Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 24th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 6th May, 1887.
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
"
The game of Ringoal is intended to be played by two persons. Two goals, (each
consisting of two upright wooden posts, 6 ft. 6 in. in height, and set 9 ft. apart, with a
broad tape connecting them at the top) are erected in the ground facing one another,
at a distance of 20 yds. apart. A
« Crease or line drawn in front of each goal; six
feet from it, forms, with the goal, a Court in which each of the Players stands.
Each Player has two wooden sticks, 3 feet in length, tapering to a point like a short
billiard cue.
A flat ring, made of a split cane, wound four times round in a spiral, fastened with
nails, and covered with leather, sewn round the outside edge of the ring is further
required. The ring is eight inches in diameter, on the inside. One Player, putting
both his sticks into the ring from above, throws it, (swinging it off with his right
stick, and directing it with his left stick) towards the other player; his object being
to send the ring past the other player and through the goal, while the other player
tries to prevent this, by catching the ring on one or both of his sticks.
The ring being thus thrown to and fro, each time that either player succeeds in
sending it past his opponent through the goal, he scores one point.
The game is won by the Player who first succeeds in scoring eleven such points.
Dated this Thirtieth day of November 1886.
CHARLES EDWARD JOHNSTONE.

page_text: I CHARLES EDWARD JOHNSTONE, of Keble College, Oxford Student .do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
The object of this invention is to arrange for a new outdoor game of skill capable
of being played by two persons stationed at goals or courts at a given distance apart,
said persons having two cue like sticks from which by a swinging action a somewhat
flat ring, made of cane A (coiled) and covered with leather B as at Figures 1 and 2
of the annexed drawings can be thrown to and fro, said ring being played from
op posite sides of the goal in succession into or through the other goal to score, the
opponent trying to prevent this by catching the ring upon one or on both of the sticks
in his possession.
The game is governed by certain rules or Laws and is admirably adapted as an
adjunct to the arrangements for a Lawn Tennis party, as it can be played on any
piece of ground adjoining the courts or elsewhere no matter how uneven; and
two sets can be played at the same time on a piece of ground the size of a Tennis
Lawn.
The rules of the game, and the implements for playing, are simplicity itself; but
although easily learned there is unlimited scope for skill and the game requires an
amount of exertion not at first apparent, which renders it a most agreeable and
healthful exercise. Like the popular game to which it aspires to be a consort, it can
be played by both Ladies and Gentlemen and furnishes abundant opportunity for the
exhibition of all those graces which delight the onlooker in the annual contest at
Wimbledon, for the Ladies Lawn-Tennis Championship.
Each player takes his stand in front of one of the two goals and has two sticks,
one in each hand with which to throw and catch the ring, as indicated by the annexed
drawing Figure 3.
In order to throw the ring both sticks should be thrust into the ring, taking care to
put both sticks in the same side, and not from opposite sides. The sticks should then
be brought up so that the point of the right stick is near the handle of the left stick,
and vice versa; the two sticks being as near as possible parallel and on the same
level.
The left stick should be in the ring up to its hilt, but only about six inches of the
right stick should be in the ring, as shown in Figure 3.

page_text: The left stick should be held next to the body, the left hand being near the
left hip.
The right stick should be held strained away from the left stick so as to hold the
ring firm and flat.
Then with the right hand the ring should be swung off, the left hand giving the
direction.
There is another kind of throw called a huppimup, which may be done as
follows.
Instead of putting in the sticks from above as before, and standing over the ring,
the sticks should be put in from beneath, still keeping the right stick from the body,
and the left stick next to it, the ring being, in this case, held about the height of the
head. It must also be aimed rather high, as, when thrown in this manner it has a
decided downward tendency.
A stroke of this kind is so difficult to catch that it should only be used with persons
who have had some practice in catching.
The ring is thus thrown to and fro between the two players, the object being to
throw so that the other player is unable to catch. This can best be done by sending
the ring as near to the ground as possible. In doing this, care must be taken not to
let the ring actually touch the ground before it reach the opponents crease.
It will be found after a little practice that the ring can be thrown with great pre-
cision by holding the right stick at right angles to the left, instead of parallel to it,
but this will not be found quite so easy as the other way, being in fact a natural
development of it.
Each goal is say 8 feet in height, and 10 feet in width, with or without stop
nets.
The two goals say 78 feet apart facing each other, with a line or crease in front
of each goal and parallel with it, at a distance of 6 feet from it. The creases will
then be 66 feet apart.
The rings not less than 7 inches nor more than 8 inches in diameter, measured from
the inside.
The choice of sides and the right of serving first shall be decided by toss; provided
that, if the winner of the toss choose the right to serve, the other player shall have
the choice of sides, and vice versa.
Each player alternately serves and receives and both in serving and receiving,
must have at least one foot within the court, formed by the crease and the goal
line.
The game consists of eleven points, each of which is scored by sending the ring
past the opposing player, through his goal, with the following limitation
If the ring strike the ground before reaching the opponent's crease it cannot score,
even if it passes through the goal. If however, it touch the crease, it shall be capable
of scoring a point like any other throw by passing through the goal, either rolling or
ricochetting.
If the receiver fail to catch a ring which is coming straight for the goal, but pre-
vents it from going through the goal by stopping it (deliberately or inadvertently,)
with any part of his person or clothing, the server shall score a point, just the same
as if it had passed through the goal. This rule shall also hold good in the case of
stopping it with the sticks or turning it aside so as to miss the goal, without actually
catching it.
In fact, if the ring be straight for the goal, and do not strike the ground before
reaching the crease, the receiver can only prevent it from scoring by actually catching
it on one or both sticks.
It makes no difference to the score whether the ring be caught on one stick or two,
but it is an advantage to catch it with two for two reasons:-
(a) Because with two sticks it can more easily be prevented from running up the
sticks on to the hands and arms.
(b) Because when the ring is caught on two sticks the player is instantly ready and
in position to make his return throw..

page_text: The game being eleven points, if the score shall reach ten all, it shall be at the
option of the player who is at that moment the receiver to set three "i.e., to
declare the score "love all," and regard the player who first scores three points as
winner of the game.
The present system of scoring at Lawn Tennis may be adopted as an alternative
method, if preferred.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
The new outdoor game of skill termed Ringoal in which a coiled cane ring covered
with leather as at Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings is swung from sticks in
the manner described by opposite players as indicated by Figure 3 said game being
governed by the Rules and Regulations herein before set forth.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said C. E. Johnstone.