STAWELL EASTER GIFT

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 31 August 1929, Page 13

STAWELL EASTER GIFT

RUNNING FOR A FORTUNE. MONNOCK AGAIN. (By “ Physic a 1 Cultu r i sit. ’') (Ail Rights Reserved.) In the “Sun Neuvs 'Pictorial’’ oi April 3 of this year is an arresting picture of champion sprinters, which shows boys rushing :to remove the colours as souvenirs from C. H. lieaiii an.l .H. Monnoek after they had won first, and second places in the Stawell Easter Gift, one of the richest pedestrian events in Australia. From the “.Sporting Globe’’ I gather some facts about one of. the .most thrilling foot races ever run in the Antipodes —doubly interesting to us of the long ago in I hat the one time New Zealand champion sprinter, Mick Monnock, was the father of thp. favourite- for .the race. But, alas for the best laid schemes of mice and men, the favourite went down. In the “ Globe ’’ report of the race, J. J. .Maher records that rarely before in the fiftytwo years, of the Stawell Gift have ■there been so many popular fancies as ■there, were this year. Of the 07 who finally accepted, no fewer than 70 were backed to win sums varying from £IOOO to. £SOOO. Hearn’s victory cost two prominent fielders £2050 between them, and it is estimated that in all about £3OOO changed hands as the result of his success.

EARLY SENSATIONS. From the very outset on that Saturday there were some sensational happenings. First of ail, Tom Miles, 'winner two years ago, and former world’s sprint champion, who was on actual scratch, withdrew owing to effects of rheumatism, declaring that he would sooner retire front the running game than put up an indifferent performance at Stawell.

But the sensation of the day was provided in the opening heat, when It. (J. Hicks, of Echuea, who won the Wangaretta, Gift four years ago, was defeated after being supported to win more .than £SOOO. His father, who was a wellknown runner many years ago, had implicit faith in the lad, while Bert Biggs, who had supervised Hick’s training operations, was confident that he would be the proud mentor of a. Stawell Gift winner. But Hicks tailed to materialise. Going to his mark lit' seemed to be the picture of nervousness, and from the crack of the pistol never Looked a winner. He looked in the pink, too, but no doubt was unable to withstand the big physical and mental strain that, is inevitable in such a contest. YVilheim, from South Australia, who was reported to be in George Holder’s stable, had many supporters, but lie, too, came to grief. R. B. Francis, the 1 vauhoe bank clerk, who was one of the early favourites. won his heat rather handily, but his time did not impress some of the experts. At the close of the Saturday’s racing those who were .in the public demand wore Monnoek, formerly of West Australia, who had displayed no end of pluck; M. J. Dunn. South Australia; CLiffi Hearn, tire ultimate winner; and Johnson from Rochester. Opinions were gTPafly divided, and so when the. semi-finals came on l’or decision on Monday, the issue still remained in doubt.

THRILLING SEMI-FINALS. Excitement ran high as the semi-finals came on for decision. R. H. Warren (Tiyrs), a- place-getter last year, just got tome front L. A. Parker (S.A.) in the first, while B. M. Johnston (.12yds) had nothing to spare over J. A. Crawford. (Ifiyds) in the second semi. It was in the third semi-final that a great battle was waged, Hearn and Francis putting up n> magnificent finish, with Hearn getting the decision by mere inches in .12 4.lGscc —the fastest up to that stage. Another stirring fight was provided in the fifth beat, with two heavily bn (deed men in Monnoek and M. J. Dunn (S.A.) disputing the honours. Monnoek. running with plenty of confidence, got home an easy winner. Monnock\s semi-final victory was so decisive I lint he was made an odds-on favourite in the final. And what a wonderful final if was.

WONDFRFUL FINISH. 1 As the aspirants for .the honours— Hearn. Monnoek, Johnston, Warren and Northeast—went to the finishing line they were the admiration of the thousands of onlookers who, pent up with excitement, wore about to witness one of the greatest finals on the ground for rears.

