ATHLETICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 88, 15 April 1899, Page 4 (Supplement)

ATHLETICS.

J. Tiffen,/for many years,considered one of the best light-weight wrestlers in the colony, died at Invercargill on March 26th, after a long illness. Tiffen held an unbroEen record as champion light-weight wrestler for twenty years, and won many matches in various parts of the colony. As an instance of the way. in which veterans sometimes retain their powers, a correspondent, writing to the 'Australasian' from Hobart, quotes the case of J. J. Cullen, a champion wrestler of bygone days, who is now living a retired life at the Sir John Franklin Hotel, in Hobart. Cullen, though only sft 2in in height, met and defeated some of the best English and Australian wrestlers, though giving them. three stone advantage in weight. He is now in his 82nd year, but can still show a little of his old skill, which is sometimes required in the hotel. He met and defeated Donovan, and one of his records only a few years ago was to challenge eight burley men not less than list 61b to .throw them one after another in three falls a-roiece, which he did successfully. On February 18th E. C. Bredin, of London, and G. B. Tincler, of Dublin, contested a half mile for the championship of the world and a side wager of £100, the race taking place at the. Rochdale grounds. Tincler at once assumed the lead, and when a quarter of the distance had been covered sprinted ahead, pitting at least eight yards between himself and Bredin. The latter, however, began to gain perceptibly, and closing with the Irishman at the* home turn eventually won a punishing race by threequarters of a yard, in the good time of lmin 5G l-sth sec. This was a splendid performance tinder the circumstances —a sticky track and damp, muggy atmosphere.