An Athletics Compendium

Other British Regions 382-388 Other British ^Legions 382 Guernsey athletics 1946-63/ Eric Waldron. St Peter Port: The author, 1964. 383 The history otfrack and field:Guernsey athletics. Part 1: 1885-1963 / Ramon J. Hollis. VGaluee: rnsey Press, 2000. 358p; illus; pbk ISBN: 0-9539166-0-X International 384 Get to your marks!: a short history of world, Commonwealth, European and British athle/ticsRoss and Norris McWhirter; foreword by HaArobldrahams. London: Nicholas Kaye, 1951. 267p; illus; index BL: 7920.f.28 The McWhirter twins spearheaded in Britain the emphasis on statistical data which is a feature of modern athletics writinTg.his book is a landmark in athletics literaturgei,ving a detailed history ofeach event for men and women. Each chapter has an appendix listing world, British Empire and United Kingdom best performances a todepth of abou15t , for Imperial and metric distances. The text is distinguished by a degree of precision and thoroughness which no athletics historian had achieved before. The section on women's track and field athletics is a particulanrloyvel feature. 385 A supplement to Get to your marks, being a list of qualifying performances for 1951 and newly discovered performances / Ross & Norris McWhirter. London: Nicholas Kaye, 1952. 7p; pbk BL: 7920.f.28a This supplement brings Get to your Mark's/ up to 1 January 1952. 386 The history of the InternationCalross-Country Union, 1903 to 1953: jubilee souveni/r Lawrence N. Richardson. Ambergate: Tahuethor, 1954. 170p; illus BL: 7922.b.l2 Contributors include E. Hermes (Belgium), F. A. Moran (Eire), J. (3.Stubbs, Paul Mericamp (France). F. J. Duffy (Ireland), G. Dallas, R. A. Pritchard and P. Liddington Johns. A well-illustrated account of international cross-country running with descriptions, full results andstatistics. This is the firstand only history of cross-countryrunning so far produced. ^ See also: A389 387 All out for the mile: haistory of the milerace: 1864-1955 / George W. SmiLtho.ndon: Forbes Robertson, 1955. 208p; illus BL: 7921.e.120 Includes an Introduction by John Paul Jones and a medical opinion by Dr. J. V. O. A. Durnin; the contributors include Arnold N. 5. Jackson, D. A. Jamieson, TeMd eredith, Joe BinkMs, arcel Hansenne, Jesse P. Abramson, RobHearrtron, EvelynMontague, Jerry Cornes, Lewis Burton, Sydney Skilton, Guy Butler, Jack OatenE,rik Pydbeck, Joe Galli, RoMy oor and Norris McWhirter. This account of all the outstanding runs and athletes in this period draws on reports and character-cameos from many experts. Subsequent research has tended to discredit the pattern of progress traced in the early chapters, which ignores the qualiotfyprofessional runners in the pre-Association period, but themajor portion of the pook is both absorbing andinspiring. 'Landy had no chance. The decisive blow had been delivered precisely and scientifically; and there was no time left to him to recoverand counter-attack. The Englishman, now completely out of danger and beyond his rival's reach, was homing in full fligahst-lordly and unconquerable as loane eagle making for its eyrie in the snow-sprinkled mountains that formed in the background to that memorable scene.' 388 A world history of trackand field athletics, 1864-1964 / Roberto L. Quercetani; foreword Hbayrold M. Abrahams. London: Oxford University Press, 1964. xxi, 370p; illus BL: X.449/102 The most celebrated statistician of modern times here produces ahistory which is encyclopedic in its attention to detailand must be considered as the foremost reference book of athletics history. The chapters covthere storyof each men's track and field event on the Olympic programme, and the thoroughness tohfe operationis emphasised by an Index of 1,457 namesA. ccounts argeiven of all notable records and championships as well as personal statistics of almost every notable athlete. The accounts oafthletics tinhe thirties afnodrties are particularly good; the sketchesof Nurmi, Hagg and Andersson are gems. [ 35 ]