Wichita eagle., 1890-03-08


! for a light man must to certain extent give
way to the swing of the hammer. The game
as formerly practiced in the United States
was done from q stand. but within the last
two years a seven foot run has been allowed.
If the athlete is eventually 80 throw with a
run, it is not well to practice from stand,
for the delivery is quite different in the two
styles
In practicing with run the athlete should
stand at the back edge of the circle, with ms
back toward the direction in which ne in
tends throwing the missile. After enough
momentum is given the hammer 0his is gen
orally accomplished in three or four SWINGS,
the athlete turns around once in the circle, at
! the same time going toward the front part.
He delivers the hammer when he is in about
the same position as when he began, viz,
with his bacI; to where he throws, and care
must be taken to keep inside the ring and not
| follow the hammer after letting go of it. 1t
is hard game to acquire properly, and one
of the accompanying pictures shows about
the position of the athlete just before the
hammer leaves bis hands. the difficult part
of performing well al it IS to control the
weight md keep it in a proper position rela-
tive to the turning Of the BODY. If the
weight swings in advance of the body no
force can be applied and if the turn Of the
body is made too much IN advance Of the
weight much force is wasted. It takes a
great deal of practice 10 adjust matters, but
it is q splendid exercise for the arms, chest
and back. and is a very popular event among
weight throwers.
Throwing the ffty-six pound weight is a
most discoura2ing game TO practice, except
for what might be called a truly ponderous
man. The missile is SO heavy that nothing
but muscle aud weight can control il, and II
competition at it IS an excellent test OF down
right strength The game Is now very SINH
lar 20 that of throwing the hammer, being
controlled by the same rules. the shape OF
the weight is different, for in place of being
a sphere with a long wooden handle it has a
short triangular shaped iron handle, which
can be grasped by one or two hands, as the
athlete sees fit. The spherical part Of the
weight is about 9 inches III diameter, and the
total length combined with the handle Is liu-
tied to Is inches. the atElete goes through
about the sane motions as in throwing the
hammer, only much slower. Some can throw
il further with one hand than with two, for
the handle is so short that's free swing around
the head cannot be obtained With two hands
On account OF the contraction # the shoulders.
The best record Of the game Is - feet
inch. by J. s. Mitchell This man weighs
over 20 pounds in athletic costume De elso
holds the record at throwing from q stand IF
y feet inches He has not vet thrown the
weight with two arms IN public. but as other
athletes are coming very near 10 nis record.
who have adopted the twO hanQed style he
may have to resort to this method 70 protect
lis record. THe next best figures are - feet
515 inches, by c. A J. Queckberner, who
used two arms in making these figure.
The prevailing styles Of practIcilE IT,
game in Scotland and Ireland are throwing
from the SIDE for the former and throwing
between the legs Tor the latter. both from q
stand Tweaty-six and . fee5 are done il
these styles, out they are not popular u the
United States sjEoe throwing from a 7-fpot
circle was Instituted THIS latter style is
more snowy AID greater distance can be
accomplished init as compared 1lth throw