CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 109, 10 May 1909, Page 3

CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING.

INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP RACE. The seventh annual international crosscountry race was run off in England a few weeks ago, and won by A. E. Wood, of the Southern Counties. A feature of the race was the very fine running of the French representative, a Marseilles bank clerk named Bouin. An English newspaper, in some comments on the race, states that Botiin's showing stamped him as being, not only the best man France has ever produced, but is, in the opinion of many, the finest distance runner in the world to-day. This may seem paradoxical in view of his defeat by Wood, and it is no disparagement to the modest young Essex Beagles runner to say that, with more experience and English training, Bouin would have won. Take the last-named's tribulations before competency. To commence with, he had a tourteen hours' railway journey to Paris, flae was sick all the way on the boat crossing the Channel, and, to cap all, had to run in a pair of new pumps which were hastily procured in the town. Few men could have run as the Marseilles man did after such an experience, yet Ihe French champion was much the freshest man on the field at the finish, and only his lack of judgment lost him the race. A typical native of Southern I< ranee, with swarthy complexion and dazzling teeth, Bouin was the most popular man in Derby after the race, for apart from his pluck, stamina, and beautitul action, he showed the highest form of sportsmanship in stopping and assisting Coles to his feet when the. Midlander came to grief at one of the obstacles. It is a thousand pities 'that this great, athlete will be lost to 1 the sport next winter, for, in accordance with the inexorable law, the young Marseilles bank clerk shoulders his gun and commences his military duties in October. As already stated, England sustained their unbeaten record, though it was some consolation to the other countries to know that the winning aggregate was the largest on record. It was anticipated that France would be second, but their men, though stylish in action to a degree, seemed to lack dash, and they firished fourth only, lour points between Scotland and 34 behind Ireland. Still, our Gaelic neighbours, as indeed all the others, are splendid sportsmen, and it says much for the real amateurism which permeates the event that such keen competition should prevailfor the honour of winning, seeing that the only prizes are a medal for the first man home «md paichment certificates for the winning six only. The enthusiasm shown was remarkable, and it is certain that, despite the attitude' of the South of England, the International Championship will still go on unrivalled as an event of the highest character in amateur sport. One feature of the race was the failure of the respective National and Scotch champion's, James Murphy and A. M'Phee. The last-named could get no nearer than 34th, and did not even count for his country, whilst Murphy in finishing 16th tarnished the brilliant reputation he had made this season. Still, the Hallamshire Irishman had some excuse. He was very sore at not having been officially notified of his selection lor his native country, and, as a matter of fact, was so late in arriving that tho start was delayed 30 minutes*