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AMATEUR ATHLETICS.
Death of Richard Coombes.
SYDNEY. April 16. — B. Richard Coombes.
who for many yean ha* been an outstanding per
sonality in amateur athletics and other branchei
of sport in Australia, died yesterday. Be waa
bo years ox age. me late Mr. 'oombes was
known as the 'father' of nmteur athletic in
Australia. H« was bora In Middlesex and came
to Australia in 1886. It waa not long be
fore fas mad* Ms mark as an administrator In
sport and in 1887 fas waa responsible for tbt
formation of the Mew Sooth Wales Amateur Ath
letic Association of which he was a rice-president
and later for many years president. In 1886
be wss Instrumental ? in founding I .*. Amateur
Athletic . Union of Australia and was the first
president. He had been 'a champion walker
when a member of the London Athletic Club
and in 1889 he founded the first walkers' club
in Australia — the Sydney Amateur Walkers' Club.
In the same year his efforts also led to the
forming of the Sydney Harriers, thus introduc
ing cross country running into Australia.
Hr. Coombes was for many years the re
presentative of Australia and New Zealand on
the International Olympic committee and he
took a leading part in the affairs of Olmpic
sport In Australia. In 1889 he drafted a
definite code of rules to govern track walking
and these rules were adopted throughout the
world. He was twice Invited to act as Judge
»f walking at the Olympic Games, but was un
able to accept the invitations. His interest in
sport, however, extended beyond athletic*, for
be was prominently connected with cuur^ng.
rifle shooting, rowing; sculling and cycling, dc
was a successful oarsman and marksman in
England and for 1-7 yean he ras captain of
the Sydney Fifle Cl-.i, l-'ter becoming tirrti
dent).
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