ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

Evening Star, Issue 18053, 22 August 1922, Page 1

ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

EDWARD’S TRIPLE CROWN. MOUNTAIN’S SENSATIONAL HALFMILE. The most historic event by far at the annual championships of tho Amateur Athletic Association, held on Saturday, July 1, at Stamford Bridge was the performance of 11. F. V. Edward' (England) an winning the triple crown to speed runners. It was a magnificent achievement for tiro Polytechnic sprinter, and made history, because no other man has ever been the holder of these three events. He won the three races in tho course of an hour, and' so far as I (“Trtyrus” in the ‘Athletic News’) could judge Edward was never exhausted. Light-hearted and tireless, he was as fresh to tho eye after the last race as when he first stepped on to the track. It w.as difficult to understand why Edward) wore a strengthening plaster at the back of each thigh, and on Friday evening, during preliminary heats, a bandage round an ankle. Ho never betrayed a sign of weakness, ho never faltered, and it must have been tho fear of a possible breakdown which caused him to take such precautions. Ho had tho satisfaction of winning the 100yds with His Majesty the King, Lord Birkenhead (tho Lord 1 Chancellor), Lord Dcsborough, Sir Montague Shearman, and other notabilities hard by that breadth of worsted which he breasted a couple of feet in front of -L. C. Royle. This event, which has been carried ol! by many of the most celebrated men _ with) flying feet, was his severest race. Ho did not Hash from his mark as he can, but bo annihilated space by a long and rapid stride, only possible to a man of great strength, so gloriously that ere half the distance had been covered there was dear daylight between him and his pursuers. -Once in this commanding position he resisted all challenges, and eventually won by tho distance already stated. Even .so, it is doubtful whether he got the uttermost out of himself. He had a following wind, and sound even time was the return of the watchholders for his third consecutive victory in this contest. But if he hod a breeze behind him it is undeniable that the surface of the cinder track might have been firmer, and! therefore faster. EDWARD’S THREEFOLD SUCCESS, Within thirty-five minutes bo was out again for the final of the 220 yards, his only opponent being J. Imbach, who, hailing from Geneva, carried tbs arras of Helvetia on his breast. A little man is Imbach, the Swiss, but a very speedy and a game runner. Ho fought desperately for the honor, and appeared to bo on terns with his foe when they came round the curve immediately leading to tho straight. But tho effort was rather too much for his physique, and' shout 30yds from tho tape Imbach ceased to punish himself by futile endeavor. He could see that, he was not equal to the task, and was content to be beaten by a dozen yards by a man who compassed the course in even lime when ho was again not “all out.” After a lapse of twenty-fivo minute Edward carried off the quarter-mile, in which he vanquished such a splendidy-bxult athlete as G. 31. Butler, of Cambridge University, and T, J. Cushing, as well as three others who gained standard time Butler, who looked a possible champion if ever a man did, ran strongly, but he was no match for Edward, whoso vitality was wonderful. A SKETCH OF THE CHAMPION. Edward is a pure Jamaican, and as a horn Wfest Indian is a subject of the Crown, and entitled to run for the British Empire, as ho has done. When tho war broke out ho was travelling in Germany, and was interned in the Euhlebcn camp with many another British sportsman. This swarthy son of Ajiak strips finely, as ha stands 6ft Ojin and- scales list 121 b. He is endowed with the strength, the length of limb, and the lissonmess' that a champion sprinter needs. But ho is evidently rather more than a sprinter, for ho stays out tho quarter-mite. It is said that he discovered' his ability to run this distance when in a relay race he beat 50sec. , _. . , ~. , I am going 1 to say that I oo not think t-lrat even Edward knows what ho can _dq, I should like to see the depth of his spirit and the extent of his speed fathomed. Some time a"o he entered for same events at an athletic” festival, and never gave details of his previous running and handicap marks. In this respect his form was a complete blank He was asked for an explanation by the authorities. His reply was unique, inasmuch as he said that he did not wish to accept a start from any man! Why, therefore, should he give such information! This was not conceit—it was an honest estimate of what he believed himself capable The story is true, and shows tho man", who, I hear, speaks as many languages as events he won on Saturday.

THE MOUNTAIN MAN,

Another holder of a championship repeated Ins victory. This was E. D. Mountain, who won tho half-mite from O. R. Griffiths by his eyebrows. Such a comparison may be pardoned. So calculated to arouse emotion was such a thrilling finish that white tendering congratulations to the winner one feels inclined o to say as much for Griffiths. When the later drew tho outside berth of all he tossed his head and said to a friend: “Mv usual luck.” But ilountain was the next man to him. The inside berth—that is running left hand in-—foil to D. G. A. Lowe, another Cantab, with a fine stylo of m ßut”runners with grit and the gift of goin-o- hard from the mark are not daunted 1 by a? bad draw. For the half-mile the pace of the first miarter was a cracking gait— SUscc. Griffiths made his effort 220yds from home, and a gallant bid for fame it was. Ho took the lead and held’ it with all the "Tininess that any man could muster. But equally determined was the holder, Mountain, who hung on to his right shoulder. They raced stride for stride, with every muscle tense and every nerve responding to the call of the brain. The spectators, 12,000 of them, fastened their eyes on the gallant) youths, who never quailed as they battled) out the finish like truly thoroughbred sportsmen. Nor did Mountain gain on his opponent, until in the last stride he got his breast to the worsted and snapped it. The race was as nearly a dead heat as possible without being such. Mountain won, but it was only by an inch or two. This truly Olympian sbrur"te was completed in Imin 55| sec—time which has seldom been beaten at these championships, and not o r ten at other festivals. Both 3lountain and Griffiths were presented to the King, who conversed with them. When Mountain, who has a finelychiselled face and naturally crinkled hair, receded from the Royal presence ho went straight to his fiancee and kissed her. The struggle was so highly emotional that anyone could understand tho wealth of happiness which possessed Mountain, although his modest bearing and his kindly greeting of Griffiths must have been balm to ■ the wounded soul of the man who lost so nobly.