ATHLETIC MEMORIES

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1930, Page 5

ATHLETIC MEMORIES

OPUNAKE CRACK MILER JACK FEVER’S MANY VICTORIES. A GREAT DISTANCE RUNNER. ► — (By Culturist.”) The subject of this sketch, Opunake’s own Jack Fever, was born at Hastings, Sussex, England, on February 28, 1881. His father, ,a chemist, had visions of a far off land, so with his family he set sail for New Zealand, landing at Wellington when young Jack was 13 years old. Losing no time, the family went straightway to Opunake, where Mr. Fever established himself as a chemist. (Being a far-seeing man, he also invested in land on the Opua Road, which Is now being farmed by his so.n, Mr. Jack Fever. Like the neighbouring farms, it was dense bush when the father and sons first saw it; possibly that was the reason Mr. Sani Fever followed in his father’s footsteps and mixed drugs. However, the farm is now green grass paddocks. Young Jack was athletically inclined and after the day’s work was ended nothing pleased liim better than to test liis skill against other youths of his own age or near it, his favourite pastime being jumping, although he made his mark at sports meetings as a distance runner at a time vyhen such men as Alex. Campbell, Jim Sexton and Jack Milne were stars on the track. At the age of 17 or 18 he used to clear the !bar at sft 3iiij but forsook his earlier fancy when he settled down to running against. the cracks. Inducements were held out to Fever to forsake farm work and train. None other than Mick Terry, who unearthed and trained the world’s

eprint champion, “Blue Streak” Jack ' Donaldson, tried to influence Fever to make an Australian trip, the object being the well endowed two-mile race at Hawell, Victoria, where a fortune was to be won. Fever’s first effort was at Oaonui on February 5, 1905, when he ran second in the maiden race, first in the 440 yards from 30yds in 54sec, and first in the 880yds from 60yds in 2min 7sec<. His next appearance was at Okato, where he ran second from 40yds. in the 440yds, won by Tommy Fowler, and second in the half mile from 60 and 110 yards respectively, both races being won by A. Barr Brown. At Rahotu Fever was third in the SSOyds from 40yds in 2min Isec, and he was either second or third from 80yds in the mile. His next appearance was in his home town, Opunake, on Boxing Day, 1005, when he won the 440yds off 15 yards, J. Forsyth being second.' Fever next won the half-mile off 25yds, Fischer running second. In the mile off 45yds Fever ran second to Lewers, and he was also second in the 220yds, his handicap being 15 yds. Returning to Oaonui on March 27, 1906, he won the half-mile. Among others he met at this gathering was Spencer Barnes, a great favourite with the Taranaki public. Going to Rahotu Fever ran third in the 440yds, third in the halfmile and won the mile. Three other good runners he met there were Rip Morey, Claude Capel and Jim Sexton. These and Spencer Barnes were at most meetings where Fever was a competitor. It was at Rahotu he has a vivid recollection of seeing the Australian “ringer” Hourigau get away with several races. At Opunake on Boxing Day, 1906, • Fever was second in the 440yds off 25 yards, first in the 880yds off 20yds and third in the mile from scratch. Going a little further afield, to Hawera on New Year’s Day, he was first in the half-mile off about 20yds and won the mile off 30yds. Again at Rahotu he ran third in the- mile from scratch, won

by W. Stewart. On March 18 at Pihama he won the mile from scratch and at Te Kiri on March 29 he also, won the mile from scratch. On Easter Monday at New Plymouth he won the mile from scratch, W. Stevens being second, with such good men as Rip Morey, Claude Capel and G. Pulford among the “also ran.” In February, 1908, at Pihama, he finished second from scratch in the mile. It was at Te Kiri S& practically finished his active career bn the track, when from scratch he ran third in the half-mile and third in the mile and won the 440yds from 25yds. In 1914 Fever staged a comeback, 'when the handicapper let him in out to 45yds in the quarter, 60 in the half and 100 in the mile. This was too good a thing to miss, so instead of taking two bites at a cherry he won the lot. There were other meetings at which he ran —Eltham, Stratford and Riverlea—but I cannot just trace the year. However, he won a share of the prizes. It was at Stratford he ran second to Harding off a middle mark in the 440yds, won the half-mile from scratch and then was put on the mat to explain why he failed to win the mile. As is well known, the stitch has beaten many a man in a race. Fever was the ideal cut of a distance runner, at his best standing sft lOlin and weighing list 41bs; with muscles of the whipcord order and. carrying no superfluous flesh. It is useless saying what might have been, but good judges say had he listened to Mick Terry he would have been Australia’s champion two miler. As it is, he was a gogetter.