THE PEDESTRIAN CONTEST.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6307, 29 April 1882, Page 2

THE PEDESTRIAN CONTEST.

. The running match which has been arranged to come off to-day between Burk, of Dunedin, and Fagan, of Christchurch^will inevitably excite a great amount of interest here. The race is a distance of one mile, for the championship of New Zealand and £100, which money has already b"een posted in the hands of Mr George Dowse, a~ well-known patron of genuine sport. A circumstance which adds considerably to the interest with which the public regard the event is that there appears to be in no quarter the smallest doubt as to the straightforward and genuine character 4of the match—a remark which cannot, unhappily, be indiscriminately applied to pedestrianism nowadays. Burk, the local man, is so well known and appreciated in Dunedin as a game and straightforward runner that, notwithstanding the confidence shown by the Christchurch division, numbers of his .supporters- are coming forward and freely backing his charibe. He has been training industriously for some time past, and has for the last week entirely ceased his ordinary avocation in view of" the approaching contest. Fagan, who arrived in Dunedin two or three days back, is also to all appearance inexcellent fettle, and may, even if he does nob succeed in making things too warm for His antagonist,, be fairly expected to give a lot of trouble. The match is fixed for half-past 3, on the Caledonian Ground, and Mr Job Wain president of the Caledonian Society, will officiate as judge.