Coaching and Care of Athletes

CHAPTER XXVIII THE HAMMER THROW THE sport of hammer-throwing would appear to be as old as the proverbial hills. This may seem surprising nowadays, when the sport has become so highly scientific, but there is mention in the Book of Leinster of an event termed roth cleas, which means the 'wheel feat,' having been included in the Tailtin Games, which were held in Ireland as long ago as I829 B.c. One of the winners of this event was the legendary Irish hero Cuchulain. People have puzzled their heads as to the nature of the feat in question, some contending that the Irish Hercules hurled a chariot-wheel incredible distances, but others are of the opinion that he probably threw some form of sledge-hammer, and the event was named the 'wheel feat' because he wheeled round to make the throw. Certainly in historic times throwing took place with a sledge-"' hammer. It was, indeed, a royal pastime to which Henry VIII of England was greatly addicted. Again, mention is made in Peacham's Compleat Gentleman, published in 1622, of the Emperor Achmat ofTurkey having made such a great throw that two marble pillars were set up in Stamboul to mark the distance of his cast. I suppose the first authentic information one can quote about hammer-throwing is that the event was included in the Oxford and Cambridge Sports of 1866, when G. R. Thornton, Cambridge, won with a throw of 87 ft. 7 ins. It is believed that the first man to record treble figures was Henry Leeke the Elder, who in 186g won the event for Cambridge with I03 ft. I I ins. A few days later W. A. Burgess, Oxford, won the English title at I02 ft. 3 ins. It is interesting to note that Henry Leeke the Younger won the event for Cambridge at I26 ft. 8 ins. in I 903, and took the English title at I 23 ft. I in. in Igo6. Up to I875 nothing except the weight of the hammer, which was, and is, I6 lb., had been standardized. The handle could be of any length, and the run and follow of the thrower were also unlimited. In these circumstances there were always two judges, one to mark the -spot from which the throw was made and the 4I8