How to Fence Part 7

6.--That the winner of a prize, or prizes, shall lose a ring for each prize won. But that a ring be given back after any subsequent meeting at which such member shall shoot without winning.

7.--That in case of a tie for hits, numbers shall decide; and in case of a tie for numbers, hits shall decide.

8.--That the decision of the "lady paramount" shall be final.

9.--Two prizes to be given at each meeting for strangers, of the value of --.

10.--That there be a challenge prize of the value of --, and that a commemorative silver ornament be presented to winners of the challenge prize, to which a clasp be added on future occasions.

11.--That the distance for shooting be 60 and 100 yards, and that 4-feet targets be used.

12.--That each shooter be allowed to shoot -- arrows, distinctly marked or colored.

DRESS.

THE USUAL DRESS FOR LADIES peculiar to archery is in most cases a green jacket worn over white; sometimes, however, the color is black.

The gentlemen's costume is not generally fixed in archery clubs, but sometimes a green suit is the club uniform.

EXPENSES.

The expenses of archery are not usually great, though a good many arrows will be lost or spoiled during a season's shooting, especially if the gra.s.s is not kept mown very close. Bows and all the other paraphernalia last a long while; and, with the exception of the arrows, the first cost may be considered to be the only one, over and above the subscription to the club, to which most archers like to belong, compet.i.tion being the essence of the sport.

HURDLE RACING.

1. The usual distance, 120 yards, over ten hurdles, regulation height, three feet six inches upright, not less than 12 or more than 20 feet apart, first hurdle must be placed 15 yards from the scratch-mark.

2. Hurdles must be cleared with a jump, touching the hands to the hurdle will be declared foul, and the offender disqualified.

3. Hurdle races may be arranged for any distance and any height of hurdle.

4. Each contestant must keep in his direct line of starting, or as near so as circ.u.mstances will permit. Any deviation from such line will subject the offender to disqualification.

NOTE.--There are three requisites to make a good hurdler: Speed, spring, and judgment; speed to cover the ground, spring to jump the hurdles, and judgment to measure the steps between the hurdles. It is one of the many healthful exercises in Athletics, but requires much practice and experience; beginners should make their first effort at two feet six inches. Great care must be taken not to touch the top bar, as it virtually throws you out of the race and may cause injury.

VAULTING WITH POLE, OR POLE-LEAPING.

1. The uprights should be nine feet apart, and the bar placed on pins projecting two inches.

2. The pole must fall so as not to touch the bar.

3. A compet.i.tor touching the bar without causing it to fall shall be considered to have cleared it.

4. The height of bar at starting shall be determined by a majority of the contestants.

5. Compet.i.tors will be allowed three trials at each height.

6. The bar shall be raised at the discretion of a majority of the contestants, and so continued until only one compet.i.tor vaults over it, who shall be declared the victor.

7. When a compet.i.tor knocks the bar down, the rotation rule must be enforced, as in the running high jump.

8. Three balks shall be called "no vault," and must be recorded as one of the three trials.

NOTE.--This graceful and manly exercise has of late years been greatly abused, not so much for want of rules, as it was and is to have these rules enforced. We have seen two men, at three different meetings, claim the right to the grounds and time of at least one of the judges for from two to three hours, whereas, had the rules been strictly enforced, one would have gained a victory or both been disqualified. Gentlemen Judges, please remember these contestants appear before an audience (who pay admission) to perform, not to practice, and when they insist upon keeping the bar at a height that delays the games, they should be disqualified under the rules.

THROWING THE HAMMER.

1. The hammer-head shall be of solid iron, perfectly round, standard weights, 16 and 12 pounds, exclusive of handle. Length of handle three feet six inches over all. The handle should be made from split _white hickory wood_.

2. The compet.i.tor must stand at the scratch with one foot touching the scratch-mark. He is at liberty to throw with one or both hands.

3. Touching the ground, over the scratch-mark, with any portion of the body before the hammer strikes, shall be declared "no throw," and must be recorded as one of the three trials.

4. Permitting the hammer to carry a compet.i.tor from his balance or letting the hammer go out of time must stand as one of the three trials.

5. When the head and handle strike the ground at the same time the head or iron is the measuring mark, at the first break of the ground made by it. Should the handle strike first, one length of the handle, in a direct line with the throw, must be added. The measurement must be from the scratch-mark, midway between the thrower's feet, to the first break, in accordance with above rules.

NOTE.--In soft or clay bottom there is no difficulty in getting accurate measurement, but in quick or shifting sand close attention is required.

PUTTING THE SHOT.

1. The shot must be of solid iron and perfectly round, standard weight 16 pounds. The shot must be put from the shoulder with one hand, not thrown from the side or under swing.

2. Compet.i.tors will take their position between two parallel lines, said lines being seven feet apart. Pa.s.sing the toe-mark, or touching the ground outside of the mark, with any part of the body before the shot strikes the ground, will be judged and recorded a foul, "no put," and must stand as one of the three trials.

3. Each compet.i.tor is ent.i.tled to three trials. The measurement shall be from the scratch-line or mark opposite the toe-print to the first or nearest break of the ground made by the shot.

NOTE.--The object being to see how many feet and inches the compet.i.tors can put, in accordance with the above rules, not how straight they can put.

[THE END.]