Athletics

38 ATHLETICS. which, regrettable as it may be, a club which gives poor or badly selected prizes oneyear, will receive very little support the next. The Grounds—Laying out the Track. —If a cinder-path is to be the sceneof operations itwill simplify matters, asthe ground-man will know the permanent markings for the handicaps, starting marks for various distances, places for jumping, shot-putting, etc. However, as it is most probable the sports are to beheld on a turf track, caremust be taken in selecting and laying it out. It is a poor town indeed which has not a cricket club, and that club a decent field. If this is not available, a large and level field ought tobe secured which is easily accessible from the town; if pos­ sible this ought to be of old meadow land; if not used for the purpose before it will want some time to lick it into shape. The bestsize for a lap is 440 yards (quarter-mile). This necessitates apiece of ground 200 yards long by 150 yards broad, in order to allow room all round the trackfor tents, carriages, etc.; even these dimensions will cramp the pro­ ceedings. The best shape for the inside of a track is a square, with the halves of a divided circle of equal diameter clapped on the ends. This willgive two straight sides of 85 yards 1 ft. 9 in., the half-circles being equal; but it is better to have straights of100 yards with bends, or half-circles of 120 yards each. This will give an out­ line like Plan B, which shows the skeleton plan of the ground. The best way, when a level piece has been chosen,is to mark off roughly two straights of 100 yards, 227 ft, 1 in. apart, then mark out these with pegged-down white cords 100 yards long, perfectly parallel; carry a string straight across top and bottom; then find the centre; get another