Editor’s Note: While in Denver for the 2014 World Lacrosse Championships this past summer I had the fantastic opportunity to have a conversation with a Scottish lacrosse pioneer, Jane Claydon. Jane is also the author of St. Leornards Cradle of Lacrosse, which includes the written history of the game of lacrosse in Scotland, as introduced to them by Six Nations members. In 1982, Jane was the organizer of the very first World Lacrosse Tournament which was sponsored by W.H.Brine and was held at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, England. It was at this event that plastic sticks were used by players for the first time.
The following lessons will all be taken from St. Leonards Cradle of Lacrosse starting today with Part 1.
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Chapter 2
To play like gentlemen and behave like ladies
I was so charmed with it that I introduced it at St. Leonards – Miss Louisa Innes Lumsden
St. Leonards School, in St. Andrews, Scotland claims to be the first girls’ school to have played lacrosse matches.
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Clara, Lady Reyleigh kept a detailed diary of the British Association’s visit to Montreal in 1884 and she recorded:
In the afternoon we all went to see the Indian game of La Crosse played between twelve Montrealists and twelve Indians. It is pretty and exciting, something between lawn tennis and football – I could have watched it for hours! we (sic) were all comfortably seated in places of honour on a covered stand, which partly accounts for my enjoyment.
This appears to be a description of the same events referred to by Miss Lumsden, in a letter dated September 6th 1884. In this letter, sent home after the conference while she was staying in the White Mountains, New Hampshire, she told of her visit to watch the Canhuwaya Indians play lacrosse against the Montreal Club in Montreal. It is not clear whether Miss Dove accompanied her, on what may have been an organized outing for delegates at this Conference, but it seems very probable that she did. Miss Lumsden’s autobiography indicates that she and Miss Dove were traveling companions at that time and were staying in the same lodgings.
Miss Lumsden wrote “It is a wonderful game, beautiful and graceful. (I was so charmed with it that I introduced it at St. Leonards.)” As Miss Lumsden left St. Leonards in 1882 she may have suggested the idea of lacrosse to her successor, Miss Dove, when discussions began several years later to find an appropriate game for the Spring Term.
In 1890, the February issue of the St. Leonards School Gazette, the school magazine, announced:
The new game, La Crosse, which has taken place of Goals for this term, is being carried on with new vigor.
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Note: It was two years later in 1890 when the first official game took place.
An amusing account of the very first lacrosse match at St. Leonards on March 27th 1890 can be found in a hand written magazine called Tulloch Gorum dated 1890, compiled by girls in Miss Tulloch’s house. The game was between two house teams known as Sandy’s and Tulloch’s. Houses at that time were named after the Housemistresses.
An account of the Match Thursday the 27th being a holiday was the day appointed for the first Lacrosse match. We arrived in very fair time for us. After our crosses having undergone a severe inspection i.e. our referee holding the up one by one and squinting with one eye to see if that which ought to be plane surface was not a curved one. Our referee said it was time to begin, but, owing to the absence of the ball it was rather difficult for the order to be carried out. However the ball was duly found & after the “1.2.3. Play” had been called, a vigorous game began. About quarter time Sandys gained the first goal & then a little before half time they gained their second. During the interval of play we, & all those backing out team implored them to make up their minds to get the next goal. Play began again & as a happy result of our prayers our Captain succeeded in putt ing the ball very neatly through our adversaries (sic) goal, thereby gaining a great applause. As to the play, our Captain was of curse all that could be desired. M. McLeod did her best & often succeeded in getting the ball away form her opponent. J. Barty played up very well & proved that accusations made against her were utterly false. We expected great things of F. Dodgson who played with vigor but did not come quite up to expectations. I. Elliot kept goals very creditably & looked as if it were a matter of life and death all the time. M. Alston deserves praise for the way in which she was able to centre so long with out giving way. R. Grieve played well as usual & ought to be commended for the way in which she followed the captain’s orders as to the duties of point. S. Jarvie own great applause from one & all for the capital way in which she played up for the honor of the house; her manner of throwing is worthy of imitation. Everyone in our team after having had such a long time to practice ought certainly at least to have been able to pick up the ball As regards shouting we consider that we carried that part of the programmer to perfection.
NB We are glad to tell our readers that no one was too deeply affected by our defeat__sad as it was. – By two onlookers.
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Unfortunately the book is currently out of print and in limited supply. If you ever have the opportunity to speak with Jane, don’t miss out on the incredible chance to converse on the true history of the game of lacrosse around the world.
Stay tuned for more lessons coming in future Throwback Thursdays!
