3-028-332 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Assault of arms by the Hon. Artillery Athletic Club: quarterstaff, 1870. 'The thirteenth annual assault of arms of this club took place at head-quarters, Finsbury [in north London], on the evening of Wednesday week, before a numerous and fashionable company - a fair proportion of the spectators being ladies. The programme contained fourteen trials of skill and strength in different exercises. The performance began at half-past seven and was continued with animation, an interval of a quarter of an hour only occurring, until ten o clock. Among the bouts attracting most notice [was that] between Messrs. Clarke and Preston (quarterstaff)...quarterstaff-play is a great novelty, and the competitors were recalled to the stage...A selection of band music was performed by the Pembroke Amateur band, conducted by Mr. Hird, bandmaster of the Hon. Artillery Company'. From "Illustrated London News", 1870.