Show 5t G R GRAY The Man Who Is ChanJpIon Shot Patter of the world Among the well known and popular ath Vstes of the present time the subject of this sketch is justly entitled to a prominent position posi-tion and to the distinction of being an acknowledged ac-knowledged champion of tho world at his specialty George It Gray the champion shot putter of the world was born at Cold water In the province of Ontario in 1SCG When but a boy he showed great aptitude and skill in tho different branches of athletic sports ho was tho acknowledged champion of his neighborhood In the spring of 1SS3 tho Toronto Athletic club announced a handicap handi-cap shot putting contest Hero was the chance for which Gray had long been waiting wait-Ing Ho spent all his leisure time with the 4 sixteen pound shot in his hand endeavoring to improve his work When the eventful day arrived few people outside of his friends knew of his ability and he went up to Toronto To-ronto confident of a big handicap On arriving ar-riving what was his surprise to learn that somehow or another his proficiency had become be-come known and as a result ho was rated up wnong some of the finest performers in the province This being his first contest he was naturally natu-rally somewhat disheartened but pluckily started in to do his best and when the competition com-petition had been finished had the proud honor of receiving the congratulations of his friends upon scoring his maiden victory After winning a few handicap events ho became be-came ambitious to acquire tho championship honors but he littlo thought that the time would come when American English and even Irish championship honors would be within his grasp In 1SS5 at the Canadian championship meeting he defeated Lam brecht Queckberner and Condon But Gray was not yet satisfied he aspired to acquire Mme as a record breaker and with that end fi view devoted all his available timo to practice Some of his efforts then were con z > 1 T tco7 1 NYc m > s c h u Athletic club gave a scratch shot putting contest and Gray was invited to compete against his old time rivals Lambrecht Queckberner and Condon In this contest ho again captured first honors although he did not break any records But h 0 was determined to leavo a record behind be-hind him and remained re-mained in New York fora week or moro devoting his t i m 0 to practice i and getting in fine I form for the effort When ho felt that conditions favored him a select coterie of experts were invited is e in-vited to the Mott a Haven grounds to 4rl i II witness his performances prrY per-formances Success Suc-cess attended his efforts this time and when he eventually even-tually started for Canada ho left two or three records to his credit In 18S8 at the spring games of the New York t j Athletic club Gray who was then a member r y won the 1C pound h e shot putting contest con-test with 43 feet 7 inches and also rte won second place hi o n GRAY a handicap event with 42 feet U inch At Philadelphia a few days previous ho was third inn handicap with 42 feet inches When the New York Athletic clubs championship team went to England Gray went with the chosen few At tho first mooting at Widner ho distinguished himself by winning first prize and also placed an English record to his credit 13 feet 9 inches Gray also appeared at the international championship meeting held at Dublin Island competing in the shot hammer and 50 pound weight events but only succeeded in winning win-ning the shot On this occasion however he mado amends for his deficiency in other respects re-spects by scoring a best worlds record of 44 feet 9 inches At Dunshaughlin ho defeated Mitchell the Irish Hercules in tho 2S pound shot placing another worlds record of 34 feet 2 inches to his credit At tho great championship meeting in Detroit last fall Gray had littlo difficulty in winning although al-though opposed by all of tho crack athletes It would require too much space to give an account of his entire work during his athletic career but it will bo interesting perhaps to know that his record for tho year of 1SSS includes in-cludes five championships five records and two worlds records |