An Athletics Compendium

Training jor Adults E 45-51 45 Training for athletics and general healtHhar/ry Andrews. London: Pearson, 1911. ^ Previous ed. E41 46 Athletics / E. H. Rywlei,th thirty-two action photographs. London: Eveleigh Nash, 1912. 229p; illus (The national library of sports and pastimes) BL; 7904.df.34/1 Ryle, an ex-President of Cambridge University AC. compiled a notable work which includes articles by Philip J. Baker (miling), G. R. L Anderson (hurdles), Sidney 5. Abraham(slong jump). W.E. 13. Henderson (discus, both styles), Henry Leeke (hammer). E. E. Leader (high jump) and Adolphe Abrahams ('the scientific side'). Interesting comparisons are made between Britain and America, andRyle deplores the inadequacy ofBritish facilities. 'As an instance of the practical interest in sport I might point out that theNew York AC possesses a gigantic central club house standing in its own grounds in the city, admirablyequipped in every way and which cost nearly 2.000.000 doltlaorserect. There is also a "country house" belonging to the same club outside the town, replete with every comfort. Let the Englishreader comparethe inadequatedressing rooms under the standat StamfordBridge which is the sole club house that the London AC possesses or is ever likely to possess with these edifices.' What Ryleomits to mention is thNaetwYork AC was not a specialist athletic club but used the word 'athletic' in a more genersaelnse. In1995. an attempt was made tcoommemorate thcentenary of thle&dS New York AC v London AC meeting, butNew York found it impossible toraise atrack andfield team from its membership. 47 Athletics in theory anpdractice / Ernest W. Hjertberg; edited by Sidney Solomon Abrahams, with over 70 photographs from life. London: Hutchinson, 1913. xii, 280p; illus BL; Mic .A.7691 (1) (microfilm copy) Hjertberg was the coach of Sweden's 1912Olympic team, and of naumber ofleading Americanclubs. This well-illustrated study was inspired by the 1912 Olympic Games. Bymodern standards muocfhthe adviceis either unscientific or inadequate, but the book is exceptional forits chapters on feievldents, including the unfashionable javelin, discus and triple jump events. The chapter on javelin throwing is contributed by the fatheror that event. ELreicmming. 'Of all the forms ofathletics that occur on the programmes at American and Continental meetings, it is the pole jump which possesses most interest fothr e spectators. This is not difficult to understand, for. noefcessity, there must beceartain excitement in seeing a person throw himself up in the air to haeight ofeleven feet and more. In England pole-jumping onlyrequires to be well-performed to be thoroughly appreciated also.' 48 The complete athletic train/er S. A. Mussabini in collaboration with Charles Ranson. London: Methuen, 1913. xii, 262p; illus BL;2271.c.l9 'Sam' Mussabini was undoubtedly one of the great British coaches of the early part of the twentieth century, but the reader of The Complete Athletic Trainer willoccasionally findstatements whmicighht well have been penned by Captain Barclay over a century before. 'Purgative medicine, which will touch the liver aswellas the stomachshould be taken atht e outset .... A vgeoryod old-fashioned recipe knownas "Black Jack"will not easily be bettered.' Later, showing a basic Western Roll type of jump. Mussabini notes in a caption: 'more picturesque than effective'. These copwebs ofthe nineteenth century shouldnot deter the reader, forthis is a fine book, with particularly good chapters on timing and starting (from the official's viewpoint)and marathon running. Thereare interesting photos of the professional walker, Cummings. and oRf ansom, a dual SheffielHdandicap winner. Mussabini ends his boonka note whichmight well be emulated by less modest modern authors. Apologising for thexclusion of certain fieeldvents, he says: 'The writer is. however, diffident of touching subjects with which he has had so little practical acquaintance, andwoituld not befair to hirseaders for him to paraphrase the works of others and advance second-hand opinions.' 49 Athletic training / Michael C. Murphy; edited by Edward R. Bushnell; with anintroduction by R. TaitMcKenzie. London: Bickers, 1914. xxxiv, 174p; illus BL;Mic .A. 10911(1) (microfilm copy) The training advice of thfaemous American coach who pioneered many techniques, such as the crouch start, which are a feature moofdern athletics. This is one of the first great works of the American collegiate system. Murphy, who died before the publication of his book, was the father of the American film actor. George Murphy. 50 Training for the track, fieladn, d road, with somehints on health andfitness / HarryAndrews; edited by E. Elliot Stock. London: Stanley Paul, 1914. 21 6p; illus; index BL;7911.e.7 The trainer of Alf Shrubb andJack Morton gives his advice on training, with strong emphasis on the use of massage, skippinagnd diet. Interestingreferences to the 'drug habint'American athletics. 'I have also tried strychnine in tabloid form for a bad case of exhaustion, but. finding it of no practical use. feblalck upon a cup of hot meat extraTchte. latter had almost instant effect.' 51 Success in athletics, and how to obtain it / F. A. M. Webster, TJ.. PryceJenkins, & R. Vivian Mostyn. London: Sidgwick J&ackson, 1919. xvi, 240p; illus BL; 07911.eee.13 An early attempt ptroduce atechnical analysis of athletics, in which mathematical principles and [ 99 ]