RECORD BREAKING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13708, 26 March 1908, Page 8

RECORD BREAKING.

THE AUSTRALIAN CRAZE

CYCLING. PIANO-PLAYING, AND

CLUB-SWINGING

[from our own* correspondent.]

Sydney, March 19. The craze for breaking records is being pursued with feverish energy, and while two Melbourne men, whose condition of body and mind, seems to suggest the extremes of power and weakness, have been exerting all their energies to achieve notoriety by playing the piano continuously for upwards of two days, E. A. Pearson, a Sydney amateur athlete, has slipped in and won fame by breaking the cycling record between Sydney and Melbourne. Tin's feat was accomplished in 57h. 24m., and it beats the best record between the two capitals, from Melbourne to Sydney, a much easier ride than that of Pearson's, and negotiated by J. Salvana in 57h. oim. Pearson may try to lower these figures in a fortnight.

Tlio machine used for tins exceptionally long and unnecessarily hurried ride, either required spanner nor pump during the whole of the ride. The account from Melbourne states that tliat city . was reached after ,1 journey occupying 571 i. 25m., but Sydney authorities claim it to be 57h. 24m. Let some future aspirant for fame, with a superfluous supply of energy, attempt the same task, and accomplish it in 57h. Then Sydney or Melbourne will be obliged to admit that one or the other was carelees, at least, in failing to accurately recount an event of such importance. Pearson is a member of the New South Wales Cyclists' Union, and his record as an athlete appears to be an enviable one. Ho holds 131 first prizes for amateur cycling and athletics, and has stroked for New South Wales in eight of the inter-State eight-oar crews. There appears to be some .sympathy between cycling and sailling, judging by the successes of Pearson and Arnst, and it would hardly be surprising to hear of combined cycling and sculling dubs springing into existence for the lowering of records.

Compared with the longest-time-piano-pluying-champions, the record-breaking bicycle rider is a man of intelligence, for it requires knowledge of his machine and a fair amount of skill in handling if to negotiate the task he sets himself, but to the human pianolas these qualities are not imperative. On Saturday night, at a, warehouse in ITahiati, a few miles from Melbourne, in the presence of a crowd that required police supervision to keep order, W. C. Healy and V. Freeman brought to a close a practice that had lasted 51 hours. Up to this the Australian record -was 48 hours, and when this time was passed the performers were enthusiastically cheered, but the cheering was mild to that which greeted them when the world's record was beaten by 35 minutes. At this stage it was recognised that no good purpose could be served by continuing such an objectless and foolhardy pursuit, so it was decided to make it a, draw and divide the stakes. The practice commenced at, eight o'clock on Thursday night and ended at 11 o'clock on Saturday night' ami during that lime the men "did not leave the keyboards, nourishment in the shape of jelly and chocolate being administered to thorn frequently. Even this does not complete the list. Still another record-breaker has appeared above the horizon— Jack Griffiths who at Cgbar, on Saturday night, achieved the distinction,of swinging chilis for a, longer period than any other man, even Burrowes, whose record he has beaten by 4' minutes. Griffiths was at one time in New Zealand, and was beaten by T. Jinx, so it is probable he has improved a, good deal as a club-swinger. He expects to meet Burrowes, the late, champion, about Easter. _ Griffiths is reported to have finished in very fair condition at the termination of his long and terribly fatiguing task, lie had swung the clubs for 60 hours 45£ minutes without stopping, and the doctor who examined him after this ordeal declared that, his heart was wonderfully well, and his muscles sound.