Impressions of Northern Athletes and Athletics

3 WAS THE WORLD’S RECORD BROKEN AT BOWER? By Anon John O’Groat Journal, Friday 13 September 1912. My attention has been drawn to your recent report of Bower Highland games where it is stated that the world’s record for putting the 16 lb. [7.26 kg] ball was broken by J. W. Sutherland, the young Rogart athlete. I can admire his splendid putt of 48 ft. 10 ins., but fail to see how it breaks the world’s record. It is well known that D. Horgan at Queenstown, in 1897, established a British record by accomplishing 48 ft. 2 ins. [14.68m] from a 7 ft. [2.13m] square mark. So far, so good, but coming to the world’s record it is found that on August 5, 1906, W. W. Coe, Portland, Oregon, reached 49 ft. 6 ins. [15.09m] and on August 21, 1909, R. Rose, at San Francisco made the greatest distance ever known, namely, 51 ft. [15.54m]. No doubt J. W. Sutherland may compare favourably with most of our present-day British athletes, but the world is wide. As an argument against A. A. Cameron, the Dundee Police Sports are taken up. There, Cameron accomplished 44 ft. 2 ins. [13.46m] with the ball and 117 ft. [35.66m] with the hammer. Sutherland’s achievements at Bower were 48 ft. 10 ins. [14.88m] with the ball and 117 ft. 1 in. [35.69m] with the hammer. Your report, however, adds that Sutherland has reached 120 ft. at practice, but against this we know that Cameron has gone over 117 feet [35.66m], although, perhaps, not this season. It is a pity that the challenge has been withdrawn, for then we should see if the great “A. A.” was to give up the championship to this coming Rogart athlete. Cameron is, perhaps, reaching the veteran stage, but still, I think, with a little exertion he could hold his own with the best. I may add that for his height and weight I consider W. R. Knox of Canada to be the most wonderful athlete in the world at the present time. 4 ATHLETICS By Anon John O’Groat Journal, Friday 13 September 1912. Natives of the parish such as take an interest in outdoor sports will follow with interest Mr J. W. Sutherland’s articles on “Highland Athletes and Athletics,” which are appearing in your