Fifty Miles Walking Championship of New Zealand.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 121, 30 May 1885, Page 4

Fifty Miles Walking Championship of New Zealand.

Tho lifty-milo walking race for tho championship of Now Zoaland took place at Christchurch on Saturday, May 16, and oxcitod a good deal of interest. Tho competitors wero A. Hancock, the English champion ; F. MorshoadandG. Muhleisen, local mon ; and John Kaynor, champion of Australia. Tho torms provided that tho first man should receivo CSO. and that tho gate money, less oxponses, should bo divided as follows:—First man ,")0 per cont, soeond man 3. por cent, third man 10 cent. At tho ond of tho first mile, which ho did in Smin. "isoc., Hanco.k was nearly a lap ahead of Iho others, who wore all pretty closo to ono nnotlior. U.foro tho first hour was concluded Morshoud and Muhleisen had begun to drop to tho rear, and the lattor, whoso shoos apparently hurt him, rotired at tho ond of tho second hour, to change thorn for a pair of boots. Ho could not mako much huadwuv, howover, and at •1.35 p m. retired from tho contest, having covored 11 miles 1 lap. Tho match soon rosolvod itself into a atrugglo between tho English and Australian champions, for Mors head steadily lost ground. Tho task ho had undertaken was ovidontly too much for his presont powors, a fact which ho scoraod to porcoivo, as ho left the track moro than onco, apparently going morely for third money. Meanwhile Hancock kept on at a steady paco, ono lap ahoad of tho Australian, who was unablo to cut down his opponent's load. Noithor man left tho truck or rested forati instant, oach, howovor, takingan occasional drink of wator. In tho evening somo 400 persons, including many prominent mombers of tho Bporting fraternity, woro presont, and manifested tho livoliest interest in tho contest. Tho Englishman was tho favourite, tho gonoral opinion, which tho event proved lo bo correct, being that Rayner, who was apparently going at his best paco, would be unablo tv mako up tho lap which sopaiutod him from Hancock, who ovidontly haa a bit in hand all tho timo. 110 complotod his 10th milo at S. 10 p.m., lluynor being still a lap behind, and Moi-hoad in tho iniddlo of his 315 th milo A spaco of about a yard sopuralcd tho two men, Huneoek being in front, und overy effort of Rayner to pass him was met by a slight inciouso of speed, which foiled the attempt. So matters eontinuod until tho fiftieth milo was begun, when tho English chainoion quickened his paco.und by t ho time the eightoonth round was complotod ho was two hips ahead. Tho enthusiasm now became intense, and found vent in a storm of cheering whon Hancock, going at v ttomondous rate, added another lap to his load, and at IS minutes and four seconds past ton finished the milo threo laps in front of llaynoi-, who had responded gamely to his challenges, but could not put tho steam on sulliciontly. Ho has no reason to feel ashamed of his performance, for ho walked a game raco throughout. Hancock's timo was 8 hours 10 minutes and •1 seconds, and at tlio closo of tho match ho showed no signs of distress. Neithor, indeed, did Rayner : but Morshoad, who linishod t'J miles 10 laps, was completely exhausted. Hancock's and Raynor'a nvorngo pace was a littlo ovor six miles an hour.