“WHEELBARROW DERBY”

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 17 June 1935, Page 5

“WHEELBARROW DERBY”

£2O CHALLENGE WAGER. WHOLE TOWN EN PETE. United Press Association-By Electric Telegraph Copyright). MELBOURNE, June 16. The “wheelbarrow derby" was begun yesterday to settle a challenge wager of £2O a-sicle between two prominent citizens of Beechworth, Messrs T. Parkinson and S. Evans, the former undertaking to push Mr Evans from Beechworth to Mount Buffalo Chalet, 50} miles away, in eight days in an ordinary wheelbarrow. The contest began at 1.8 p.m. in the presence of a tremendous crowd, a brass band playing, and aeroplanes soaring overhead. The streets were decorated, and mounted troopers had to keep the crowd back. Mr Parkinson quickly adjusted the weight of his fellow townsman to his arms, and with the aid of a shoulderstrap strode out manfully, followed by a procession of cars and cheering people. He covered six miles in 4h 20m, with 76 stops, yesterday. He covered 11 miles to-day. Mr Parkinson trained strenuously. Each evening he has been wheeling a gaol warder weighing .16 stone for two and a-half miles in a. wheelbarrow.

Sunday’s journey was through hail and rain, with the temperature never far above freezing point. Parkinson is a stone lighter than when he began, and Evans has lost eight poynds m weight.