The Athletes and Athletic Sports of Scotland

82 ATHLETIC SPORTS OF SCOTLAND. the greatest height, at whatever stage ofthe contesthe made the highest leap. A SUGGESTION.— Insteadof having only one cross-bar there might be six or a dozen, an inch apart, made of light paper cy­ linders, a quarter to half an inch in diameter, which would not bend perceptibly in the centre. If the lowermost bar were at 5 feet, wit only sixbars, a competitor would have the chance of clearing from 5 ft. to 5ft. 6 in. at the first leap. If he cleared 5 ft. 4 in. the lower­ most bar at the next trial would be at 5 ft. 5 in., and he would have thechance ofclearing up to 5ft, 10 in.on his second trial. Should he clear 5 ft. 9 in., the lowest bar would be at 5 ft. 10 in. next time,and hewould have the chanceof clearing up to 6 ft. 3 in. at his third attempt—a competitor failing toimprove on a former trial, after three trials, to be put out of the contest. Some suchmethod ought to be employed at every championship meeting orattempt to break a record. Its justice and fairness will be recognised when one considers the unfairness of deciding the hammer-throwing on the same principle as the high leap, In thatcase astring would be advanced in crescent form from the centre of the stance. Suppose two were left in when the distance was 108 ft. 4 in., and the string advanced 20 inches each time. One of them makes a throw of 112 ft., the other 109 ft. Both having cleared108 ft.4 in. the stringis advanced to no ft.The onewho made the112 ft. throw maybe unable to get a throw of no ft. in three trials, the one who made 109 ft. may make athrow ofno ft. 6 in., and wouldbe hailed as the winner, althbugh the second prizeman had thrown 18 inches farther. NOTED HIGH LEAPERS.— The following are amongst the most noted high leaperswho have cleared over 5 ft. 6 in. on ground very nearly, if not altogether level, and the measurement taken perpendicularly from centre of cross-bar ; D. Dinnie, James Methven, Fife, and Andrew Milne, Forfarshire, are by public performances entitled to first place, andhave each done 5ft. i 1 in. on ground that little, ifany, exception could be taken to.