HOW I WON THE MARATHO. ROAD RACE AND A FORTUNE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2734, 8 August 1906, Page 58

HOW I WON THE MARATHO. ROAD RACE AND A FORTUNE.

"How I Won the Marathon Road Race I and a (says an American paper) might be the title of an interesting recital by William P. Sherring, of Hamilton, Canada. Mr Sherring, however, doesn't give his tale a title ; he just tells his story in a simple unaffected way. When the I famous Olympic Games took place at Athens in May great interest centred about the Marathon Race of 25 miles. Fifty-eight fleet athletes from all parts of the world competed, yet the young Canadian came in an easy winner, making the distance in 2hr Omin *51sec. The victory of Sherring was all the more remarkable because he went alone to Greece, was without a manager, trained himeelf, pared himself in ' the race, and won over more than half a "h*m-<lire<l repreeeniatives -of other nations. So highly elated were the Canadians over tlte success of their countrymen that they hay» showered gifts upon Jiim with lavish ' hand. The King of Greece has sentjikn a present, as have also the people of that country. From Canadian admirers he has received over 7000dol in money and a Goven-nraent position. "Two months before the great Olympic Games I arrived m Greece," said Mr Sherring, telling of his feat in mastering the world's fleetest Tunners. "I had no manager, no trainer, no assistant, but trained myself, living during that time on .goat's meat and lamb. "On most of the days the thermometer stood about BQde#, and on "the day of the race it felt rto me like 90. Stc-adity I kept at nry training, following simple rules that appealed to my judgment and watching the other fellows enjoying the advairtag-es of tratnere, pao©rs. and the like. The night before the race I ilopt on a floor. "It wae the toughest race 1 was ever in. Fifty-eight of us started. At the beginning eight broke away very fast, and went well into the lead. I felt it was too fast to keep up, so I did not .stay with them. "The roads were pretty even for the first few miles, but we ran in a 6eorching sun. with the dust 6in deep and a strong wind blowing in our faces. "I "jogged along, going easy and keeping my strength for the difficult hills I knew we would encounter towards the end. When we had covered 10 miles, B'.ake, who seemed the most dangerous, was half a mile ahead of me. Then he showed signs of distress, and I knew I had him braten. '•Daly was going behind him; Cormack, the Irishman, was third; Begnault was fourth, and I was fifth. I I passed Blsukc finally after funning 12 miles. J Going by, I stopped, shook hands with him i and «aid : ' Good-bye, old men ; sorry to leave you.' "At 15 mile 1 * I looked back the road T or a mile and a-half, and I could not see a aoul. At 18 miles out I was quite a bit ahead, and I thought there Was no use in killing myself, so I stopped running and walked a quarter of a mile. "I did not have to walk; I oould have kept the pace up all day; in fact, I feel I could have run the race be'scn minutes faster if I bad tried. "Prince George of Greece ran with, rae at i.he end of the raoe." "What advice would you give aspiring young athletes who may debire to duplicate your achievement ':" Sherring was a c kcd. "Those who hope to win niust go to work with that determination that brings feuccess in every walk of lrfe," responded the cliampion runner. "Faithful training r=. of cout-p, of first importance. The runner should go to bed early and abstain from all intoxicating liquors. If any young man has athletic ability and observes t?he-c v<-ry simple rules, success is assured in the en«l.*' That Sherring followed tho rules laid down by himself X attested by the other athletes who took p<irt m the vanou- events in the Ohmpic Game 8 . llr depended enI tirely upon his epted, stamina, and judgment. He was probably the smallest man in the rare, standing only sit 7ui. I>res.-<»d for action, Shorring in peen to be- lithe of limbs and as clean cut as a thoroughbred. He lias long le^rs, anJ nuio with an easy, graceful f-triao. I Sberring weighed 1121b when he showed , his heels to tho finest long-distance athleto3 : the world has produced. He has no affectations or mannerisms; is cool, not mockmodest or unduly elated over his triumph, although he appreciates the importance of his victory. Well poised, alert, and bnMivs=-hke, Sheri rinff imnresies one as po^ec^sinK sufficient

self-reliance to win his way. Only once upon the entire trip was he dejected, and that, strangely enough, was upon nearing the shores of home, returning from his victory. .

He had left Hamilton about the end of February, and had been at the scene of athletic battle ever since early in March. Sherring's occupation was that of a railroad gateman and brakeman, and he was not well provided with money. It was by drawing his scanty savings and through the aid of friends that he got together sufficient to make the trip.

That he had none too much is shown by the fact that, although he had lived frugally, when he reached iNfew York on hb return he had only sdol in bis pocket and no ticket to his home in Canada.

This caused him, he said, to feel very much "down in the mouth." Memory of his triumph faded before the peremptory demands of the present.

It wae an immense relief when he saw waitingr for him upon the steamship pier a number of friends from his native town.

-Since then he has ■encountered the good fortune that attends the conquering hero. The Kaug of Greece has sent him sufficient money to pay all his training expenses, and has also forwarded to him a handsome statue of the ancient Greek goddess Minerva.

A large statue of Hermes, a gift from tho people of Greece, is also on its way to his home.

Public and private testimonials to the runner have amounted to .more than 7000 dollars.

The citizens of Hamilton contributed 3600 dollars to a purse, which was among the earliest presented. From the Ottawa Government came an appropriation of 500 dollars ; from the City Council of Hamilton another of equal amount; the people of Toronto gave 400 dollars, and the Toronto Baseball Club contributed 1270 dollars.

The Canadian Government declined to make any cash grant to the Sherring Fund, but, instead, gave him a position in the Hamilton Custom Honse, with an initial salary of 60 dollars a month.

This salary will increase with promotions if Sherring proves as good a Government official as he is a runner.

All this is great and good fortune to the man who, as a railroad brakeman and gateman, earned a salary of 35 to 40 dollars a month.

Money is still coming in to swell the testimonial fund. When the returns are all in Sherriug will look about for a suitable investment.

It is understood that a house and lot will be purchased, where the athlete's aged father and mother may spend their remaining days in comfort.

Sherring is unmarried, and of sober habits, the extent of his "indulging" being a good cigar, preferring a large one. He is an only son of Mr and Mrs John Sherring, humble' and rather poor people.

A more devoted Ron parents never had. -wliito-!a.a.i*-^d failiei- ffl-«*&t^cJ tile SOU with great affection f>n his return.

Sberring is one of a coterie of longdistance runners who have made Hamilton noted throuerhout America, and he 'baa now spread her fame throughout the "worfd. He has been running since 1396, when he made his debut i na five-mile event at. Bartonville County fair, and finished fourth.

Ho ran in several short-distance events, but he did not become prominent until .-he participated in a road race, in 1897, when h^ finished third in a big field of starters. Afier that he began to be looked upon as a comer.

One of the greatest races in which he ever ran was one in 1899. That year Jack Cafferv was a sKght favourite over Sherring, but the latter won after a desperate struggle, beating Cafferv by lmin 17sec. He was twice beaten by Oiffery in 19G0.

In the Boston Marathon Sherring was in the lead for 18 miles, but apparently shot his bolt, for he fell in a semi-conscious condition on the roadside, and five men parsed him. Arousing himself, he put up a erame struggle, and finished next to Cafferv. He won a 20-mile race in Guelph, Canada, in 1903. This was hi* last longdistance effort previous to participation in the world-famous Olympic event.