ADVENT OF THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 63

ADVENT OF THE WORLD'S CHAMPIONS.

SHRUBB AND DUFFEY IN VICTORIA.

(Fbom Otth Owk Cobkespondent.)

MELBOURNE. February 22.

Sonic 30 years ago foot-racing was the sport par excellence to draw an attendance ! in Victoria. In those days the patronage I bestowed by the public caused the be*t 1 runners in Australasia to meet on the Vie- j torian -convincing grounds to measure strides. And what sort of peds. were they? | First and foremost was John Gregory ■ Harris Uocated for many years in Maori- ' land) — a man who in his time could parallel ' — if not excel — the 14£wc for 150 yds, recorded by the great Seward, the American. Mf made a perfect "hack" of the New Zealander Bolton (conceding him syds, if my memory serves me correctly), and the following week downed the speedy Braithwaite — a cornstalk who had never met his peer in over a score events in New South Wales. I will never forget the gathering that day at Oroston Park, nor the easy manner in which the G-iimsuckoii clipped the wings of the Sydney 5 flier, compassing the "distance in ISsec dead. Then ws had H. C. A. Hair-sen. L. L. Mount, I S HoylaJian. W. Gumming, I. H. C4uy, W. ■ Hipe, C. O. Barrass. and numerous other ' giood men and tru-9 up to a quarter of a ' mile, whilst over that distance Mat. Kiggins, George Cronk, and Mick Mahoney were j bright particular start,. Ay di me! a meeting of these veritable giants would attract aa ass.cmblag\ ,of from 15,000 to 20,000 people to fli-e Melbourne Cricket Ground, where the tariff for the outside gi'ound was the orthodox "Roberto." It is needless for me to enter into details of thp why and the when fore of the decadence of pedestri^nism in tho Victorian capital;

suffice if to sa> I hit 't di.l dvcaj «-'iO\\l\. but \ory turoly. uuri! 110,1 \ou couldn't draw j.cople -.o ninic-^ a tout iaio c\< n if \ou utilised a team of bullock- in th;ir connection. Ov.-ing to tho '•'p-oir.^' which prevailed in New 801 th Wak' — on the Botany <md Carrington Ground* — onie few years back, there ha\o been 3t-t-emptto to revive the intere=t ii foot-racing round and about Melb<.n'ne; but altl'ougli first-class tracks have boon for mod .md fpirly large entries loceivcd. the "trail vf tho "serpent" lias <\cr been «o manifest that the hport hns actually =tunk in the nostrils of would-be patron*, and tho namo of a pedestrian becom? a by-word and :• reproach. The formation of the Victorian Amateur Athletic As?ociation in IS9O 1 o doubt did in a =mall way tend to foster amateur running, and when, five 5 ear*, later, the Australian Amateur Union vas formed, the V.A.A.A. had the largest membership in that union. Recognising th^t the betting evil had been th? main factor in the decline of pedestrianism. th" V.A.A.A. have held their re-union» under the terms of the Betting Suppression Act. watering being absolutely prohibited. At the end of lost year, in conjunction wit'i Now South Wales and New Zealand, orranwemonts were made for a visit fro-n Alfred Shrubb (the champion long-distance runner of the world) and Arthur Buffey (the champion sprinter), and last -Saturday. on the Melbourne Cricket Ground, these athletes made their first public appearance At any time, on a fine Saturday afternoon (and Saturday was a gloriously fine afternoon, albeit somewhat "tropical arid dusry), ho 3000 members of the JI.L.L. can furnish a good attendance; but outside these there was only a meagre muster not more than a couple of thousand all told at the start, which number was perhaps doubled later en. Tha special attraction was. of course, tne 100 yds Championship, the first heat of which was won by F. C. Mueller (of Bendigo by a yard from E. E. Jones (of Essen don) in 10 3-10seo. In the second heat Duffey bounded away from M. 3?. Shea, and won with apparent ease in identically the same time. The start for the final heat was as near perfection as possible, and although Duffey did not get into his stride quite as quickly as was expected, he was leading quite a yard when half the distance had been traversed.. Then-Muller held him for a few strides, after which he gradually diminished the gap, whilst the champion failing to sustain his first dash, the Bendigonian eventually got upsides with him, and finally squeezed home in front by a foot — once mot¥> 111 10 3-lOsec. This time, on the first blush, compares unfavourably with 'Duffey's previous records of 9 3-ssec for the*- same distance, but it must be remembered that Saturday's event was contested on a grass track, and, moreover, that the climatic conditions were decidedly adverse to the visitor, who magnanimously congratulated Mueller on his meritorious victory. Next Saturday will doubtless find DvfFey :n improved form ; but whether he will bo able to reverse positions with hi=; wHlom conqueror until he gets- thoroughly acclimatised 1 is a problematical question. [Duffey defeated Mueller a few days later in 10 l-10sec] That he is a phenomenally gic-at runner is beyond question ; but throughout broad .Australasia he is likely to find thsft "there are others."

