The Athletes and Athletic Sports of Scotland

PUTTING THE STONE. 43 lb. at Glasgow ; W. Tait's 35 ft. 4 in. at Birnam ; none of these records even can be guaranteed as being done on level ground, and measured exactly from toe to first break. If, therefore, the lowest records here givenare subject todeduction, what of the highest ? Simply this, that no athlete in the British Isles can give satisfactory proof of ever having putted a 22 lb. stone or ball 38 ft, with a 7 ft. 6 in. run, on level ground, themeasure­ ment being made fromfarthest advancedtoe to first break; nor of having putted a 16 lb. ball or stone 46 ft. under like condi­ tions, with the best of three throws. In 1849, the first Highland Gathering of the Scottish Society of London, was held at Holland Park, and the two leading athletes at putting were Allister M'Hardy, Aberdeenshire, and Thomas Menzies, Perthshire ; just a about twenty years later, the same counties supplied the leadingputters in DonaldDinnie and James Fleming. The meetingextended over two days, the first and second prize winnersof the first day competing on the second day for championship honours.The stone isgiven as 21 lbs., and on the first day A. M'Hardy was first with 32 ft. 5 in., T. Menzies second with 32 ft. 2 in. On the second day M'Hardy was34 ft. 5 in., Menzies 33 ft. 10 in. In thesame year at Inverness M'Hardy was first for stone 21^ lbs., 29 ft. 8 in., standing style. At the ScottishSociety's meeting in London in 1850, same ground and stone, T. Menzies was first with 33 ft. 9^ in., half an inch behind his put ofthe preceding year, and first or 16 lb. stone with 40 ft. 4 in. At the meeting in 1851, same place, T. Menzieswas again first with heavy stone,distance 38 ft. 9 in. There isomething altogether inexplicable in this rise. To throw twoyears in succession within half an inch of the same distance, andon the thirdyear to improve 4 ft. 11 in. needs ex­ planation. We have heard it said that Menzies was never beat till his last throw, and that he admitted he did not put, but threw the stone the last throw, and the fact that thesecond prize winner, D. M'Ulrig, was 34 ft. 7 in., that is farther than M'Hardy or Menzies informer years, gives some ground for thinking there