WALKING CONTEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 31

WALKING CONTEST.

The second of the series of walking matches between Joe Scott, of Dunedin, and Fred Bowon, of Christchurch, — the first contest, which was one of 50 miles, having been won by the latter, — took place in the Garrison Hall on Monday. The match this time was for 12 hours. There was no betting to speak of in the hall, but Bowen's party strongly inclined to the belief that their man was good enough to wi* the event and, with it, secure the stake of LIOO a side which has been put -,up. It could be seen at a glance, however, that Scott was in much better fettle than on that day week, when the former event was decided. The officials were the same as on the previous occasion. The men were sent away about 11 o'clock, and Bo wen, forcing the -pace, went off in front, Scott finding himself unable to keep up with his opponent, who was on his heels after walking eight laps.. Bowen waited on Scot.t till he had accomplished 16 laps, when he spurted past him. He was round on Scott again in a few laps, and, after walking behind him for some time, went past him for the second time just before entering his third mile. The time for the first mile had been Bmin 31sec, and the second oue was placed by Bowen to his credit 17uiin 51sec after the start. Stripping off his jumper, the Christchurch man accelerated his pace and lapped Scott for the third time, when his own record was 2 miles 5 laps, arid keeping going he was again up on Scott niuu laps later. The Dunudin man had so far been walking .-.Ullly, and he was unable to command any tiling like the pace of his opponent, although the latter did not exhibit such freedom as he displayed a week before ; and Bowen increased his adv.mt tge until he had nine laps to the good. That was his lead when, about 1.45 p.m., he was troubled with a little sickncSfcs and had to leave the track for a few moments, during which tini-s Scott recovered two laps. When Bowen returned to the track he

w — was evidently queer, and Scott, reeling off the laps with renewed spirit, reduced his opponent's lead to four laps, when, with his record at 21 miles 14- laps, Bowen again had to leave the track. During his absence — with the clock pointing to half-past 2 — Scott, amid the cheers of the spectators, of whom there were a fair number, equalised the scores ; and, going on, lie was two laps to the good when Bowen reappeared. The latter spurted past Scott but, in a great tussel between the pair for a lap, tried unsuccessfully to get away from him. A lap later, Bowen again put on the pace and this time drew away from Scott. At 2.35 the hitter's lead had been reduced by a lap, his record reaching 22 miles 8 laps while Bowen had walked 22 miles 7 laps. Bowen waited on Scott for 10 laps, when he raced past the Dunedin man and, travelling in fine style, ■was on his heels again at a quarter to 3, at which time both men had travelled 23 miles 5 laps. Half a mile later Bowen passed Scott aud again held the lead, and gradually lie assumed an advantage of three laps. It was apparent, however, that he was not at his best, aud while he maintained the lead which he had secured for something like four hours, it was now Scott who was making the pace, with the evident intention of wearing his opponent down, who with difficulty kept alongside him. Eventually, between 7 and 8 p.m., it was seen that Bowen was about done — he fell away from Scott, who wiped off the lead and put himself two or three laps to the good, when Bowen, who was by this time staggering rather than walking round the track, found himself compelled to retire, not to return, about 7.45 p.m., at which time he had accomplished 51 miles 9 laps. Scott thereafter continued on the track (with the exception of a few minutes' retirement shortly before 9 o'clock) until the expiration of the 12 hours, when his record was 67 miles 3 laps. For a portion of the time Galloway, who is a well-known competitor in walking events, was on the track with him, and Thomas, who came on after Galloway, was for a considerable while on the boards. It seems almost absurd that, when one man is cdmpelled to leave the track and is unable to return to it, his opponent should be required to go on for the full time ; aud in future matches some arrangement might fairly be made, in the event of such a contingency happening, whereby, with the consent of the retiring party, his opponent might be excused from completing the full task. Scott, it may be said, exercised very little since the 50-iniles' contest, and the beneficial effects were most noticeable. He had, it would appear, been got too rapidly into condition in the first place, and was not qualified for a test of endurance when the former match took place last week. The following 6hows how the records stood at the close of each hour :—: —

In his last mile Scott, who was repeatedly applauded, did some splendid spurting, and great enthusiam was manifested at the finish, when he was cheered time after time. Mr T. Cornish, one of the judges, having declared Scott to have won the event, Mr J. C. Bannatync briefly addressed the large crowd who were present on behalf of the winner, and Scott himself called for three cheers for Bowen.

The deciding event, which will be for 24 hours, will probably come off on the Monday and Tuesday of next week.

Scott. Miles. Laps. Noon . ... tf 8 Ip.m. ... 12 14 2 p.m. ... 18 16 3 p.m. ... 24 20 4 p.m. ... 30 15 5 p.m. ... 36 7 6p.m. ... 41 14 7 p.m. ... -47 5 Sp.m. ... 53 — 9 p.m. ... 57 10 LOp.m. ... 62 2 LI p.m.- ... 67 3 B 3OWES. Miles. Laps. 6 16 13 1 19 1 24 21 30 18 36 10 41 17 47 8 51 9