Duffey's companion — A. Shrubb — seemed to strike form in pronounced fashion. In a Mile and a-Half Scratch Race he covered the first 880 yds in 2min sso-, the mile in 4-iisin 29 4-s<*ee, and the- con ***etc journey in 7min 3 2-ssec. defeating the second man — G. Blake— by about 70yds, and the third (N. F. Burrowes, 'who made a dead" heat of ir with G. A. Wheatley in the 880 yds ovent in 2min O^sec) by 120y-ls. Blake put up a rattling good performance against the Englishman, as ho covered his first mile in 4min 33seo, and the mile and a-half in 7min 15 4-sseo.

After a quarter of a, mile had be&n negotiated in the Mile and a-H?Jf Invitation Scratch Race. Shrubb led Burrowes and j Ferguson by three yards, the watch dis- j doling 58 l-ssec. At the end of half a 1 mile Blake was within two yards of him ; I the positions being ur changed at the terminat.on of three-quarters of a mile — rogjs- . tercd in Smin 16 3-ssec. When a mile had been completed Shrubb after a fine spurt, j was 15 yards to the good: but the plucky ' effort Blake had made secured him a tre- ' rr.endous ovation, almost as great as that I awarded to the winner, who finished with i great dash. The Two-mile Handicap resulted as follows:—J. R. Riddell (Carlton), 230vds, 1W. P. Sfceele (E. M. H.), 230 yds/ 2; Gk Blake (Melbourne), 160 yds, 3. In this event Shrubb. off scratch, traversed the first mile, in taiin 4-lsec. and continued on for another couple of laps, when, recognising the hope- ! ls^ness of his stern chase, he retired, i Ridaell shook- off Si&ele in the finishingsprmt, ano won by four yards, G. Blake being 40 yards away third ;" time, 9min Z.O Z-ssec.

F C. Mueller is the hon. secretary of the BendJgo Hare and Hounds Ckib 'and his victory over the doughty American was vociferously applauded by his delighted cluh mates. For some time past he ha* been looked upon as a likely candidate for championship honours, and his admirers now maintain that he will yet eclipse Saturday's great achievement. Later on in the afternoon both he and Duffey started 111 ihc 75yds Handicap Race, but "they had to concede long starts, and were each defeated in their heats: J. L. Trinnick (Parlton) winning the final with 6£yds start in 7 l-ssec.

Appended are full details of the racing

CHAMPIONSHIPS

100 Yards. — First heat: F. C. Mueller (Bendigo), 1 , H. E. Jones (Essendon), 2. Won by a \ard. Time, JO 3-10 sec. Second heat • A. F. Duffey (America), 1 ; M. F. Shea (Carlton) 2. Uuttey c.eared p.wai from the jump and v.on with ease. Time. 10 3-10s&c Final hpat : F. C. Mueller (Bendigo), 1 ; A. F. Dnffev (America;, 2; H. E. Jones (Essendon). 8. .Duffey drew away and led at the half distance. Mueller, in a line finish, won by a foot Time 10 3-10 see.

120 Yards Huidles. — First heat • S B Gravenall (E.M.H.), 1; H.M. Hoss (Mil. and H.), 2. Won by a foot. Time 1G 4-ssec. Seccknd heat— A T. Pattiuson (Bendigo^. 1 , .F. B. .Brown (Essendou), 2. Won "easily. Timo, 17se<:. Final heat: A. T. Pattinson, 1 ; H. M. Ross, 2; S B. Gravenall, 3. Won by inches, the thud man ft loot uw cj . Tiui?, 17=ec.

