BONTHRON OUTWITTED BY LOVELOCK

Taranaki Daily News, 17 September 1934, Page 11

BONTHRON OUTWITTED BY LOVELOCK

Story Of A Great Race At The White City Very interesting is the detailed story of how J. E. Lovelock beat W. R. Bonthron in the mile race at the athletic contest between the universities of Oxford and'Cambridge, on one side,, and the American universities of Princeton and Cornell, at the White City Stadium, London, a few weeks ago. Bonthron was outwitted. An English paper , remarks that Lovelock beat the American £ot by inspired running but by- perfect judgment. (.'■ . ■ ' There were four men in the race. Oxford supplied both the English representatives,’ Lovelock and A- Leach. Bonthron, of Princeton, had P. 1%. Vipond, of' Cornell, as his team-mate. An

English paper thus describes the race: “For three laps all four men were together. Vipond made the pace for the first quarter (1.3 L 5); then Legch took it up’ and led at the half-mile (2.6 4-5). Bonthron, gaunt, clumsy, but immensely powerful, was running third, and behind him, last of .all, trotted Lovelock, heat, lively, and quite unperturbed.’ ’ .■ “In • the -third -lap Lovelock went up to second place behind Leach, and the pace imperceptibly became slower; this lap took 1.6. Still Bonthron, now fourth, did not move; Leach and Lovelock were ruining his schedule, but he seemed content to let the pace be slow, and confident that he could win by a strong finish. At the bell he came up to third, and with about 350 yards to go Leach; his work done, let Lovelock and Bonthron through on the,inside..: < “Lovelock was a yard in front, and from that point to the finish he ran with the most consummate tactical skill. Once or twice Bonthron made a move as though to pass Him and, start his long sprint for home; each time Lovelock quickened just' enough to keep the lead, but not so much as to disturb _ Bonthron’s false sense of security. He led him on a : string up to the last corner, and there, with 80 yards to go, the real fight began. Bonthron, quickened in earnest this time, and for one horrible moment it looked as if' he would take the lead. Then Lovelock: pulled himself together gnd began to run, and Bonthron, for all his desperate efforts, finished a yard behind. ? - ♦ “Bonthron lost because he tried to take liberties with a great runner; his first , two laps should have been a shade faster and his third lap faster, by at least four seconds. If they had been he might have won; but -it isby no means certain; Lovelock, too,, could have stood a faster pace in the third lap without seriously impairing his deadly fi lt S may be added that this description of the race was written by a sporting journalist whose initials only thinly disguise the identity of a man noted as a distance runner for Oxford, and runner-up in several English championships, and that the time, in which Lovelock beat Bonthron in the race described was 4.15 2-5.