PEDESTRIANISM.

Evening Star, Issue 5968, 28 April 1882, Page 2

PEDESTRIANISM.

The following are the entries in connection with the one-mile foot-race between Burk and Pagan, to be run to-morrow, Mr J. Macgregor acting as starter and Mr Job Wain as referee One-mile Handicap.—J, Scott, A. Allen, J. Henderson, L. J. Murdock, D. Keys, W. Drummond, R. Crofts, P. Poster, A. M‘Kenzie, J. Mills, P. Brady, R. Burk, J. Deaker, and S. Brooks. 110 Yards Handicap—J. Allen, W. M'Keioh, L. Godfrey, Hemersley, J. Murdock, R. Crofts, S. E. Hutton, J. R. Hutton, J. Smith, J. Lewis, S. Leith, W. Collar, A, M'Kenzie, P. Brady, W. J. M'Donald, R. Burk, Maiden Plate.—M'Kelch, J. Allen, A. Hobbs, S. E. Hutton, Hemersley, J. Smith, J. Lewis, S. Leith, J. Collar, J. Miles, A. M'Kenzie. “An Old Pod ” writes to us :—“ Such an amount of interest is being taken in the mile race to-morrow between Burk and Fagan for the championship of the Colony that 1,, as having haa considerable experience in pedestrian matters, having run a few races in my time, may he allowed to express an opinion on the merits of the respective men. W. J. Burk has been a most consistent runner for the last nine .years, and has never suffered defeat in a mile race by a man who started with him from scratch, except the Australian champion O’Brien, about two months ago; and then the local man was sadly out of condition. He was up for two nights prior to the race; was ten pounds heavier than he is now; and had scarcely a run before the race; in fact, he never stripped in worse condition than he did on that day. A relative had died on the morning of the race, and it was only through great persuasion, in order to keep faith with the Australians, that Burk consented to put in an appearance. It is greatly to his credit that Burk has done his level best in every contest in which he has been engaged. That he should have been defeated in the circumstances detailed above surprised none of his friends. Since Fagan’s challenge was accepted Burk has undergone a severe preparation under the care of his trainer, Charles Yerey, who, I must say, has done him every justice. Burk’s weight is now lOst 61b, or something like 51b lighter than when he ran in the mile race against Duncan. 1 saw him ran the other evening, and I never saw him go in better form. He had three men against him, including his brother for the last quarter of a mile, and, as they say in America, he smothered them all, pulling up quite fresh. He is at present the picture of health, and to-morrow will strip a better man than he has ever done before in his long and honorable career. As to his opponent W. S. Fagan I know but little. All I know of him is gathered from my reading of newspaper reports, which in my judgment do not bring him up to the standard of the local man. On Wednesday last I saw him run six laps round the ring, or one. lap over the mile, which he accomplished in smin 54sec. But of course it was only an exercise canter for him. He stripped in splendid form. He is a pretty runner to look at; his action, however, didn’t suit me. It is rather high; he bends the knee too much ; brings his feet hack, and does too much work behind. It is, however, freely whispered about town that he can do the mile in 4min 28sec, but I accept the statement with great reserve. My impression is, that the man who will to-morrow break 4min 36sec will win. The course is rather heavy after the late rain, and this circumstance is somewhat in favor of Burk. Barring accidents and given fine weather to-morrow I expect to see a desperate race, and if it comes to a close .finish on a long spurt I fancy that the Canterbury man will find his Dunedin opponent just too much for him.”

We have also received the following: — “ The final deposit of L3oa-side was made at Wain’s Hotel on Saturday night. Mr G. Dowse, who is appointed stakeholder, now holds the whole of the money Fagan is reported to have done some very, fast trials in Christchurch —so fast, in fact, that if he can do anything neat' the same on the Caledonian Ground (which, however, I very much doubt), he will have no trouble in winning. One thing, however, is certain: The Christchurch course is much faster than the Caledonian Ground, and, I have reasons for thinking, much shorter. I will give you one instance out of many I have noticed : O’Brien, when in Christchurch, did the mile (winning very easily) in 4min 23sec, which, as you know, is rather too good for a genuine mile. The last match for the championship of England, between Cummings and Duddle, took 4min 30£ sec.; and although the Christchurch man’s trials have put this in the shade, the latter time will not be beaten to-morrow.”