Modern Athletics 1868

ON THE MANAGEMENT OP ATHLETIC MEETINGS. 17 stick, placed on the edge ofthe runrdng-patli. For sprint races, the course to be kept by each competitor should be divided by pegs and ropes about two feet above the path, and at least four feet apart.The best sized lap for a course is a quarter mile one, 150 yards long by 70 broad. Telegraph Board. —This is an indispensable necessity, and great confusion often arises from wanb of it. It should be so placed as to be clearly visible not onlyto all spectators outside the ropes, buto members of the press. Before each race or heat, the numbers of the starters, as on the printed programme, should be posted on thbeoard, and after the contest, the numbersof the first and second men should likewise be displayed on the board, together with the time of the race, distance, or height jumped, which can be written withchalk if the board be painted black. Starting. —A bell should be rung fiveminutes before each heat to warn the competitors to come to the post, and in the absenceof any one at the time specified, the race should bestarted without him. All races, except walk­ ing ones, should be started by report of pistol, and it is advisable that a small charge should be inserted intosure an audible report. The official should stand in the rear of all the men, putting the pistobl ehind his back so that none of the competitors canpossibly perceive when he is about to fire it. The warning "greetady," should be given, and directly thestarter sees every competitor exactly on his marh the triggershould be pulled. In a sprint race no advantage in this respect mubste permitted; indeed,from the shortness of the race and the manifest gain from a start of a few inches only, the necessity for a rigid adherence to this rule must be apparent. The starter should therefore if possible have some experience in his duties, for otherwise the rapid movements of practised amateurs willenable them to " poach" a lead—if I may be allowed to use a somewhat unparliamentary expression. Should a start take placebefore the word is given or the pistol fired, the competitors hould be immediatelyrecalled, but when once the fiat has gone forth it is irrevocable. By word of mouth is the best method of starting walking races. The Goal. —This should consist of apiece of stout white tapQ tied to the post at one side of the course and held c