Athletics

S4 ATHLETICS. forces and go into solitude to practise together, the un­ charitable mightwish that neither wouldreturn. First get the hammer, if not exact in shape, so long as measurements and weight are right, it does not matter much, at this stage. Employ four boys (insured), seek out some secluded spot where there is a level surface, eighty feet or so in each direction; mark out the 9 ft. o circle, then post the boys at the points of a square, as shown, each100 ft. from the 9ft. circle; provide each witha red flagand orders to prevent any living thing passing into the central space. The novice then, with much misgiving, takesup his standat the edge of the circle, look­ ing outwards andholding thehammer handlenear the end, with the head on the ground to the right front; he then swings it roundhis head two or three times with an upward sweep, low infront, highbehind. When—and it is the crux of the situation to know when —sufficient force has been generated, move withand assist the hammer, in two quick running turns, sothat thehammer may be delivered at the moment of reaching theother sideof the circle,and hurled in the direction whichcarries out the line by which it was crossed. The actual manner in which it is crossed, and the method of delivery variesconsiderably, and the novice must practise until he " nicks" into a rhythmical movement which will carry on theforce from swing to delivery, without jerk or stop. It mustbe remembered that the twistingrun is to assist the hammer, it is the thrower who must carry round the hammer and not let it drag him round, or the force required to do so will be substracted from its initial velocity. So with delivering; the thrower must learn to put his full force into the final swinging turn, and then, immediately after it has left his hands, stop himself from leaving the, circle. If these two points are mastered, the