The 250 yards and 220 yards races were run off on this long straight, and the first 250 yards of the quarter-mile races were also contested over this ground, which accounts, in a great measure, for the fast times done some years ago in short races at Stamford Bridge. In long races, where the pace is not so great, probably the long slight curves do not interfere with the times. Recently the long straight has been built over, and the ground is again left with the old defects. We are strongly of opinion that in every path there should be as much straight and as little corner as possible, or, in other words, that the path should be quadrangular with rounded corners, and not an oval with the two sides flattened. The fault of long curved stretches is also conspicuous at Oxford, though not to such a degree as at Stamford Bridge; but, on the other hand, there is no long straight at Oxford, and in a 300 yards' race on the Oxford ground half the distance has to be run round a curve. The long curves are most unfair in handicaps, and also in any race where there is a large field, as one runner passing another may have to come right out from the inside of the track and then have to come in again at once so as not to lose ground; besides this, the continual running in a curve must necessarily shorten the stride, and more ground is lost thereby than upon a short but sharper turn.

The old Marston ground, although laid in a swamp and rightly deserted by the O.U.A.C. in 1877, was, we think, made in a better shape than the Iffley Road ground, although the cinder track at the latter place is certainly very fast and dry. The Cambridge track at Fenner's is both well-laid and well-shaped, the only drawback to it being that the levels are not true. The starting-points of the quarter-mile, 300 or 220 yards races are higher than the finish, so that many of the fast times made over these distances at Fenner's are really untrustworthy. The Fenner's track, too, was built with the intention of making competitors run with their left hand to the inside of the track, the contrary being the practice at most other running grounds. Of recent years, we believe, the Cambridge runners have accommodated themselves to the general system, and run the other way round the ground, so that any times made by Cantabs running up-hill can scarcely be disregarded. Another well-known track, which has been remarkable for several fast times - that of the Aston Lower Grounds at Birmingham - was open to the same objection as Fenner's, on the ground of levels.

In the Aston ground there was a drop of over 6 feet in the 300 yards course, and rather more, we think, in the quarter-mile course, the part between the finish and the beginning of the quarter being a stiff up-hill. As a result, the Records Committee of the A.A.A. has declined to take any notice of any performance done over less than a lap of a track which is not properly levelled; but it accepts performances where competitors have covered more than the full lap, and so run both up-hill and down-hill. Even this, however, can hardly be considered strictly fair, as experience shows that more time is gained running down a long and steady decline than is lost by coming up a short stiff incline. The Aston records can hardly, therefore, be considered satisfactory under any circumstances.

In considering the famous running grounds upon which so many cracks have toiled and 'spun,' we have rather wandered from our main subject, that of athletic meetings. All the classical events of the year are held over regular running paths, but for an immense number of country and provincial gatherings there is no cinder track at hand. The committee arranging for the sports have therefore to procure the best field obtainable, which is usually the local cricket ground, and this has to be staked out with flags and ropes, so as to obtain as long a lap and as good turf as is possible. We are by no means so certain that where a well-shaped lap of really good dry level turf is obtained there is much difference in point of speed between cinders and turf; but it is very difficult indeed to get a piece of turf which will satisfy the requirements of a good running path in point of level and dryness. The majority of the fields used for local sports are cricket grounds of which the 'pitch' in the middle is perhaps beautifully level and in good condition, while the outside parts of the ground, upon which the races must necessarily be run, have probably been neglected. The majority of grass courses, therefore, are considerably inferior in every way to the regular running paths.

Athletic ' cracks ' of London and the Universities have got into the habit of thinking that no good thing can possibly come from grass courses, and are inclined to scout reports of any records having been made upon them. Still we would remind critics that there are grass courses and grass courses, and that a country cricket field mowed for the occasion round its edges is very different from the Private Banks cricket ground at Catford Bridge, Kennington Oval, or the Trent Bridge ground at Nottingham. The first and last of these are, we think, when the weather is favourable, little, if at all, inferior to the best cinder tracks that have ever been made, and we can quite understand how in longer races a grass course may suit some athletes better than cinders, there being less concussion at each stride. For a proof of our opinion we may point to the facts that H. R. Ball did his best and fastest quarter at Catford Bridge, Slade his fastest two miles at the Oval, Scott his fastest mile and Myers his fastest 1,000 yards at Trent Bridge. At the same time it is perfectly reasonable to feel doubtful about 'records' made over turf.

The ground may not be level, the measurements may not have been accurately taken, and may be incapable of subsequent verification, the only boundaries being posts and ropes which are usually removed as soon as the day's sport is over.