The Athletes and Athletic Sports of Scotland

THE CHAMPIONSHIP—RIVAL CLAIMANTS. in CHAPTER XII. THE CHAMPIONSHIP—RIVAL CLAIMANTS. A T the present time, while Kenneth M'Rae, the present champion, is being hard pressed and sometimesbeaten at three if not four of the fivethrowing feats at Scottishgames, two Scottish athletes inAustralia are also claiming to be champion athletes ofthe world at the same feats. Before discussing the rival claims of these, it is necessary to inquire whatentitles an athlete to claim to be champion. There are two sorts of champions—a champion at one ormore single feats, and what is called an all-round champion. To be champion at any single feat one must have made the best authenticated performance at that feat, and be prepared to meet all comers at it, or have defeated all those who lay claim to the championship at that feat. When rival claimants are in the same country orpart of world there is generally not much trouble in settling the championship, but when one or more would-be championsare in Scotland, America, andAustralia, the matter becomes much more difficult. Keeping inmind that we are at present writing of the athletes and athletic sports of Scotland, we see that there are only two ways in which an athlete can become champion Scottish athlete at any single Scottish athletic feat—either by beating the best Scottish athletes in Scotland, or by making a genuine performance in a public competition out of Scotland under practically the same conditions as in Scotland unmis- takeably aheadof the best performances in Scotland. BEST RECENT PERFORMANCES AT HOME AND ABROAD.— Tak­ ing the season of 1890 inScotland, George Johnston has the best record for hammer-throwing, his throws at Aboyne being the best on record there, K. M'Rae beating him only once during the season. Alexander M'Culloch has alsobeat Johnston once (by an inch), and tied once with M'Rae. The only Scottish