Don Stiff got the finalists away splendidly. They left their marks as greyhounds dash after the chase, and there was a roar of excitement. Johnston (lllyd-s) was the front marker, and Hearn and Northeast (both 101yds) were his nearest attendants, with Monnock (8 J yds) and Warren (71yds) next in order as they moved away. Gould Johnston stall oil the opposition? Could Monnoek justify the great faith reposed in him? Would Hearn prove the hero of the day? These were the thoughts that were flashing through 'the minds of the onlookers. To the 'accompaniment of deafening cheers Johnston was holding the fort, up to about DO yards, where Hearn and Monnoek were lighting it out desperately. But; there was little .in it, and just nearing the line Hearn responded with a. wonderful “kick’’ and amid great excitement, was declared -the winner by less than a foot, with Johnson only inches away third in 11 15.1(i.sec—a wonderful performance. Northeast was fourth, with Warren last. “Good luck. Cliff! I thought I could win the Gift, but you beat me dinkuni. You put up a wonderful performance,’’ remarked Monnoek, as lie gasped for breath and rushed across to shake hands hands with Hearn. Then followed a wonderful demonstration. and Jack King and Bill Betts, Hearn's mentors, almost, embraced him with excitement. They wore proud' men and justly so. It was a fitting finale to a wonderful race, and the crowd stood tip and cheered Hearn. RUNNING FOR A FORTUNE.

What must he the feelings of one who knows lie is holding Hit 1 confidence of thousands of spectators, and is not only running to win over £4OOO for himself, ■but hundreds of extra pound's sterling for hundreds in the vast crowds in the stands and on the grounds. Everything has been worked out to a fraction — 1 nothing tint brains, experience, skill (arid pace can provide Cot remains (o [chance. Yet that little word “if’’ ■ creeps in. So nnteli so Mutt, one who in

j an ordinary race never gives sign of [having nerves, is so keyed: up with nor- . vous tension that, waking o.r sleeping, his mind is on the running of that race. Many who at other times were speed

kings have utterly failed when it came to the supreme test of being the public favourite, carrying the weight of money. It is under such conditions that the running heart asserts itself.

In the last Easter Gift the favourite, Harry Monnoek, rising to the occasion, surpassed himself, running faster than ever lie had done in his 1 life, to got beaten by a whisker by a runner receiving a. substantial start. It was indeed the irony of fate to be followed by a sequence of unusual weather conditions, causing him to get within an ace of winning other big handicaps in succession, which, under usual weather conditions, lie would easily have made his own. “It was the devil’s own luck’’ —only- those who have, under .similar conditions', just, missed the bus, may realise the trier’s chagrin. Harry has the writer’s sympathy. “Oh! so j near and yet so far.’ ’ 1 have had the privilege of reading two letters from Harry to his father — one a few days before the race and the other written after the event was over. They were very human letters, expres«- : ing hopes, possibilities-and future pros I peels, his appreciation of his .trainer, i sidelights on the race, his defeat and disappointment, his tribute to the win- : nor and the shattering of his dreams, j In all he writes as a man, just What one would expect from a son of Mick Monnoek—-a worthy son of a worthy sire. .'Just a few days before the great race he wrote: “Just a short note so j that you will get a letter before Easter, i By the time you read this (Easter Sat- j urd'.‘iy) I will be well and truly at Sta- 1 well. We are going next Thursday morning, so that I can get the balance of the ground. I aim looking forward to it. After Stawell we go across to Bendigo and then back to Melbourne on Thursday and away again on Friday to Warrackembcal, so you will see that there is plenty of travelling before me. Well, now, to tell you what I think of my chance of winning the Stawell Gift. Jim and Keith Porlou (the punter) won’t have- me beaten; m fact, they think that I will win belli Stawell and' Bendigo. Jim even goes so far as to say that I will be running for the tape in the next world’s championship. He . thinks that. Miles at his best would be Ihi' only one that would beat me. I do not hardly think that I am that good, but. am fairly confident of the result at Stawell. In my opinion, whoever beats me will win. Yes, Dad, I will send you 1 some copies of the results, although the j ‘Sporting Globe’ will give you all the news. ’ ’

“P.S. —My final choice for Stawell IT. Monnoek 1, with G. A. Roe, 11} the hardest to beat.”

Harry’s selection of Roe as the pod who won I d make him stretch all out t o roach the tape -only goes- to prove how closely the true form of a candidate may be guarded. He knew his own form, but to the four others who reached the final lie never gave a, chance, while Roe, whom he classed as dangerous, ‘conked’ out. After the race is over, the other side of the story is st-old in this extract from a letter to. his father: “And now 1 will try to tell you about the sports meeting we went to at Easter. I expect you wore all surprised' at me getting so near the Gift, but you were not the only ones, for nearly all (he runners here never gave me a chance, but that was jus-t what we wanted them To .think. The Sunday before Si a well I had a final try-out at 7.20 a.in. I asked Keith Porlon to bring his mate (a. runner) along to be in it, so that, ho could form an ■opinion of how I was running. 1

