PEDESTRIANISM AT THIS RINK.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1842, 17 January 1880, Page 2

PEDESTRIANISM AT THIS RINK.

The Rink in Gloucester street was opened to the public last evening at 8 o’clock, to witness the feats of pedestrianism, which, pursuant to announcement, were exhibited there. A better site could scarcely have been chosen, as the rink affords large accommodation and is well ventilated, the only drawback being the hardness of the floor, a fault which, however, is generally experienced in enclosures of the hind. At the hour named there was a large gathering of the public, and visitors continued to drop in as Jthe night advanced. Very complete arrangements had bean made for the The oounf*, measured by Mr R. P. Bain, is eighty yards in. length, thus giving twenty-two laps to the mile. The officers appointed to act were as follows : —Handicappers, Messrs Hebden and Andrews; starter, Mr Hebden; judge, Mr E. O. Bishop. The Seven-mile Walking Race was the first event, being a sort of introduction to Scott's feat of walking 112 miles in twenty-four hours. The handicap for the Walking Race was as follows:—O. Bowley, scratch ; E. Page, 50secs. ; F. Gibson, Imin. 12secs.; J. O. Wilson, Imin. 12secs.; J. Fraser, Imiu. 30=608 ; O. H. Pierce, Imin. 35secs.; W. Pentecost, Imin 35aecs. ; E. Sandall, Imin. SOseos.; J. Bowley, 2min. 20secs. All of the competitors started except Page, who did not put in an appearance. A capital start was effected, the first man leading off at twenty-four minutes past eight o’clock, the, others following in the order of their handicapping. Taking into consideration the fact that the match was somewhat of an impromptu character, the competitors not having had time to think of training, it was more than successful, the interest being sustained from start to finish, and the pace wes above the average, considering the drawback before mentioned as to the course. Bowley (scratch) immediately put on a spurt, and distanced his competitors by one lap all round, and was immediately followed by Fraser and Wilson (the latter quite a boy). This position was maintained for a mi'e, when Bowley pnt another lap between himself and all the others except Wilson, who stuck to him pertinaciously and with great credit so far as his pluck was concerned, the effect of which upon the spectators was only marred by his occasionally departing from a walk into a trot, or a compromise between a walk and a run. Bowley walked splendidly, although having had no training. In the performance of Pentecost, a well known amateur ped, there appeared an evidence of what may be termed in his case “ departed glory,” but he was nowhere in the race. Pearce also walked well, and Fraser distinguished himself greatly. At the end of the fifth mile Pentecost gave in, and Wilson retired shortly afterwards, after fighting a plucky battle for first place with his big compeer Bowley. As ihe last round of the seven miles approached, the spectators evinced a good deal of excitement, and eome contusion prevailed regarding the positions of the men, and a round of applause greeted Fraser when the judge declared he had done the seven miles, Bowley then having four laps to go. There was some little astonishment too, as an impression prevailed that Bowley had more than pulled up the start which Fraser had received. According to the decisions given, however, the result of the race stood thus—Fraser, 1; Bowley, 2 : Pearce, 3. The time was as follows :—First four miles, 33min. losecs.; five miles, 41tnin. 30-ec.; six miles, 50 min. ; seven miles, 58min. 361 sec. Deducting the start received by Fraser from the net time, he did the seven miles in 57min. 41j3ec. A protest was entered by Bowley, but it is scarcely possible to prove anything to his advantage, although many thought that a mistake was made in counting the laps. At ten o’clock precisely young Scott started on hia task of walking 112 miles in twenty-four hours. Scott is sixteen years of age, and slightly but well built and muscular. He has already performed some remarkable feats, having (when he was only twelve years o age) beaten a well known professional pedestrian in Dunedin, of which town he is a native, Scott started off at ten o’clock, being kept company for a few miles by O’Connor (of Timaru) and Swan (of Christchurch). He did the first mile in lOmin. 3Ssec, Ho has a beautiful style of walking, bis carriage being perfectly erect, whilst an easy grace distinguishes his movements, which at once conveys the idea that what to an ordinary person would be an arduous task is to him no effort whatever. For the first few miles he did not even show color, and never turned a hair until midnight drew near. THIS DAY. Scott continued his wa’king during the night, taking a spell of nine minutes at 3.20, for the purpose of charging his socks. He wall#! well, averaging over four miles and a half per hour. At 6 o’clock he took a rest, which was to have occupied thirty minutes, but owing to his having to go to the Commercial Hotel for hia bath, the time occupied foity minutes, which was a delay unlooked for, which has to be made good. At 10 o’clock, half way between the twenty-four hours, he reached his 55th mile. Scott concludes at 10 o’clock this evening.