PEDESTRIANISM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7316, 28 July 1885, Page 3

PEDESTRIANISM.

HANCOCK v. SCOTT. The Garrison Hall was fairly well patronised jesterday afternoon by the sporting fraternity and others to witness the commencement of the 50-mile, walking match between Arthur Hancock the .English 50-mile champion, and Joe bpott, the New Zealand long-distance champion, for a stake of - £100, and what was stated- to be the championship of the world! .This match is the firs, of a senes which has been arranged for tne two pedestrians, and as both men were m the pmk ot .condition, a great deal of interest ?1* manifested in pedestrian circles in'the result .of .the first contest. Scott's_ previous . performances arc well known to all', and he has often proved himself to be a long-distance walker of more than average repute. Hancock, on the other hand, is known to be at his best at a 50-mile distance, and curiosity was fully aroused to see which of tho two men would piill off the first event oii the card.

Hancock has toned down since liis last appearance in the walking arena.in Dunedin some months back, when he was so badly beaten by our local man, and now weighs lOst 41b, while Scott scales Sst 51b.

_, All the arrangements in connection with the match were well carried"out, and the objectionable habit... of smoking in "the hall was put a stop /.to,, much to the comfort of the contestants. rhe judges, who occupied seats on the platform, vcero Messrs G. Dowse, T. Cornish, J. Vezey, H Gourlev, and -L M'Gregor. The hall, as laid out, gave 22-laps to the niile, and every care was taken to secure thorough ventilation. ' Betting- opened at 50 to 40 on Hancock, the unnstclrarch division offering these odds very freely without takers.

A tew minutes before 3 o'clock, which was the nour for.-, starting, the men appeared on the track, and were received with a good deal of applause. After the usual handshaking, the men started off punctually, Hancock darting off with the lead at a rattling pace, closely followed by Scott. Hancock's style of walking is slightly altered since his last appearance here, but lie has not the steady.swinging gait which is so much admirecl.in Scott. Before two miles had been covered Hancock was a lap ahead of Scott, and he contented himself with this lead, as the result shows, right up to the last. This position was maintained lap after lap, and mile after mile, until just after 10 o'clock, when over 42 miles had been covered, when Scott put on a spurt ami. lessened the distance between them by nearly half a lap ; but Hancock was not to be denied, and he soon followed style and regained his old position, and kept it doggedly till the distance was covered. The , nail was densely packed towards the finish, and feehng in favour of the local man ran very high' so much so as to be partially unfair to Hancock' who walked gamely, if not so elegantly as Scott. Lhe match ail through was the closest that has ever taken place hero between two pedestrians, and taking into account the size of the hall the time must be considered excellent. Neither men were very much overdone at the fiuish, but Hancock was .undoubtedly the fresher of the two On his essaying to speak to the audience from the platform at the close of the match •he was "met with a. perfect howl of disapjjrobation, and a feeble attempt to raise a cheer in his favour-was promptly quelled. On the other. Hand, Scott was received with vociferous and prolonged applause, to whith he bowed his acknowledgments.. Neither of the men left the track duriug the match. Up! to the last the i ventilation of the hall was good, despite the large number who were inside and in the galleries. The following are the. records for the match, the official time for the 50 miles being S hours 8 minutes: In the first 'hour Hancock covered 6 miles 20 laps.and Scotfc one lap behind winch he kept right through the match 4.f0 V:< n-~i?vo tours after starting—Hancock had IS miles 8 laps to his credit; at 6 p.m. 19 miles 8 laps;-. 7 p.m., 25 miles T laps; 8 p.m.,31 miles 4 laps; 9;p-.m., 36 miles 20 laps; 10 pm,42 miles 12-laps; 11 p.m.,48 miles 17 laps: 118 p.m., 50 miles.

The betting throughout the match was in layour of Hancock, but no heavy odds were