Scientific Athletics

etc., were innumerable. l'nhappily these great eff rt. ar obscure, otherwise we should hav 1 arned more about them. But despite this, Mr. Murray again resolv d to demon trate his unquestionable athletic capacity : the result was a per– formance unprecedented in the hi tory of cottish sports. t this time, viz., 1907, Mr. Murray' many admirer apparently included him in the veteran category, irrespective of the fact that his athletic abilities were not impair d to any appreciable degree. This latter fact h incontestably confirmed at ob cure ' 'gemmies'' (Dornoch) wh n, after participating in several events, he accomplished the marvellou long leap of 23 ft. 9 in. \ e have emphasi ed the word "unprecedented'' for the follow– ing reasons: (1) The ground was level, and indeed unfavourable to great performance. ; (2) There wa no pecially prepared track upon which to gain the neces ary momentum ; and (3) There wa no ''take-off'' board from which to ri e. \Vith regard to the latter fact it must be accentuated that Mr. O'Connor, Dublin, ,vho hold the world's record with about a foot more than Mr. :\Iurray's jump, ran upon a pecially adapted track and leapt from a board. Had l\lr. ~\lurray performed under such favourable circum ·tances he would in all probability have exceeded 26 feet, because the ''take-off'' board i evidently an incalculable advantage. On thi occa ion he won with a 3J ft. margin to spare, while Mr. J. IcKenzie, Partick, who could, and can, accompli h 21 ft. at any time, was 4 It. 2 in. in the rear, his leap being th er ditable one of 19 ft. 7 in. Incidentally Mr. Murray first cleared 23 ft. 6 in ., but naturally several of his rivals incredulously affirmed that the same was incorr ctly mea ured. However, when th champion bound d ov r approximately 24 ft. of level ground, all doubts were immediat ly di pelled, and he thoroughly merited the ovation which was enthusia tically accorded him. On the same day he was succe ful in sprinting, and was just defeated by the famous Duffu in th mile race. t Lairg Athletic Sports, Mr. Murray again demonstrated his leaping qualities by :pringing 21 ft. 3 in., although the ground was not conducive to great performanc . In the high leap contc t he tied with his younger brother, Mr. M. L Murray, at a height of S ft. 7 in. t the Brora thletic ports he was succe ful in sprinting and high l aping, cl aring the ''cla '' height of 5 ft. 9 in. He still participate in athletics with genuine ent>u– -;iasm, as he unmistakably manifc ted last year when he easily ann xcd the high leaping and pole-vaulting champion hips of his county. The clde t of a famous athletic family, fr. Murray claily discharge the onerous duties attending a very respon ible po ition. He is indeed an emphatic proof of the beneficial influence of athletic sport when they are judiciously indulged in. R. s. MURRAY, ROGART.-Famous all-round light-weight athlet . Like his broth r, Mr. G. Murray, fr. R. ' Murray 155