Athletics

4° ATHLETICS. well-stretched cord, measuring from the central peg, to which it must be attached, 113 ft. 6^ in.; this, with a whitening brush at the end, will answer the purpose of a a monster compass. With it the topand bottom half-circles can be marked out (see Plan B). Then get a lawn-tennis court marker, and very carefully and slowly go over the straight lines and half-circles. This line will only be 1313 ft. 8i in. to the circuit, but as both the A.A.A. and N.C.U. rules insist on all tracks being measured one foot from the inner edgeof the path, the legal (imaginary) line will be found to be exactly 440 yards, or1320 ft. If the ground necessitates a longer (and narrower) course, the straights may be 120 yards and the bends 100 yards—in this case the straights will be 188 ft.11 in. apart,and the string, for marking out the circular ends, would be 94 ft. 5^ in. long. Even this may not be possible; in such case the best must be made of the ground. But as a quarter lap is not always possible, we give the measurements for laying out a five-lap track (seePlan C); odd fractions of laps must be strictly avoided. If there is any doubt about thisduty being properly per­ formed, it is better, if near London, to secure the services of a man accustomed to the work, such asNat Perry or Jack White, StamfordBridge Grounds, Walham Green, S.W., or Fred Jenny,Paddington Recreation Grounds, W. The track ought to be made as wide as the ground will allow, but certainly not less than 20 ft., and more at the bends ; if 30 ft. in the home straightit will be all the better. Small flags may be put inat, say, five yards intervals, with larger ones every 20 yards, on the white line, or a little inside, slanting away from the track, but no continuous rope. A firm barrier must be erected on the outside. If only posts and ropes, the posts ought to be very strong, and onlyfour