Sporting and Athletic Records

296 THROWING THE HAMMER point where the thrower's nearest foot was when he let gothe hammer. The following tables relate only to Hammers with handles 4ft. long. I.—WORLD'S AMATEUR RECORDS Owing to the fact that so many different styles of hammer-throwing prevail, it is often the case that records exist inone countrywith which there areno records to compare in another country. Thus in America, where hammer-throwing is more systematicallypractised than in England, there are all kinds of records with hammers of varying weights to which there is no parallel in England. To class these as World's Records would be misleading, and they willconsequently be foundunder British or American Records as the case may be. There are, however, certain well recognised feats with the i61b. hammer practised by all sections of the English-speaking race, for which the following are the World's Amateur Records. In this class of sport it may be taken that World's Amateur Records are also World's Records, as the few profes­ sional Records which exist are inferior to those of Amateur athletes. I6LB. HAMMER, HANDLE 4FT. LONG, THROWN WITH BOTH HANDS From a Stand at a Mark Throw Name Nationality Place Date ft. in. 113 11 a W. O. Hickok American New Haven, Ct. 12 May '94 From a 7ft. Circle without Follow 150 8 3 J. Flanagan British Bayonne city, N. J. 31 May '97 a In this case the hammer head weighed i61bs., consequently the whole hammer weighed rather more. b Thus beatinghis British record of 147ft. made in London, 6 April 1896 R. W. Edgren ,the Californian Amateur hammer-thrower, is stated to have thrown the i61b. hammer from a 7ft. circle 147ft. 7in. at Berkeley, Cal., on 10 March 1896; and 148ft. 6in. on 11 April 1896. But neither of these records have been accepted by the best American Authorities, one of whom points out that Edgren's previous records hardly point to such surpassing ability.