Athletics

ATHLETICS. way) clip into these perforations; the result being a perfectly firm and dead level rest for the end of the bar instead of the loose, round, and shaky ones usually employed. The plates only cost about sixpence perdozen, andthe patent perforated strips 2s. each for 6 ft. lengths, or two lengths each g ft. long (to fix on so as to record from 3 ft. to 12 ft.) would cost 7^. (id., or complete with plates, 8j-. or 8^. 6^. Any handy carpenter could make the uprights and mortice them to secure the strips, or the latter can be pro­ cured in another form to screw unto existing standards, with plates, etc., for about IOS. complete. Another point which greatly needs improvement is the form of the cross­ bar. It is generally a make-shift pole or rod, so light that it dances abouton the pegsif touched, and even a breeze will blow it off,easily broken, andso small that it is difficult to see. When that marvellous leaper, W. Byrd Page, Manhattan A.C., New York, who, although only 5 ft. 7 in. himself, cleared 6 ft. 4 in. in height, wasover here in 1887, he introduced much needed improvements in this matter. It is infinitely betterto have a bar about f in. thick, but i-^- to 2 in. deep, exceptat the ends, where it is cut away to % in., with the centre,for 4 ft. or so, painted white. This gives a much steadier bar, with little or no deflexion in the centre, and, being clearly visible, itpresents a more definiteobject to be jumped at, or rather over, and obviates the necessity of placing a handkerchief on the bar. Several of these cross-pieces