CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 May 1928, Page 12

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS

ALICK CAMPBELL, N.Z. ATHLETE. BEST OF ALL -PROFESSIONAL MILERS. (By “Physical Cu-lturist.”) •• U ed, wlio do you think was the oest inner oi Lie i«i? rou've nnxeu mui moat of tnem since t*tO one.'’ joins was cue iioser put to uie uy olio wlio nun sou comd trot o\ oi eight furlongs not so very Jong ago. ‘ along. lour straignt out opinion; Honest injun—ll. A. Xtoso or oid A lick Oampbeu.” _ Aon say Rose was a super-man. A\ hat about old ivjickr* Don't loiget Caere were some nugn‘ty .good miiers around in ms da^ , and he used to give ’em all sorts of starts and beat them. “What about Bill Huckstep, Charlie Hutton, Bundaberg Have Smith, Jim toexton, Paddy Mullins, Ali. Hall, Ginger Haines, Jack Oosson, H. C. Gardener, the West Coaster, Ned Hall, J. R. McDonald, Kenny Bayne, and Harry W aite, to- say nothing oi Bill Burke and J ack O Connei, as well as some other good ones in tne South Island? Now, then, how would you handicap that lot? want another, I’ll nominate old Toni Hobbs, now of Patea. You only saw Tom after he had seen his best aay in the South Island, yet he had you northerners all uneasy when he was on your shoulders. Then there was Spencer Barnes and Scotty Farquar > > “Oh, steady on, old chap,” I said. “There is plenty to think about m tins bunch; don’t mention any more. I can .add a few more myself. I don t think I will attempt to handicap this lot. Better form a committee oi handicappers composed of Joe Henrvs, George Watson, Tom Copeland, Billy Corby, Jack Collingwood, and Ji m Paw son. Lret tliom fight it out as to who’s who.” . , , Although I will not declare a handicap, I will state right here that li R. A. Rose had flourished m the ’nineties and I had been called on tohandicap him and Alick Campbell toi their first meeting over a mile they would both have figured ’on scratch In my opinion Rose is the fastest amateur mile runner I have seen, and Campbell the fastest _ professional. Both men were similar in build; both had a long, loping stride, hut not the same style of action. Both men were determined finishers, with a terrific sprint if necessary ,which was seldom required—a race was generally decided before the straight was reached. Readers who knew not Campbell may Judge what class of runner he was from the following, which is a copy of a letter I have culled from a newspaper : AN ATHLETIC INCIDENT. “The name of Alick Campbell appearing in the list of handicaps for tiie sports on Cornwall Park next Tuesday recalls to my mind an incident that is not generally known, and is of considerable interest to those interested in sport. Alick Campbell is considered by good judges to be the finest mile and half-mile runner the world has produced, and but for one trip to Australia he lias, through lack of opportunity, had to demonstrate liis wonderful speed and staying powers at small sports meetings within New Zealand, mostly in Hawke’s Bay, where he was certainly not appreciated as he should have been. Some few years ago a mile runner came to the Caledonian Sports at Napier, running under an assumed name. His performances as rendered by himself did not proclaim him to be a champion, and Alick was called upon to give him a. .start of 20 yards in the mile. A wonderful race ensued, and Alck won in the straight by three yards from the unknown visitor, the rest of the field 1 being yards behind. The latter was particularly dispirited after the race, as well he might he, for it transpired some months later that he was actually the- professional mile champion runner of the world before coming to New Zealand. —I am, etc.. Ped, Hastings, December 22, 1921.” WHO WAS THE RINGER? The writer of the letter did not state who the unknown visitor was or justify his statement that lie was a world champion. However, his statement was quite true, the facts being that Tincler, who was champion distance runner of Great Britain, ran a match in South Africa for the world’s professional championship, his opponent being Chas. Heideman, wlio the South African sportsmen deemed unbeatable. The match ended in the South African’s favour. Subsequently Norman Conway defeated Heideman. After winning a lot of races in Australia, Conway made his appearance in this country, where he ran under the assumed name of Johanson, and as such he ran at Napier, getting 20 yards start and a sound thrashing from the redoubtable Alkie, by virtue of which victory Alick Campbell was morally pro. champion of the world, although lie never actually contested for the title. Unfortunately at the moment I cannot locate his many performances. However, I may mention that at Frankton he ran a. mile in fast time. A well-known athlete and present-day handicapper clocked him to do 4min 18see, the official time being even faster. I believe his first •appearance at a big sports, was at Napier, where fie won the mile off 90 yards, Jim Sexton being virtual scratch on 20 yards. A VERSATILE ATHLETE. Alick won either three or four mile races at Napier, the last one against Conway, or Johanson (as- entered 1 from scratch. Conway had won a lot of miles before taking Alick on. Campbell won at least one mile in Fcilding from .scratch in 4min 27sec. About 22 or 23 years ago I witnessed him run a fine quarter-mile race from scratch at Palmerston North. The time returned was 52. sec. He passed the majority of the runners round the outside on the bend, and trotted home for the last 50 yards hands down with yards- to spare. Alick could also sprint with the average. He won a 220 yards off 17 yards at Dannevirke, McLachlan on scratch. At Manama he astonished all who knew him by - going out and winning the high jump i with a leap of sft Sin-. Campbell had a. perfect action, with a very long stride. When hounding along he seemed scarcely to touch the ground, so light was he on his feet. 1

He stood about six feet; lithsomely built, ho was a striking figure when in motion. As a professional Alick answered all the questions put to him, and proved by deeds, he- was- superior to all opponents—of his day. As to which was actually the superior miler, Rose or Campbell, I will repeat: If Rose had flourished! in Campbell’s day, all things considered, tracks and conditions of running, with both men in the hands of a trainer who knew his man and his- work, then I would start them both off the. mark, from which my candid opinion is Randolph would emerge the victor and Alick not disgraced. Tills is my opinion only. Others are entitled- to their own.