TRACK AND PATH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5731, 28 October 1905, Page 15

TRACK AND PATH.

THE WORLD’S BEST SPRINTER. HUTCHINS THE FAVOURITE. Recently “Sprinter,” writing in tho Alanchestor “Athletic News.” started a di ;oussion as to who was tho world’s best sprinter, and the last issue of the paper to hand contains the following interesting matter on tho subject. As Aurtralia has been forgotten altogether, I give my own views at tho end; — ’ HUTCHINS OR DUFFEY? Overwhelming, almost have been the rep|l'es to my query concerning tho world’s best sprinter —past or present. It is not to he wondered at that the groat army of athletic followers virtually divide their camp into two friendly sections —the champions of Harry Hutchins, of Putney, and those of A. F. Dnffey, of Georgetown University, America. It is tho old tale of ancient v. modern but tho conditions under which the men ran have changed so very little that' comparisons can in no wise he claimed to bo unfair., HUTCHINS THE MAN.

The foremost and most weighty reply, I feel sure, is that of Mr O. G. Wood, a holder of the 300 yards amateur record which H. A. Hyman once came so near to equalling. Says Mr Wood; "I consider that Harry Hutchins, of Putney, was' the host sprinter of all time. Only men who could run and have run w-ith Hutchins can understand what a marvel he was. I have been- doino- 10 l-sseo myself, hut when running with Hutchins I was lost altogether. Ho coaild do DJsec easily for 100 yards, and could smother L. E. Myers at a 'quarter.’ Of course, Duffey is the host man who has run as an amateur lately.” There ivo have told us something which the athletic world never knew before, and that makes Mr Wood’s reply extremely valuable. Mr F. W. Parker, manager of the now Athletic Grounds at Fulham, who has seen racing under all conditions, backs up Mr Wood as under;— “Hairv Hutchins, undoubtedly 1 Not only the fastest sprinter, hut certainly the most beautiful mover- I ever saw. His long, low, apparently effortless skimmino- of tho ground strongly reminded ono of the swallow’s flight. The only sprinter I have seen who displayed anything approaching Hutchins’ inimitable form was. tho West Indian, Wharton, who won tho amateur sprint championship in 1886 and 1887. As to Hutchins’s pace, his eight yards inside evens 1882 is beyond question. The late Nat Perry made him even a trifle better.” An interesting note is struck by Mr J. Knight in bis response, thus;— Hutchins’s achievements are enhanced bv the fact that in his day the modern and admittedly advantageous mode of starting off tho hands was not then in vague.” Tho secret of sprinting is in tho start, and two men of equal merit starting off the hands and stood up respectively would, I think, show an advantage to tho former of about If yards in 40.

BRADLEY’S UPHILL TEN SECS. Mr John Porteous, of Northampton, is quite as emphatic as tho rest of them, but has a good word for Bradley, as under: —

“Cannot make out why two opinions as to tho best sprinter of all time. The fastest man who ever put a shoe on was tho incomparable H. Hutchins, of Putney. ‘ The fastest running over done was by an amateur, Charles Bradley, at Northampton, 1893—100 yards in lOsec uphill. The track rose 21 inches in the hundred, as surveyed by Mr J. T. Ingham, architect. Several watches made him boat ovens. Old Nat Perry and Mr C. Wheelwright made him do l-ssec inside ; wind rather against runner. Marvellous sprinting.” DUFFEY’S CHAMPIONS. Duffey’s champions are chiefly Mid-

land folk, which is curious. Says Mr W. W. Alexander:— “A. F. DulFey. on his best day. was tlio fastest splinter I have ever timed, and his performance in winning our A.A.A. championship for four years in even time proves him to be tho best sprinter we ever had. I am not dealing with the professionals, but should eay that H. Hutchins still holds his "lace at their head.”