809 Yaids— ■ X. F. Burrowes (E.M.H) and G. A. Wheatley (Es3endon), dead heat, 1 ; S. J. Jackson (Escendoii). 3. Burrowes led all tlieway, and Wheatley caught him id tie last stride Time 2m.in Oisec^

Pu'-tiu- the Weisrht.— E. W. Eoiu-e (b.M H). uG.t in' in, I, 11 'Huny (M ii. a.,cl H) 35H 'ill, 2 R. L. S Murphy. 301t 3in, 3. Hicli Jump.— J. L^r..ke (M.H. and H.I Sit 4 ! . in. 1 , H L. Duisa i, sft V_l ',2; G. Wai ai k (Me bourne), Sit 2£m, 3. J Biake won on tne ,111111) off. Thioe-niilc Wa'k. — 11 Sanneman (Eer.digo) 1 , A. K. Adpms oJ»ibourne\ 2. F. J. Fersusou (Melbourne), 3 Won by halt a lyp. Time, 24mm 2S 2-s=oc.

HANDICAPS.

75 Yaids. — First heat L. E. Morgan (EsiCiiclon), oj'Jb, 1. Cuffey started well, but ccu'.d got no ncsiei tlia'L iourth. lime 7 2-5 r -eo. Second be, 1 !. T R. Tre'.c<ir (j"a?t Ba.laiat) 1. Won !>} \wo foot. Time "'.see. Third heat- B. Latham (E.M.H ). 1. A fine finish. Time 8 l-]o>-e.-. Fourth heat- X. J. O'Brien (E^sendon), 1. Time, Bsec. Fil^h heat: L. J Tmir.ick (Carltou). 1. Time, 7 3-sseo. Final heat L. J. Tnnmck (Carl ton, e'ycls. 1; B. Latham (E.MR.), 71yJs 2: L. R. Morgan (Essendon), o3'd°, 3. Won easily. Time 7 ]-ssec.

Two-mi'.e Handicap. — J. K. Ridd>e!l (Carlten), 239 yd", 1; W. P. Sttele (E.M.H.), 230 yds 2; G. Blake (lie) bourne). 160 yds. 3. Shrubb off scratch covered the first rrnle m 4min 41sec. and continued for two liioie laps, btit seeing lie had no chancs of catehirg the LeaJei'3, ho retired. Riddell won by four yards, with G. Blake 'lGOyds) 10 yardsawf.y third lim.e. 9mm 23 i>-ssec.

Invitation Scratch Ence. — A. E. Shiubb

(England), 1; G. Blake (Melbourne), 2; X. F. Burrowes (E.M.H.), 3. Shrubb* raced off at a tremendous pace, and at the end of the three laps Blake vas- the only one noar. At one rni'.e (4min 23 4-ssec) he shook off Blake, and fi'ially finished 70 yards ahead. Time. 7min 3 2-ssec

BENDIGO, February 22,

75 Yards Handicap. — First heat : H. J. Boyd (Bendigo), 7iyds, 1; G. W. Howley 6*yds, 2. Time. 7 4-ss--c. Second heat : F. C". Mueller (Bendigo), iyd, 1 ; D. Gunn. (Bendigo). 6yd^, 2. Time, 7 4-ssec. .Third heat : A. F. Duffey (America), scr, 1 ; A. D. Vivian (Eaclehawk), 6U'ds, 2. Time, B&ec. Final heat : Boyd, 1 ; Gunn. 2 ; Duffey, 3 ; Mueller, i. Time, 7Jsec. Duffey, who was most anxious to get away, overran his ma<rk, and when the pistol was fired he was right up with M-ue-lLer. and beat him in the last 30 yaids by a couple ot feet. Bcyd won the race by afoot, with Duffey six inches behind Gunn.

Challenge Test Race (one mile). — A. Shrubb (England), 1; G. A. Wheatley Vie). 2. These were the only starters, and the match was arranged with the object of seeing if Wheatley could hod his own with the English champion. Shrubb made the running, the first quarter being encompassed in 60sec, and the next rotmd in (Jfeec. In the third round the rnpn slewed flown, and it occupied 79sec. Half a lap from, home Shrubb sprinted and looked round for Wheatley, but the Victorian was unable to respond and. gave up. Time. 4min 31sec.