ATHLETIC.

A SENSATIONAL RACE. Defeat of A. Shruth. \ — — — A fifteen, miles scratch race, organised by the Manchester Athletic Club for the purpose of bringing the best distance runners of England -together, was' held at Fallowfield, Manchester, on April 19, and was in/some respects the most sensational and; ' noteworthy contest that (has taken place in England for some years. Although, some exceptionally good performers were entered^ it was generally pated that, the event would prove the 'best of good things for "the London marvel, A. Shrutob, 'but as «, matter of fact it signalised the first reverse in a remarkable "career. The starters were:— A. Aldridge, F. Applefby, W. Ashton, A. E. Barker, C. F. Beresford, W. H. Day, C. Large, J. Morris, W. A. Mercer, J. T. Rimm«r, A. H. Shrubb, J. Tennant, G. Whiston and F. W. Webber. Webber and Barker were (prominent in forcing the pace at the outset, tout at the end of two miles, covered in 9min 67 4-ssec, Shrubb galloped away and established a lead of thirty yards. This he continued to increase until hd led his field by half* lap, and the race was considered to be virtually over. Such, however, was by xuo means, ihe case. Tie pace had been too fast for the majority of the competitors, -who accordingly "had given up, tout amongst the persevering ones was F. Apple'by, i of London, who, after 'being left considerably j in «he rear during the earlier stages of the race, had gradually improved 1 'his position as ithe journey wore on. At eight and a half miles the crowd began to single Appleby out for his meritorious running, and in the ninth, tenth and eleventh miles caw a battle royal between him ••and Day, of Derbyshire, for third position, the Londoner eventually getting «way. Meantime Shxubb was .experiencing "trouble with (his Tight }eg, but still 'held a big lead.. •'Sprinter," writing in ihe '." Athletic News," thus describes the later stages- of the race: — The time ior 4ihe twelfth mile was 65min IS 4-oaec, and entering the thirteenth Appleby moved up and started a aeries of 6printings witih Aldridge. He tried to get away -from the Kent A.C. man «very 200 yards ox so, %ut Aldridge always Teplied game-iy. Time and again they fought these duels, »nd Shrvtib at -016 'head of the field kept. turning round in wonderment. Possibly the cheering intimidated him, for he seemed to lose, heart, and his furtive glances over this shoulder iold tlfat he did not relish, the game that was going on ibeihind his baok, for these sprintmgs <were bringing Aidridge and Appleby nearer to himi The thirteenth mile was done in 71min 11 2-ssec, but gradually the half-lap lead* ShraWb had once established was crumbling away, »nd at thirteen and a half miles Appleby dropped Aldridge, * 'huge cheer sending 'him on his way after Shrubb. Then it dawned upon ue all that Shnub'b could and would be 'beaten, and "by a man that was once at the tail end of' the field. The crowd all round rose to urge Appleby on his way, and, weSring a broad ismile, he footed it after tihe superlative Shrubb. Just at the fourteenth mile (77min 14seo) Appleby caught S'hrubb, and two laps to «o Aidridge com<pleted the rout of the great little Londoner "by passing him, and so rekgating- the National champion into third place. I watched Shrubb very closely in the dying moments of the race. Ilia right leg was useless, a«d he dragged it along — as my friend had foretold— as, though it was «m> impediment, . while hia face, now ashern in colour, told the tale of th« anguish within. On the other hand, Appleby, sunnyfaced and smiling the white, 'strode on in a remarkable manner, and covered -the fifteen inile3 in e2aiin 41sec. Second, 850 yards away, was Aldridge, in B*min 27seo, and third came Shrubb in 84min a^sec.