Page 5 - index

:fJ3lackbeatb 1barriers

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT.
T HE 'Club was founded Peckham Hare and Hounds."
in 1869 and
was originally
"The
known
as
In 1870, however, it became "The Peckham
Amateur Athletic Club," while in 1878, when its Head-
quarters were established at the Green NI an Hotel, Black-
heath, it assumed the title of " The Blackheath Harriers,"
which it has borne ever since.
The following is an account of the Club's first official
run, as reported in " Bell's Life in London" of Wednesday,
October 27, 1869:
THE PECKHAM HOUNDS.
" The first meet of this Club took place on Saturday,
the 23rd inst., at the King's Arms, Peckham Rye,
when the following gentlemen were present, viz.:
Messrs. C. Black, Cornell, A. Johnson, W. H. William-
son, S. Collins, A. Darnell (Trafalgar e.C.), J. Dryden
(HopeR.C.), J. H. Easthie (Argyle c.c.i, W. H. Hawke
(German G.S.), W. Hensman (Croydon A.C.), and
F. H. Reed (Thames R.C.). The hares (Messrs.
Black and Easthie) were sent off at four o'clock,
and led the 'run' through Goose Green, Denmark
Hill, Lordship Lane, Dulwich, Sydenham, Forest
Hill, and back to the Rye, making a run of from nine
to ten miles. Time of running, 97 minutes."
Thenceforward Club fixtures of a similar description
took pJace from the Peckham Headquarters in winter,
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