Athletics

56 ATHLETICS. PUTTING THE SHOT. "The weight shallbe put from the shoulder withone hand only, and without follow from a 7 ft. square. The weight shall be of iron and spherical, and shall weigh 16 lbs. All puts shall be measured per­ pendicularly from the first pitch of the weight to the front line of the square, or to that line produced. Each competitor shall be allowed three puts, and the best three competitors of the first trial shall be allowed three more puts each. The furthest put of the six shall win. Crossing thescratch shall countas a try." A companion sport to Throwing theHammer, but less trouble all round. All the preparations necessary is an iron ball, which must weigh exactly 16 lbs., and a squaremarked out with seven foot sides. It is much more satisfactory if the "put" side is of wood and bevelledupwards toits outer edge from the ground, so that the putter has a good stop foothold, thereby reducing therisk of his going over, which is not unfrequent ifthe boundary ismerely a white mark on the grass. A level bit of ground must be chosen, say,50 ft. long (including thesquare), and, commencing with 25 ft. (or if the competitors are very new to the work 20 ft), each 5 ft. marked by good-sized figure cards, up to 40 ft, as hown in diagram. Each "put" should be measured im­ mediately itis made from the edge of the square to a line at rightangles fromthe nearest cut of the shot, and entered inthe officials' programme, and if time permit telegraphed. An official must be appointed to see that the men do not get their foot over the line or follow before the shot falls. If two white tapes are pegged down, carrying out the sides of the square to 40 ft., it will assist in getting thesquare of the puts—for which the long jump square, at right angles, may be used —and help to take straight measurements. It will attract additional entries if medals are offered: (1) For the best