3-008-690 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Volunteer games at Liverpool, 1862. 'A grand Festival...[was held] by the Liverpool Athletic Club at the Mount Vernon Parade-ground, on which occasion the champion's gold enamel medal, presented by the Mayor, together with five gold, twenty-five silver, and twenty-five bronze medals, were contested for by gentlemen amateurs...On the lower side of the ground had been erected a commodious grand stand, and this spacious structure was speedily crowded almost to excess...The Grand Stand was profusely decorated with banners, flags, and other ornaments...The programme included steeplechasing and flatracing, broadsword excercise, vaulting, Indian club exercises, boxing, gymnastics, walking-matches, jumping, pole-leaping, throwing the quoit, fencing, and wrestling ...To Mr. A. Fairweather, of Manchester, was awarded the champion medal as winner of the greatest number of prizes of the day; whilst Messrs. A. and J. Fairweather, Craigher, Johnson, and Mawdsley, members of the Manchester Athenaeum Gymnastic Club, who competed for gold and silver medals offered for gymnastic exercises, fencing, &c., succeeded in carrying off eleven prizes'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862.