PEDESTRIANISM.

Otago Witness, Issue 1763, 5 September 1885, Page 22

PEDESTRIANISM.

The benefit tendered to James Walter Raby, the English pedestrian, by citizens of Lawrence, Mass., took place at the Lawrence Cricket Club grounds on July 11. There were about 300 people in attendance. Raby was down to attempt to beat the best American hour walking record, eight miles 302 yards, made by ' John Meagher in this city on November 29, 1882. Previous to Raby's attempt E. C. Holske walked an exhibition mile, and in a race for boys Joseph J. Flynn, of Lawrence, walked one mile in 7 mm. 10 sec. Raby appeared on the track at 5.55 o'clock, and immediately started, the judges being E. C. Holske, Mr Farnsworth (of the Boston Post), and Mr Barrows. His time for the first mile was 6 mm. 37 sec. ; two miles were done in 12 mm. 32£ sec. ; three miles in 20 mm. 37A sec. ; four miles in 27 mm. 49 sec. ; five miles in 35 mm 2j sec. ; six miles in 42 mm. 20| sec. ; seven miles "in 49 mm. 37| sec. ; eight miies in 57 miv. 57 J sec. .At the expiration of the hour Raby had covered eiyht miles 50S yards 10 inches, beating his previous records ; also that of. John Meagher. At the close of the exhibition the judges announced the walk a square one in every particular, Holske saying that he would gladly havo been willing to disqualify anyone beating the record of an American pedestrian for the sake of maintaining their reputation, if any just excuse could bo given foi* so doiiiy, bu v u that Ro^y vralliuvl fair in every respect.

John Meagher, the champion heel-and-toe walker, attempted to beat the best mile record at Lawrence, Mass., on July 4. He could only do 6 mm. 28 sec. The best record is 6 mm. 23 sec, by W. Perkins, of England. Myers attempted to lower the 1000-yard record at the London A. C. games on June 20, but he hit'l been far from well during the few preceding days, and ran disappointingly. L. E. Myers' future engagements in England are as follows : — Blackheath Harriers, July 25 ; Blackburn, August 1 ; Stoke-on- Trent, August 3 and 4 ; Stourbridge, about August 10. He is announced to take passage for home on August ]5. Myers was to liave competed at the Balhaui and Windsor sports on July 1 8. The George Cummiugs races in England have been arranged, and Sir J. D. Astley has expressed his intention of presenting tho winner of two of tho three races with a' gold watch. The contents are at one, four, and ten miles for £.'SOO a side, the winner of two matches to take the £b"00. John Meaghor, the conqueror of J. W. Raby, contemplate 1 * a trip to Australia. Turf, Field, and Farm says that Arthur Hancock, the English professional walker, is doing financially well in thu Antipodes, and Meagher, who cannot find anybody to oppose him at home, hopes to rlo some fast walking in the Colonies. The proposed foot-race between Thomas Hunt, of Wellington, and Thomas O'Loughlin, oT Brunnerton, for £100 a side, has now been definitely arranged. O'Loughlin on Saturday deposited £25 with the editor of the Grey River Argus on account of the match. On receipt of this intelligence Hunt telegraphed a similar amount to Mr M'Carthy, to cover the deposit made by O'Loughlin. The articles, which have been agreed to by the representatives of both man, stipulate that the race, which is to be a i quarter of a mile, shall take place on the Greymouth racecourse on the 28th September, Hunt receiving £5 for expenses. The second deposit of £25 is to be made on the 7th September, and the balance of the money is to ba staked the night before the race. Hunt has engaged the well-known boxer Pettengell to train him. The Sydney correspondent of the Australasian writes as follows : — A fair amount of business is transacted over the Sir Joseph Banks Fourth Grand Sheffield .Handicap. One of the leading pencillers on pedestrian affairs assures me that £3000 could be obtained about a fresh nomination as matters now stand. This appears a big sum of money to back a man for. I should fancy, from experience, that half of them could be bought for less than a century, thus leaving a " book " a good chance of winning a " pot of -money."