The Irish standard., 1910-05-21

championship means pTe-eIlllIlenCe IN
ten different classes or events, name
ly Running, in the form of 100
yard dash; weight throwing, in the
form Of putting the shot; the high
jump, half-mile walk hammer throw
ing-another form of weight manipu-
]ation; pole vaulting, running and
jumping over hurdles, a distance of
100 yards; the running broad jump,
hurting the 56-pound weight and the
mile run. In these events, striking an
average as it We're, Sheridan is the
superior in all-around efficiency of any
other living man who essays all ten
of these standard athletic. stunts
The method of determining relative
all-around efficiency is most interest
ing. In order that it shall be unmis-
takably a test of endurance, all ten
contests are held in quick succession.
Not more than five minutes for rest is
allowed after each number on the
variegated program. The average ath-
lete OF national prominence can do
we'll enough in one or two classes of
events in which he has specialized
say running or jumping or weight lift
ing-but is hopelessly baffled when he
encounters the ordeals in less farnil-
lar fields. 1t is comparatively rare to
find an athlete who can go through
the entire program, never skipping an
event, much less make really cred
liable showing in every class, as does
Sheridan. Statistics of the showings
made by the different contestants in
an all-around competition are ex-
pressed in points. One thousand
points is the maximum in each of the
ten different classes. To get 1000
points an athlete must attain perfec-
tion-that is, he must equal or ex-
coed the existing worlds record in
that particular sphere. If he falls
short of it he is credited with a num-
Der of points proportionate to 1000 as
his performance is to the best one on
record.
Martin Sheridan's world champion
ship in the all-around contest was
won with the surprising total of 1885
points out of a possible 10000. Just
how remarkable this is will be better
appreciated when it is explained that
no other athlete has ever been able
to get within sight of total of 1000
points. Kiley of Ireland, the best all
around athlete in Europe, who really
has no serious rival on the other side,
has but $3.50 points to his credit, and
when Gill of Toronto filched the hon.
ors from the foreign champion he did
it by the narrow margin of 80 points.
Despite the athletic miracle that Sher-
idan worked when he attained his
present record, it is his ambition to
raise his record to 5000. Referring to
the prospect he recently said: eff ]
am successful some other fellow can
have the all-around championship aft
err that I'll be through then" The
likelihood of any other man making
5000 points within the lifetime of
Sheridan, or even in the future, is suf-
fciently remote to make the sugges-
ton SAVIOR of joke.
Oddly enough the branch of athletic
prowess that has gained for Sheridan
his greatest measure Of international
fame is not embraced in the events
that go to convey the distinction of
the all-around championship. This
extra specially of the unrivaled Irish
American is the throwing of the dis
cus-that spectacular sport which has
come down to us from the days of the
ancient Greeks 1t was Sherdans
that suddenly gave him worldwide
fame on the occasion of the first mod
ern Olympic games held in Athens
several years ago. He beat the Greeks
at their own game and made three
successive throws each of which broke
the worlds record.
The discus is fat and circular in
form, suggesting in outline the ord-
nary china plate or saucer. 1t is con-
structed principally of wood, though
weighted with brass and lead and
trimmed with iron. There are three
different championships in discus
Notwithstanding both the Greek
and free style" methods of hurting
the dsc-and Sheridan is the holder
of all three titles. In the discus throw
from an eght-foot circle his record is
142 feet 10h inches. From the seven.
foot circle the throw measured 1876
feet 10E inches while when the dis.
Gus was thrown Greek style from q
pedestal the distance covered was 1924
feet inches. About the best record
in discus throwing which stands tc