ATHLETICS

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12528, 13 April 1935, Page 11

ATHLETICS

WORLD’S GREATEST SPRINTER. WAS HE A QUEENSLAND ABORIGINAL f Having seen all tlic chahipion. athletes in action over a period of 40 years, I have fio hesitation in -saying that Charlie Samuels, the iiill-blodded Queensland aborigine, was the greatest sprint- runnel of all time (writes in the Melbourne "Sporting Globe,” W. MbMaiius, at one time the world’s host all-round professional runner). Next- to Samuels I place the late Jim McGarrigal (Q-) —the best "white” man I over saw—with Arthur Postle (Q.) third, a trifle ahead of {iie late Jack Donaldson (Vic.) with Tom Miles (Q.) as the greatest, most brilliant, and most stylish runner since the days of Pestle and Donald-

.Tii tho boom days of running in the ’eighties rich, prizes were offered for big handicaps at Carrington and Botany running grounds. For the £BOO Botany Handicap the late George Adams ran a £20,000 sweepstake, which was fully .subscribed. As it was possible to win great sums of money, tho best men in the world were attracted to Australia. I have never lost- my enthusiasm for the sport, and have made it my duty not only to see the present-dav champions in action, but to meet them personally. One can only "size up” a man’s ability and hits character by conversation. In giving my vote to Charlie Samuels as the "fastest human” over seen on a track, T do so unhesitatingly. He was an absolute "flying machine.” Born and reared in Queensland he did odd jobs round various station properties and had tho reputation of being a great horseman, able to break in any ‘‘outlaw.’” Tall and loan, about 6ft in his bare feet, and scaling little over 11.0, he was the ideal build for a .sprinter. Probably his greatest effort was in the 1889 Botany gold cup of 150 yards. Samuels (16yds) was virtual scratch .the late Jim McGarrigal (21 yards), F. Nolan (25ycls), J. Bust (28yds.), and W. E. Quick (29yds), in what was probably the most memorable final ever brought together. Only inches separated McGarrigal and Nolan, with Samuels about two yards away third. A happy-go-lucky follow, Samuels was always out to do a good turn to ariyone in need. He never knew the value of money. He won many imporfhnt races, including a Botany, before his memorable contest- with g«lSamuels was a wizard of the track. He could run eight yards "inside” at almost any time of asking. Often when he was set impossible tasks, lie would run through till the last ditch. He wait tile gnmest man 1 ever saw in action, and was never beaten till the tape was reached. I do not propose to go into details of the many fine feats of the late Tom McGarrigal, who, until about 12 months ago, was an official of the Kedron Park Race Club, Queensland. I have no hesitation in saying that he was the greatest "white” man I ever saw on the track. That is saying a lot. Repeatedly McGarrigal ran eight yards "inside” and it wn.- no trouble to him to do six yards and seven yards better at any tick of the clock. Coming to the never-ending argument as to whether Arthur Postle was a better runner than the late- Jack Donaldson, 1 know that many will differ with me when I say that Postle was slightly the better runner. He was just on the "down grade” when Donaldson, a few years younger, met. him in competition. Postle wne> a gentleman on and off the track, and a. brilliant athlete. Donaldson was a marvel, being able to run from 75yds to five miles, as he did while -serving in France. He and Postle engaged in some historic battles for the world’s supremacy. After the war Donaldson wont- to the U.S.A., where he received a good appointment at a well-known American sports store. He died suddenly in Now York two years ago. Tom Miles when at the peak of Ids form was the greatest man T. ever saw since. Postle-Donaldson days. As a raw recruit Miles won. the' Stawell Gift in 1927 5 and the following year wrested .tho world’s title fr.om Tim Banner. He diij not appear to he able to hold his form for a while, but if lie strikes it we shall see -some particularly good running, . Banner was the greatest and most consistent man J'or hid inches Australia. has produced, and I would bracket him with Ed'die Tofan, the iibw world’s champion, who. is a-mar-vel for his height—sft 44-in. Tolan. has been an eye-opener to us all. tli-s ,220 yards was, I think, one of , his best efforts. He rah so easily and surely. Maioolfnn Dunn was another great sprinter, and a mice style of runner. Ilis effort at Wangaratta—about seven yards inside—in 1932 was worth watching. He is vastly superior to many of those who are clamouring for championship honors. In Tom, Roberts we. have a runner fall of promise and ability, In. many respects ho reminds me of Donaldson. And,i.think he will go far. He has made amazing strides, since ho won. a.t Stawell last year.

; TO LAN'S PARALYSING SPEED.

