THE “BLUE STREAK”

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 30 September 1933, Page 8

THE “BLUE STREAK”

WORLD’S FASTEST HUMAN

JACK DONALDSON’S GREAT RECORD. DESCRIPTION OF FAMOUS RACE. (By “physical Gulturist”). Last week I referred to the passing of the late Jack Donaldson, one < f the fastest —some say the fastest—runner ever seen. The following account of the “Blue Streak’s” career appeared in the “Sydney Referee” : “Born at Ravwood, in Victoria, 111 1886, Jack Donaldson started liis mining career very early. When 16 years of age he won a double at Kora-ng, viz., 130 yards Sheffield Handicap and 100 yards over hurdles. He then rested from competitive athletics until he was 19 years old. He came to light in the Stawell Gift, of 1906 011 13 yards mark. He started favourite in tlie final, and was put back a yard for breaking over. Nevertheless, he finished second, beaten only by inches in 12 1-5 bv E. W. Thompson, of Abbotsford. That was the only occasion ill his career when he was beaten by one conceding him a start. He must have won even then, but for breaking over the mark. It was a lesson he never forgot. In later years Bra 11k Skurry Hewitt, the famous old international runner, paid tribute to Donaldson, Postle, ’in. Holway when he told “The Referee” that ‘the three are the best men on tlie mark I have ever seen. I have fired the gun for each of them, and a schoolboy could start them.’ “Donaldson and Postle met many tiinies, .sometimes- in !a series- oyer three distances, 50, 60 or 65, and 0 or 75 yards. Postle, off the mark like a bullet, was a veritable marvel tor the 50 yards. But even at that distance Donaldson had beaten him. These men were truly wonderful runners. Postle was a very level-headed man, a high-grade sportsman, as straight as a- gun-barrel. His matches with. Donaldson -always excited great interest no matter in what country they were contested.

Tt was in Johannesburg that Donaldson created the world’s record ol 9 3-8 secs for the 100 yards- m a match with Postle and Holway for £2OO a side. Postle was second 2J yards away, an 3 Holway & ya»rd behind the Queenslander. No other. athletic event created so much discussion right round the world as that 100 yards which still stands, a-s world’s record. “Most people, however, will remember Jack Donaldson for the phenomenal performance on the Sydney Spoits Ground in his world’s championship race over 130 yards with Chas. Hoiwav. This pair, Arthur Postle, and others were gathered in Sydney, and had staged a- big race at the Agricultural Ground, which had become shorn of some of its glamor by Donaldson breaking down and being unable to run. Holwav defeated Postle in it. Later the Donaldson— Holway match was arranged. _■ Mick ferry, manager for the Victorian, was longheaded in all his arrangements, and everything; went off very well. u Th© leading amateur officials- iiau. charge of the running the time keepers including Mr William Iveir, who had his eyes glued to the post at the finish of what became the most remarka-ble race ever seen oyer the distance. The track was rolled out in about the centre of the grass football field with the start at the oat rifle range and finish at the Captain Cook Hotel end. “It was arranged for the race to start at 4 o’clock. There was no difference of opinion between the two parties about any of the arrangements. The first man out was Donaldson. He looked a bright boy. His hair was parted m the centre, and he wore an overcoat. When he discarded it Ins blue running costume revealed a big letter “A” on the breast Holway wore a white costume edged with .ta and blue with the Stars and btripes woven on his breast. . “The men were cool, and on tbeir toes hopping around to warm up. They were vivid physical -contrasts. Holway w,as taller and thicker m build. He looked a good 13st, with rugged limbs and thick calves built on the ideal lines of a star Rugby forward. Donaldson was slimmer but of perfect symmetry, not so thick 111 the calf and thigh as 1110-st springers jure. He was long-limbed and moved like a greyhound. “Starter A- E. Patrick had no trouble with the men on the mark. They were- as- steady as steel, no breaking- ’ over as is seen by the amateurs these times. They shot out of their holes as one man and immediately Donaldson forged ahead. The pace was amazing. At 40 yards Donaldson had gained a yard. Holway running true to form, held on, and then tried to bridge the gap. But Donaldson, running magnificently', liejld to his lead, and then went ahead again until, at 100 yards, he led by two yards, it could be seen that the time would be exceptional. Donaldson went further j away, and datshed through the ta-pe with tremendous strides, the winner by 4 yards— they said. I thought it from 5 to 6 yards. “After the sudden outburst of cheers from the. spectators, who were mainly congregated on the lawns end in tlie stands at tho Captain Cookend of th® ground, a strange silence reigned. Everyone was expectant 111 respect to the time. “A world’s ecord!” thev s&id. And world s record *it was— l2 seconds, or 10 yards under evens. .At first) there were sceptics; but very soon it was generally agreed that those present had witnessed the greatest running ever done by a human being. “When I looked at my watch and found that it showed 12 seconds dead | said Mr Berr, “It was thunderstruck. But when I queried by confreres, Messrs H.. A. Wesjioff and T. O. Rob-| erts, and Hound that their watches agreed with my own. it flashed through nfy mind that, perhaps the distance was short, for no other man m the world had ever run 12 seconds for 130 yards on the grass. So, before, giving the time officially, we took the precaution of having (tho. track remeasured and found that it was lot) yards four inches. Of course, we measured b" a tape which was 66 eet Ion" Making allowance for sagging, the“distance would be about 130 yards 21 inches—the same figures that the groundsman gave me. Five lengths of tape were used, and then the ‘a-st length was 60 feet 4 inches, which crave 130 yards four inches. “ q ran a trial during the week, said Holwjiv after the race, ! which made me do 12 3-10seo for the : 30 yards, or. seven yards under even time, so I reckoned I had a splendid chance of winning from Donaldson, or anyone else. Wouldn’t you think so, too, if you were in mv position?’ “The American took his defeat in fine spirit. He thought he was sure to win. The determined and brilliant manner in which he fought it cut though actually outclassed, disclosed

