LAND & WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 1812, 13 August 1886, Page 23

LAND & WATER.

L. E. Myers writes the following to the Spirit of the Times :— " New York City, May 24.— 1n an interview published last Saturday, by one of your contemporaries, Mr W. G. George is reported as saying that, in his opinion, I would not have the ghost of a chance with Cummings in a series of racea at the distances I recently defeated him (George). He may be anxious to explain away his defeat by attributing it to a small track, &c, but I can, scarcely understand why he would go so far as to say that a man whom he claims he can beat easily up to a mile, can easily defeat me at such distances as 1000 yds, 11C0 yds, and three quarters of a mile. About records, I should say that my 1000 yards record was far and away the best in the world, being about 20 yards better than Cummings or George has ever shown. As to my three-quar-ter record, I can say that I have only run the distance twice ; once when sick and out of condition, and on May 8, when I defeated George, almost without an effort. lam not at all anxious to crow over my defeat of George, but I would like to say that all the talk about a slow track, sharp corners, long stride, &c, is more or less ' bosh.' My stride is at least six inches longer than George's, and the slow times returned are entirely due to the fact that George either couldn't or wouldn't make the pace faster. In the first two races I was prepared to run at least five seconds faster, and no one who saw the race can doubt this statement. I do not claim to be the fastest sprint runner in the world, nor could I ever become as fast over a sprint course as several runners I conld name, for the simple reason that I am not heavy enough. I do claim, however, that I can beat any man in the world from 440 yards to three-quarters of a mile, and I will run anybody, anywhere, give or take expenses, any or all of these distances, for from 2500 dols. to 5000 dols. a side, winner to take all receipts and pay expenses."

BGach having fulfilled all his Music-hall engagements, says the Sporting Life, took up his training quarters at Mr Winch's White Hart Hotel, Barnes, on Monday 7th June, and the next day commenced training in earnest with Kemp ; they embarked in two of Tom Green's boats, and went for a spin of about 10 miles. On this date Beach is said to have scaled 14st 41b, two stone over his rowing weight. Clasper is busy fitting him with a boat.

A sculling match has been arranged be tween "Wallace Ross and Beach for the championship and £1000.

Gaudaur has left New York for England to row his match against Beach on the 18fch prox.

Lee, of New York, has been permitted to compete in the international sculling contest next month.