HUGE MELBOURNE CROWD ' THRILLED. L>.\ ■ ' . *‘MIDNIGHT EXPRESS.” WORLD SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIPS, With a paralysing burst of speed over the last, few yards, Eddie Tolan (U.S.A.), Oldympic 100 metres and ‘2OO metres sprint champion, won the 75yds .and 100yds world’s sprint championship, events at the Melbourne Exhibition Oval (writes J. J. Maher in the Melbourne “Herald”). Tolan, who amazed anij enthralled 20,000 people, received a tumultuous welcome. He lived up to. his reputation of being the “fastest human.” Like the “Midnight Express,” his nick-name, lie wan. fast and always on time.

Reminiscent of the halcyon, days of running twenty-live years ago, when those speedsters, Arthur Pontic (Queensland), Charlie Tlolway (U.S.A.) Bernard Day (Ireland) and the late Jack Donaldson (Victoria) battled lor the sprint .supremacy of the world, the hectic battles in the opening series for the world’s, championship, held by Austin Robortvon (Victoria) provided thrills for the thousands of onlookers. Trained to. the second and looking like a bronze statue, the American provided the bomb-hell lor critics and his opponents by a magnificent display of generalship and speed. He outwitted his rivals with hip legs and brains. Experts, past and present, were unanimous that Tolan is the greatest sprint runnei' who has ever visited Australia. The Olympic champion, under his trainer Ralph Place, worked on a. carefully la id-out plan which not only surprised but staggered experts and others. - PERFECT CONFIDENCE. With perfect confidence he went to h.:s mark for the first event of the night—the 75vds championship. Each competitor spoke a .row words over the “loud speakers” and Tolan caused a ripple of laughter as he said. “I’ll save my ‘hot air’ for the races tonight,” A;S Tolan, Austin Robertson (Victor jn), Tom Roberts (New South Wales), and “Bill” M'Farlano (Scotland) were straining on their marks, the vast crowd was spellbound, and at The bark of Jem Pemberton’s gun, Tolan flashed out of Ills holes ahead cf" Roberttson land Roberts, with M’F'arlane the last away.

Half-way down the track Tolan was holding a .slight load over Robertson and Roberts, with M’Farlano labouring. Ten yards from the line Robertson challenged the American, wjm, however shot out kite a rocket and gained the verdict by half a yard from trie South Melbourne footballer. Tom Roberts war- only eighteen inches away third, with M’Farlano nearly two yards away last. The time, 7Asec, equalled “even time”—a fine effort °n i track about fifteen inches uphill. The rummers faced a -slight southerly breeze.

The applause was deafening, and Tolan took his victory with the Olympic spirit—modest in victory and generous in defeat. Austin Robertson had run true to form, as it was not expected that he would outpace Tolan after the great trial of the American on the Monday.

TOLAX'S DOUBLE, .An hour later t-iie .quartet competed in the 10.0 yards championship, which provided a surprise in more ways than one. Tom Roberts as away a Traction ahead of Tolan and Robertson at the pistol tire. And what a hectic battle it.was —providing striding contrasts in the style ox the American with hip short, piston-like action, and the long striding of his rivals. Tolan is a marvel—a human machine. A great rear went up as Roberts was in front of Tolan and Robertson at -50yds and was holding a lead of about three-quarters of a yard at 75 yards. Hero Tolan, like a flash, of lightning, shot out, and 15 yards from home hit the front and went on to win by half a yard from Roberts, with Austin Robertson a (similar distance aw,ay third. M’Farlane, game but outclassed, was again last. The time—9 12-]6see —was equal to about 21 yards inside “even time.” Tolan had again tricked his opponents and definitely placed himself in an almost unbeatable position lor the title, having scored ten points, with Roberts and Robertson equal with thi;ee points, while M’Fnrlane failed to score. It. was the greatest night’s racing ever seen on the, Exhibition Oval, surpassing in crowds and enthusiasm the historic battles between Bostic and Donaldson, while the grass track was superior to that used when these chain pirins raced at, the Melbourne Exhibition Oval twenty-three years ago. Judged on his running last night, Tolan looks like winning the other t\vo events—(the 130 yards and 220 yards. It is possible, however, that Roberts may improve with his week’s rest. To get beaten for. the championship,, Tolan will have to finish third in both events, while either Robertson or Roberts will have to finish first. But it does not seem likely Tolan will finish out of the picture. A week later," also fri Melbourne, Eddie Tolan won the 220 yards .from W. M’Farlane .(ScoWrid) and A. Robertson /Victoria) in 21-Jsec, Robertson won the 130 yards from T. J\ Roberts (Neiv South Waies) and Tolan. ' I , ' 2 /. . As Tolan had won the 75 yards and the" 100' yards, his latest success, gate hiin tiie .world championship, decided over fi series of events, formerly held by Robertson.