An Athletics Compendium

E 35 - 44 TrainingforAdults 35 The science and art of training: a handbook for athletes / Henry Hoole. 2nd ed. London: H. Cox, 1891. xiii, 124p BL: Mic.A.7795(12)(microfilm copy) ^ Previous ed. E30; subsequent ed. E36 36 The science and art of trainingh: anadbook for athlete/s Henry Hoole. 3rd ed. London: H. Cox, 1895. xv, 124p BL: Mic.A.7795(13)(microfilm copy) ^ Previous ed. E35 37 Athletic sports / D. A. Sargent, H. J. Whigham, R. D. Wrenn, P. G. HuberJtr,., M. MeringtonJ, . W. Roosevelt, D. Osborne, SE..Martin. London: Kegan Paul, 1898. xiii, 318p (The out of door library) BL: 7912.dd.22/2 Advice on the training and technique necessary for athletic events. 38 The young sportsman / edited by Alfred E. T. Watson with numerous illustrations. London: Lawrence & Bullen, 1900. viii, 663p; illus The greater partreprintedfrom TheEncyclopedia ofSport BL: 07905.1.18 Includes a detailedsection onathletics bMyontague Shearman, with sections contributed by Harold Wade (cross-country and steeplechase), C. L. Lockton (hurdles), R. Williams (high jumapnd pole jump), C. 5. Fry (long jump) andO. 5. Robertson (hammer awnedight). 39 Athletics / Sir WilliamBeach Thomas. London: Ward, Lock, 1901. 356p; illus (The Isthmian Library series. 1896) BL: 07905 .g Contributors: CN. Jackson, Rev. J. H. Gray, H. A. Munro, A. C. M. Croome, W. M. Fletcher (USA), R. R. Conway and G. S. Robertson.A comprehensive guide to all the athleticevents thenin vogue, with a notable chapter on cross-country running: 'The ruin of athletics has been the establishment tohfe theory that the gamenotis goodenough in itself without a substantial briIbfoe.nce this foolish expenditure were banished, there is every reason to thinkthat little meetings would become more instead of less frequent.' Beach Thomas highlights eanrly problem ofamateur athletics: scratch athletic events invariably produced the same winners and most rural meetings copied the professionals anhdeld handicap events to encourage the less-gifted. Initially, these rural meetings were confined by the AAA to offeringcups or plaques, a policy which, not surprisingly,proved unpopular. Then, prizes were offered on which a brass plate (detailing the victor'sname) could be fixed. This rule naturally limited the range opfrizes, andwas withdrawn, tobe replaced with one winhich prizes oflittle intrinsic value were offered. This proved to bemore acceptable, but athletes often sold tphreiizres or hadthem replaced at the shopat which they hadbeen bought. The idea of winning a desirable prizeproved to be a bridge too far for theamateur authorities and the replacement or selling of a prize was deemedto renderan athlete a 'professional'. 40 The training of the body for games, athletics, gymnastics, and other forms of exercise, and for health, growth, and development / F. A. Schmidt and Eustace H. Miles; a translation of F. A. Schmidt's 'Unser Korper', with alterations and additions by Eustace H. Miles. London: Swan Sonnenschein, 1901. xxiv, 520p; illus Reissued in 1904 BL: 7908.h.16 A scholarly analysis of athletic events, with many diagrams and photographs including one of R. S. Garrett, the fimrsotdern Olympic discus champion. Pages 344-556 aorne walking, pages 58-0-431 on running and races. 41 Training for athletics and general hea/lthHarry Andrews. London: Pearson, 1904. 122p; index BL: D Advice by a famous expert otrnaining methods, with chapters on raullnning events. Ain teresting section on the use of drugs,including cocaine andstrychnine. This was a different individual from the writer of A Few Practical Hints (IS?©). ^ Subsequent ed. E45 42 Codebook of gymnastic exercises / Ludwig Puritz. London: Kegan, Paul, Trench and Triibner, 1905. 287p; illus Translation of:Manuel degymnastique. Hanover: 1883 A book widely used as a textbook of gymnastics in this country. It has chapters on jumping, pole-vaulting and throwing andis illustrated wiwthoodcuts. 43 Practical track and fieldathletics / John Graham and Ellery H. Clark. London: Nutt, 1905. lllp; illus BL: 7912.f.26 A notable account of the new methods of training adopted witshuch success in tUheSA. Clark was the first Olympic higjhump champion. 44 Training for athletics: a comprehensive manual dealing with all branches of sport. London: Health and Strength, 1908. 114p; illus BL: 7911.df.34 The writers include W.G.eorge, Alf Shrubb. HJ.iggins (on jumping), and A. T.Yeoumans (on walking)H. iggins contributes what is possibly the only written ma rial on jumping with weights, whichwas anactivity based mainly in the Lancashire area inthe second half of the nineteenth century Ho-ward of Chester cleared29ft 7in from a boat board in18'54. Jumping with weights had been pursued primarily in wager-based match- events. Later it had moved to the stage and occasionally ttohe circus, but by World War One it had vanished. Alas, Higgins' account does little to enlighten us on events whicnhow seem as ffarorm us as the medieval tournament. [ 98 ]