i asked him liow much start, be wanted. • He said 4} yards, -so I told Jim to put ’ him on 7 yards and Joe McKenzie (the | distance back marker) on 20 yards, j Well, to cut it short, I won from Joe j by .inches, »o that-.settled it, and everyone present thought the Gift was over. We left the Wednesday before Easter and had u good trip up (125 miles). In the afternoon I had a. feeler on the track. I was .not a bit excited, but very keyed up. I though it pretty dead, but they saiid' it would bo nice by Saturj day. I though that I would lose some sleep through thinking, .but alto and slept like a. top. On Saturday morning they worked the commission. The sports started at 12 o’clock and I was- in the fourth heat at 12.15. Ilieks-, was a hot pot before Hie heats. When I saw him Tunning on the track I told them •he was one I could beat. 'They started off by getting a little 33 to 1 about me, but by the time I won my healt I was absolute favQurito. Everywhere I went; people were looking and-saying: ‘That’s Monnoek, the favourite'.’ I felt, flat--1 ternl, but most embarrassed, but after ’ a while took no notice. On Sunday we went out to the Grampians and got home at 5.20, 'lrani! tea, then played 500 , till 9.30, went off to bed and went J straight to sleep until 5.45 a.m.; got up I at 8 o’clock for -breakfast, had a walk and then laid 'off. - It wa.s then I felt if. I got a nasty feeling an the stomach, so got ready, went to the grounds' and felt. I just the thing. I had a hard race in | the semi, with Dunn off 0 yards. He caught me, but I. was going away again | ait the finish. I always felt confident until just before the final. I thought that I could win, but. could not believe that I was up for so -much, and thought it. too rich for mo. “Now for the final—a wonderful sensation. There were 25,000 people there andi not a sound—everyone worked right up. The official called for the finalists (Warren 7-1, Self SI, Northeast 10}, Hearn 101- and Johnston 11). I took my lime and went out last, keep-1 ing the other boys on -their toes. We put our coloured jackets -on, mine was yellow, paraded up to -the finishing gate, had our photos taken, shook hands with 'each 'other (Northeast and Johnston were very nervous), and did our plini. down flie tracks, dug our holes, -stood on, got set, and then the pistol. I thought .1 moved a bit slow, and was ! told after I did. After we had gone j about forty yards- I looked and Warren was with me, with the others about three yenrds in front, and seemed it-o be going away. I was surprised and Hi ought my ch ance remote, bufy something seemed- .to stir me on. I Knew 1 was run ing faster -than ever before. 1 threw for the tape, but knew that: Hearn had won by about nine inches. I fell and rolled -about four yards. The time was 11 15-lGsec, making me run one yard thirty-four inches inside evens. 1 ivajj disappointed, but consoled .myself by thinking of Bendigo and Warrneknnb-oa]. I was very popular with the crowd, who nicknamed me “Bal-dy. ’’ I think they thought me much older than t tint. The Stawell people told' tin l boys that flie victory would have been one of the most popular ever seen at Stawell had .1 .won. 1 have haul dinner with Heairn twice since. He is a very nice chap and a big fellow, standing about (iff; fin. ll< told me lie could have won: either of flip two last previous- Gifts, but. someone got his market each time. I wish they had got it this year, too, confound him. It would have been a wonderful thing to win. But we missed and it is no use grouching.

“ We 'left for Bendigo that night and got as far as Maryborough and Magees till next morning, and then on, arriving there about 10.30. Bendigo is about the size of Perth. It uqs raining, but tv-o lived in hopes of it fining up for the next day. On 'Wednesday it was drizzling rain when I won any heat, beat L. ,C. Parker, and thought I Was a good | thing for the final af night. At five o'clock it started to pour - and never stopped ail nigh't. I was a 3 to- 1 on favourite, but got beat very easily by Henry in the semi. Henry won the final, but if it had of been fine it would have been no race. The track was under water in places, me being a' long stridor, did not suit me. Wc went back to Melbourne the next day and went to Warwick by train. It was «ilso mining at Warrack and I confess I was beginning to feel a bit downhearted. Wilhelm (7yds) beat me m itke heat; by inches. I can scarcely write just whait I felt like—my swans wore turning out all geese. .1 got dressed and was not; going to start in 1 h»' 220, but by the time it came on I determined to give it a. go and won any

heat very easily. I got .Tim to get me a pick-me-up before the final, which I won. But it was poor compensation for thd chances I had lost. I am quite satisfied that I will have to earn my money bv working for it. My luck was evidently out, a!s it was the first Easter it had rained oit either Bendigo or Warrack for years. So that’s that. — Harrv. ’ ’