of the club. In 1896, for the third time in succession, the championship was again won, only a margin of two points, however, separating the wiunera from their opponents, the Cardiff Harriers, Harry Cullum, of the latter club, being the first man home on that day. Since then Roath has never won the premier place, having to be content with second place in every case (in 1898 jointly with the Newport Harriers). III 1895 the club met the then champions of the West (Bristol Harriers) at Bristol, the latter club winning by only six points, Gulli- ver. T. Pavey, and Curtis, of Bristol, being the first three men home that day, and they were closely followed by four Roath men. In the following year, however, the tables were turned, the Roath men winning handsomely over the old East Moors course, Cardiff, by Z3 points. The inter-club races during the last few seasons have been chiefly with the Newport and Cardiff clubs. Newport, the present champions, were met for the first time in 1397 over the Llanrumney course, and were beaten by five points, but the following year at Newport the homesters had their revenge, vanning by eighteen points. The membership of the club has steadily increased since its formation, and prospects for the forthcoming season are very promising. The captain this season is Mr. R. Ambrose, who has been a. member of the club for the last eleven years. He is a very consistent runner over the country, and I believe he is .,cry popular with his men. I am pleased to be able to supply my readers with a photo- graph of Mr. Ambrose. The vice-captains are Messrs. W. H. Faccy and J. P. Mountjoy, and the energetic secretary of the club (Mr. George Stratton. of 149. Mackintosh, place, Cardiff, has been again re-elected. Since Mr. Stratton has been hon. secretary of the club he has done much to keep the club up to its old standard, and the record turn out for runs last season must be very gratifying to him. I have pleasure in also giving a reproduction of Mr. Stratum's photo herewith. j As will be seen from the list of runs for j October the season starts to-day with a paper I chase from head-quarters, and the runs will J be continued every Saturday until the end of j March, the weather under no circumstances j being considered. The headquarters are the j Royal Oak Hotel, Broadway, where practice runs are held every Tuesday and Thurs :y at eight o'clock, and occasionally during the season runs are arranged from Ely, Barry. I Llandaff, 8t. Fagan's. &c., Ac. In conclusion, I may say that I have a great j respect for the. Roath Harriers. They have kept well together when other cluba were unable to get a team for eross-conntry running (notwithstanding the membership of j some of the local clubs), and. moreover, the Roath men go into the sport simply for the love of the thing, and not for the sake of any I prizes there may be on the end of it, and I I wish them a most enjoyable season. J Next week I hope to give some particulars of the Welsh Cross Country Association, the governing body of the amateur cross-eountry i clubs of Wales. I Somewhere or other I have seen track racing described as the prose, and cross-country I running as the poetry of foot racing. The man who go33 in for cross-country running, taking fence, ditch, and ploughed fields as they come, enjoys the sensation of running pure and simple, and there is not the mono- tony that ia experienced in track running, 1 j where one runs lap after lap at a certain pace without the least variety. If a man does a good performance in a cross-country run it is not because he has a- perfect, track specially prepared or anything of that sort, but because he is a good natural runner. In cross-country running everyone has his In cross-country running everyone has his own peculiar style of progress, and aa style, &e., does not count for much (in my mind, at any rate), it is better for one to get along in the easiest and most comfortable manner they can. To be really successful, a man must use his eyes and brains, so that he can take at a glance any advantage the country over which he is running may offer. This is by no means a matter to be neglected, and especially is it found useful when running over strange ground. -Then, again, one has to face the fact that no cross-country course is in the same condition (generally speaking) for two weeks together, as a heavy rain or a few dry, frosty days will make a tremendous difference in time, and, therefore, times are practically useless as regards comparisons. In getting fit for this branch of sport, the preparation should be gradual and not forced, and no really hard work should be done for the first few weeks, but break it gently" to yourself as it were, and it will become quite an easy matter to reel off eight or ten miles. In training it will be found quite sufficient to go Qver the course once a week at about three-quarter pace, and vary this during the week with a couple of fast runs on the track or road and some sharp walking. If a team has any contest of importance )ming off they should commence a proper jurse of training fully eight weeks prior o the event, and after the second or third eck of training a club handicap or two over .he course will be found very beneficial, but -his number should not be exceeded as it is jctter' to be rather under than over trained. .llÙ if the above method of going over the ourse at three-quarter pace with track work Liid walking is done, with the couple of acing pace trials, it will be found quite sum- ient. I GEORGE STRATTON. I There is little to be said on the question of diet. Eat what you fancy (only avoid puffy foods) and eat plenty, as the work is hard, but never attempt to go" the course on II anything like a full stomach; it is better to run feeling a little hungry. A woollen jersey with long sleeves is preferable to the ordi- nary racing singlet, and a light flannel pair of drawers. As regards shoes, it is much the best to have those of the proper cross- country description with short spikes, a steel I plate in the soles, which will be found a splendid protection for the feet when running over hard ground, low heels, and it is advisable to have a strap or broad elastic; band fastening around the ankle. An old pair of pumps can easily be made to answer the purpose providing they are in any way ser- viceable. Next week I shall have something more to say on the subject, as I cannot deal further with it this week for want of space.

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