MR FREDERICK BETTISON.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7524, 14 April 1890, Page 2

MR FREDERICK BETTISON.

Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic Ntws. This well-known athlete was born on the Bth March, 1864, and is, therefore, now well through hie twenty-third year. His career/as &n athlete has been short but exceptionally brilliant. Commencing in 1885 he competed unsuccessfully at Edmonton, the Railway Clearing House, and the Baling Harriers' sports of that year, Iμ th® walking races organized by -the associations mentioned, being at that time a member of the Zephyr Swimming Club, but immediately after the last mentioned uporte he joined the Higbgato Harriers, and all his successes have been identified with thia club. His first victory was at the South London Harriers' meeting at the Oval on 23th September, 1883, an 4 with 170 yards from Ockleford he won the One Mile Walk with ease, supplementing this Buccess at the London Athletic Club meeting on October 24th by another win with llOjards in the same distance from the same scratch man. Ac the London A. C. meeting on the ensuing April 10th he won the One Mile Walk again with fifty, yards from Ocklef ord and Adamson, and at the Highgate Harriers' Club meeting on April IT he walked a inile-and-a-half match against Adamson and won. Despite his previous succensee he was handicapped at Mitcham on May 22nd with sixty yards start from Ockloford in two miles, and literally strolled home. ',•:"Ptt 29th May, dt Edmonton, with ten yards from Qekleford in two miles, in the attempt to stall off a gallery rush by the scratch man, in trotting parlance, he broke, afld the pair were disqualified, the coveted first prize being gained by George Bettison, a younger brother, who was in receipt of 25ayards. V■■ ; • w, •;-'■■■•■■' : Ac St. Albans on 14fch of June he , won the Two Miles Walk from scratch in remarkable time for such a difficult track, and on 23rd June at the London Atuleiic Club Evening meeting he accomplished the best performance he had hitherto done, and undoubtedly the finest piece of walking that Londoners had seen for years, by winning the Two Miles Walk with 10 seconds C W, V. Clarke. & the , net time of 14min 17sec, Clarke's time be- j ing 14mln 184sec> .Taking the tide of success at it 3 full, on the 26th June at the Ealinej Harriers , sports he made a dead heat for first place with his co-scratch man, C. W. V. Clarke, tn the record time for a grass track of 14min 82 4-ssec. The training he had undergone and the harder work he attempted to put in for the championship quite upset him after this, and beyond finishing third to Clark and Ockleferdih a three miles scratch race, and entirely breaking down in the championship, he did nothing further, his final effort being in his own club sports on October 9th, finishing third from scratch fare one mile walk. . His style of walking has been generally admired, and though termed " professional 'fey some critics, this was really a compliment, thongh hardly perhaps so meant. It was a clean, easy, machine-like action from the hips, with straight knees, and perfectly fair, and is presented a marked difference to the half shufflle, half gallop, which is adopted as style by the average amateur. It is unfortunate for the walking races of next season that Mr Bettison wlu be unable to compete, far with his example before them competitors would have improved their style and judges would have a lees difficult task. Mr Bettison has accepted a very lucrative position in Australia, for which he sailed on the 14th inst. Socially, as well a3 on the path he was aeocceas, and hie absence will be marked -