Athletics

30 ATHLETICS. wards, in examiningthe names, is very great, more than ten times that spent in preparing the lists, to say nothing of neatness andfreedom frommistakes therebygained. The entry forms are put in the same order for «ach event, fastenedtogether, withthe event on the outside, and the whole enclosed flat {never roll entry forms) in a large envelope—Page and Pratt, Limited,Ludgate Circus, E.G., supply special envelopes for the purpose—together with a corresponding stamped and addressed envelope for return, and sentto the selectedstart allotter. This brings us to the appointment of a most important official. Handicappers. —Of late there has been a most unde­ sirable increase in aspirants to this office, and no sooner does the announcement of a new meeting appear, or the date approachof an old-established one, than the secretary is besieged by a shoal of so-called (often self-styled) handi­ cappers, the newly fledged section offering to do the work at "cut" prices, and promising all kinds of "influence" to obtain entries—"my club, which numbers three hundred members, is sure to support your meeting," andso forth. An inexperienced hon. sec. and committee, desirous of saving money, may be attracted by these, and unknowingly pass over well-tried officials. Handicapping is the mostresponsible of positions, andno one is qualified to undertake the duties unless he has servedmany years apprenticeship to sport, and made a careful study of form, and the bringing together of men of varying calibre. Again, even some of the well-known handicappers do their work in the most slip-shod style,and actually return the original sheet received from the secretary, with some figures thrown againstthe names—and even these are scratched through and altered—no proper list being sent. The firstsheet isonly the guide for the handicapper.