Mr Henry A. Butler, president of tho Midland C.A.A.. plumps for A. F. Duffey, doubtless clinging to the amateur status religiously in so doing; and Mr C. Wheelwright makes the distinction thus:—“Best amateur, A. F. Duffey; best English amateur. C. A. Bradley.” Mr Tom Laws (Widnes) rotes straight for Duffey, as does Mr T. M. Abraham for the best “gentleman amateur,” hut unhesitatingly goes for Hutchins in the professional line. Scotland, too, according to the replies received, has a- soft spot in its big heart for Duffey. This is what Mr A. Boss Scott says:— “Duffoy’s 100 yards in 9 3-osec—not to take into consideration his four championships in lOsoo—constitutes him a rrroat 100 yards runner; but, nevertheless. I consider H. Hutchins the best sprinter and base assertion on his running from 131} yards in 8 yards under evens to 300 yards in evens.” HUTCHINS ALWAYS. But quite 85 per cent, of the replies to hand have mention, direct, of Hutchins. Says the lion. sec. of the A.A.A., Mr 0. Herbert: —“There can be no doubt at all—Harry Hutchins.” Writes Mr E. B. Holmes: —“I do not think I could place anyone in front of Hutchins.” Comes Dr A. Ttoscoo Badger’s response: —‘T think the fastest sprinter of whom there is any authentic record is Harry Hutchins.” A quaint way of nutting it, surely. Doctor! Says Mr Hebert Livingstone;—“Downer as an amateur: Hutchins professional. The jatter takes premier position.” Mr C. O'tway «?nys: —“I have only lived 35 years. If you say within the last 15 I should pick 11. Hutchins (first anyhow), E. S. Donovan, A. 11. Downer, A. F. Duffey, J. Maybnry, and T. F. Koano, in this order.” Says Councillor Latham (Atherton): — “Hutchins first. J. Johnson, of Stock-ton-on-Tees, second, and George Wallace. George Pet ley, and H. Gent, close u*"* third.” And so on the story goes—Hutchins always. Laconic messages, “Hutchins,” aro to hand from .Messrs AA r . "Wilton (Ihrox), A. Pattorini (Bradford), H. J. Rothery (Highgatc), AY. He 1 dwell (Halifax), D. Lucas (Kettering), C. H. Larretto. PI. A. Crowther (Leeds), J. H. Harding, etc. TWO HUSH CLAIMANTS. T. M. Malone, who has lljscc for 120 yards to his credit upon the professional calendar, has a champion in Mr O. AV. Frith, Uio Irish hnndicappcr, who says:— '‘l would not undertake to offer an minion on tho qu&stion as it is put. Tho best sprinter I have over seen was T. M. Malone, who won Irish chamnionslhips in the seventies. After going to Australia ho turned arid became a wonderful runner. As an allround man nt distances from 100 yards to half a mile, jumping, and putting weights, I never saw his equal, though P. Bavin, who flourished about the same time, was also a marvel in tho all-round ivj;’.” Another Irishman, B. R. Day, has a backer in Mr AV. i). Mander, Blackpool, who says:— AVhen Day was 19 years of ago ho won the Powderhall Handicap, and showed a quarter-second for all tho watches, including the “Sporting Chronicle” man’s. Now on Monday, August 28. ho was timed to do 9 l-ssec. As an all-round runner, Day stands alone. AYho can beat him—say at 100 yards, 300 yards, 440 yards, 800 yards, 1000 yards, or a mile?” CLAIM FOR WESTERS.

Writes Mr R. F, Fox (Longton):— “B. J. Wol'ors is, to my* mind, the greatest amateur sprinter that ever lived. His performances over 100, 120, 220, and 300 yards, taken collectively, have never been beaten, at least not by an amateur. His ability to run 100 yards in 9tsco and 300 yards in 30 3-osoc clearly proves what a wonderfully versatile man ho was.”

‘‘Downer, I think, is the best sprinter wo have had running in this country (Yankees included).” Mr A. V. Kershaw (Lancashire) maintains that A. It. Downer was in a class by himself for speed and-action. “Sprinter” suras up thusly:— THE MEN AND THEIR RECORDS. The naira must go to Hutchins, whoso records speak eloquently for his prowess. While Duffoy has the 9 3-ssec for 100 yards and 11 4-ssoo for 120 yards to his credit; while Bradley and Downer have lOseo and 11 4-ssec respectively; and while Downer also has ID 4-ssec for 200 yards and 31 2-ssec for 300 yards on the books as an amateur, and 12 2-5 sec for 128} yards and 400 yards in 44 4-sseo as a professional, one cannot get away from Hutchins’s feats, as follow: 131} Yards. —12 2-ssec, H. Hutchins, Putney, September 8, 1879, Queen’s Grounds, Sheffield; w'on a heat in the 200 yards handicap with G 8 3-4 yards start. 1311 Yards.—One yard worse than 12Jsec, H. Hutchins, Putney, at Hyde Park Grounds, Sheffield. February 21, 1882 , when ho won the Shrovetide Handicap from scratch (171), conceding T. Little, Blaydon, 10{ yards, T. Gillon, Sheffield, 91 yards, and T. Deighton, Chapoltown, 10} yards, and won by six inches. 140 Yards.—l3l sec, H. Hutchins, of Putney, at Lillie Bridge, Juno 8, 1885. 150 Yards.—l4Jsec, H. Hutchins, at Sydney, Australia, March 2, 1887. 220 Yards. —21 4-ssec. H. Hutchins, Lillie Bridge, May 11, 1885. .300 Yards.—3osec, H. Hutchins, Putney, Powderhall Grounds, Edinburgh, January 2, 1884. 360 Yards.—3B 2-ssec, H. Hutchins, Wolverhampton, September 19, 1885. (A. R. Downier was reported to have run 350 yards in 36 l-ssec at Cardiff, on May 22, 1899, but tho distance was not afterwai’ds > verified.) From 1879 until 1837 —aye, longer—he was running and breaking records, and his like will never be seen again.