his confidence. Moreover, his time showed that he ran true to foim “ ‘I have not one excuse tor my defeat,’ he added. ‘I ran right up to niv trials but Donaldson is too £ood for me. "1 am sorry X could not make ~ close race of it. Ido not think I have a chance of heating him in Australia,’ concluded the American Jg is the greatest runner I hare evei "ecu mV only S&anee of ever defeatine- him will be m England. J-bf-re T stand the climate much, better than the majority of visitmg athletes. Some folk say 1 got away first, but 1 * not. Jack led me for 60 yards. Then 1 made a big effort to get level at about 60 yards. But he got away S-and r am the ex-champaon. Donaldson possesses the ideal buildfoi a runner. He is just the model I woulduse if I were a sculptor. . ‘‘Discussing the race from his a ngl, Mick Terry said: M e got a shoe! when the timekeepers. saul: If We knew Jack would need to iun fast for word had reached us that Holway had done some Isensational trials—seven yards or so, mside evens Jask had been troubled with stiffness in the calf of the leg-not the D d weakness of the thigh anc u not bother with a trial. He felt aA right, and that quite satisfied m Personally I had no doubt as to the result, but ‘under 10’ was just a Utth better than I had anticipated for he eased up m the last few strides. H way fancied that he, himself could win, and a fair stake was betted on th 'A b '!t<Sv°of’ the races Donaldson took part in would fill pages. The shrewdest authorities in England haU seen as much of his running, and nis great abilities as those of South Arrica and Australia. They were unanimous in acclaiming that never so great a runner over his distances had been seen. One doubts if a greater cvei will he .seen, notwithstanding that records are being made these times only to be beaten in most spheres ot sport. .. *■ “I saw a trood deal of Donaldson in Sydney in 1911. The runners had asked “The Referee” to appoint the officials for their big race on the Agricultural Ground. It fell to my lot to do so, as Mr Richard Coombes, the greatest athletic authority jn the country, was then on his way bach from England after attending the Empire Games as manager of the Australian team. It was thus, that the amateur time-keepers liud been invited to act. Donaldson was a bright young fellow, very modest about his achievements, and a- glorious runner,” j