Athletics of To-Day 1929

Putting the Shot 333 first but exceptional natural athletic ability, which was shown also in his hurdling and sprinting. Britain has other excep– tionally good performers, considering the meagre facilities for competition that are afforded, in Captain J. A. Ross, H.L.I., Lt. C. E. Beckwith, Northumberland Fusiliers, and K. H. Pridie, University of Bristol, all of whom are in the 44 ft. class. Since r865, when the first Oxford and ambridge event was won at 31 ft. 4! ins., the world's record has been increased in some sixty odd years by approximately 20 ft. 8 4 ins., but the English native record has risen by only 7ft. r! ins. The reason for the latter circumstance is easily explained by lack of proper coaching at the schools and the difficulty all shot putters experience in getting anything like a reasonable amount of competition. But we can hope for great improvement now that the London A.C. has decided to include a 12 lb. shot put in the Public Schools Sports programme. For years past competition in this event at our public schools has been confined almost entirely to the rowing men and Rugger forwards. They alone po sess the strength to propel the r6 lb. missile, but seldom have the time to spare from their other sports to master properly the timing and technique of the event. Fifty years ago H. C. Gaches-a son, I believe, of a former Town Clerk of Peterborough-won the Merchant Taylors' School shot put at 27ft. 5 ins., Sir Montague Shearman, now President of the A.A.A., taking the same event in r874 at 30ft. 4 ins. and in r875 at 34 ft. 4 ins. In comparison with Sir Montague's school record of just over half a century ago, which was probably a Public Schools record at that time, is the fact that in rg28 new school records were made at Rugby, A. J. Martin 36 ft. ro ins., and Mill Hill, T. H. B. Lawther, 36 ft. o in., while H. A. V. Hogan, Malvern, reached 34ft. 7 ins., and B. S. Bennett, loxham, 34 ft. 4! ins., and 30 ft. was beaten at practically all the schools that still include the event. The standard of p rformance has therefore increased consider– ably, and obviously th re is a w alth of undeveloped talent in the country. What then is the reason why shot putting is not more popu- . --