The Athletes and Athletic Sports of Scotland

38 ATHLETIC SPORTS OF SCOTLAND. M'Krae has a record of40 ft. 3 in. with 21 lbs. at Edinburgh, 1866, and of 44 ft. 2 in. with 16 lbs. at Glasgow, 1888. John Tait claimsthe following records for himself and his brother, William Tait: "17^ lbs., Edinburgh Games, 1853, on level ground, 47 ft. 11 in.; at Abington Games, rather uphill, 22 lbs., 42 ft. 10 in. Myself and William, with a round stone, 22 lbs,, in private practice, 40 ft. 10 in. ; 20 lb. ball, 45 ft. 10 in.; 16 lb. ball, 49 ft. 6in., backwards and forwards. At Dunkeld Games William putted the 23 lb. stone 41 ft. 10 in., slightly downhill; at Edinburgh, i860, 22 lb. ball, 37 ft. 3 in.; at Eorfar, i860, 16 lb. ball, 45 ft. 8 in." So much for paper records. Now, there is a certain well- known fact in athletics thathas an important bearing on these records when we come to weigh them up. This fact is, that when an athlete is in his prime—a period that varies consider­ ably with different men, some never improving much after twenty, othersimproving much after theyare thirty years of age —in good health, and with a fair amountof practice, he will not vary over 2 feet in putting with a 16 or 22 lb. ball or stone, with a run of 7 ft. 6 in., on level ground,when trying his best. Any experienced athlete knows thaton theground where he does his private practice, when fit and wellhe will hardly ever gobeyond a certain mark, and never be two feet short of it. Whether he measures the best ofthree or more throws each time he practices, he will think he is far back if the best of one day is a foot behind the best of another, and far up if it is a foot better. So well is this known that athletes speak ofone putter asa 33 feet man with the 22 lbs. stone, of another as a 36 feet man, and will at once back 34 ft. against a33 ft. man, and 37 ft. against a 36 ft. man, while the 33 ft. man will be ready toback himself to do 32 ft., and the 36 ft. man to do 35 ft. once outof three throws. Therefore, when you find an athlete whocan do 36 ft. in the best of three throwswith a 22 lb. stone or ball, on level ground, he will never be under 34 ft., if in good form, with three throws. With these factsbefore us, let us examine the foregoing records: