B. R. DAY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8797, 7 December 1906, Page 4

B. R. DAY.

3rn interesting biography appears in the " Referee" of B. ft. Day, th& Irish champion, who has journeyed to Australia for the purpose of meeting A. B. Postle in a match, on December 5 at KalgoorJie. Day was born at Dublin on Christmas Day, 1882, so that he is now twenty-four years of age — the same age as Postle. His height is sft 9in, and weight when stripped lOst 121 b. His weight i 6 principally in the legs, which are/Jengthy and solid, his bouy being rather light. Day started running as a boy of twelve years in school races, and quickly asserted his superiority over all the other lads in school sports around Dublin, for, although asked to concede long starts to boys often much older than himself, he generally reached the tape first. Day's first victory of any importance was in a 220 yds handicap at Dublin, which, at the age of fourteen, he won very easily from Newburn, the champion all-round runner of Ireland, who was conceding him 7yds. To use Day's own words: "The flattering praise I received from Newburn made me put my whole h^art into the game, and, assisted materially to make me the runner I am at the present time." The following year the famous hurdler, Dennis Carey, took Diy over to England, where he won the Chadderton Handicap, near Manchester, and several other races. A few months later Day, who was now only fifteen years of age, caused a nvld sensation by defeating that grand distance runner, Alfred Tysoe, with a start of Byds in 440 yds. Day then returned to Ireland, and won the 220yd.s and 440 ycls Irish Championship?, defeating J. C. Meredith, the th-n 440 yds champion of England. Up till this time B. R. Day's running had all been done in amateur events, but at the a^e of sixteen he turned professional. The Irishman describes his after career thus: —

" Knowing , the great amount of money to be won at Powderhall, I determined to have a bold bid for a fortune. I waited four years to bring off a grand coup at Edinburgh. During the whole of this time I confined my running to long distances, and although very successful over these distances, the opinion, was general that I was not a first-class sprinter, consequently, when the starts for the oig i Powderhall Handicap were declared I was somewhat surprised to find myself on 10yds-. I was, in fact, overjoyed, and as 1 was running sound " evens " at the time, my connections backed n a from 20 to 1 dowtf to odds on. I won the final with a bit in hand, and my party landed several thousaiills in wagers. I thought it possible to win another of these events, and, therefore, waited twelve, months! without starting, but next year I was handicapped on 4yds, with a 17yds limit, so I decided not to compete, and to look for matches. The first was with, W. Growcott, for the championship of England and £100 aedde-^ over 120 yds, which I won. The. same year I defeated R. W. Wadsley, the ex-amateur champion, for the 220 yds championship of England and £100 aside. After that I had great difficulty in getting genuine matches — I could get no one to race me any distance up to SSOyde off the mark. v "I heard then that Mr Rothwell, the owner of the famous pacer, Lady R., would match his mare against any man in the world over 100 yds, with standing start and pistol, for £100 nside. I promptly accepted the <shallcnge — and won the race. Later I beat her 110 yds, but was just beaten over 120 yds. I successfully raced several other horses up to 110 yds, but over that distance I was usually beaten. Thinking that I would be able to get matches in America, I, journeyed to the United .States, but could not get anyone to put up money and race me. There were several that wanted to race me for the l gate, 5 etc., but I would not be a party to any ' fake,' and, therefore, had to return, to England empty-handed. During the past two years I have competed in Great Britain in handicaps with varying success, but generally have had to give away impossible starts.

" However, during that time I have had a standing challenge to- the world in the English sporting papers, but there has been no response. When Alfred Shrubb joined the rank© of the professionals, after his Australian trip, I challenged him to race 1000 yds for £300 aeide, but he refused to accept. During the past twelve months I have given exhibitions at the leading music halls of London, Glasgow and Aberdeen, a wooden circular track being- erected on the stage with a circumference of 35yds. The management had a standing offer of a large sum to anybody who could defeat me over any distance .up to 440 yds, but although numbers made the attempt the management never had to part up. It -was impossible to run longer distances than 440 yds on this, track, ac the continual turning made you feel sick.

" In February last I received a communication from Mr Rufe Naylor, stating that A. B. Pestle was prepared to race me over three distances for a large side wager. I was 'first asked to cempete in May, but as I had an important match with a pony at Blackpool in that month,, tho trip was deferred. I would then have made the trip in time for the August Carnival, but being assured of a match with Shrubb at Olympia, I delayed leaving England till September. Had this match eventuated in England, I would have had backing for a very large cum, and, as it is, I am wagering £150 of my own money, and feel fairly confident of winning the 130 yds and 300 yds events, and thus winning the big end of the £200 purse' and the side wager. I .hardly expect to win the. 75yde race, over which distance I consider Postde one of tTie fastest men that ever stripped. Should I defeat Postle I will be prepared to defend tho title against all corners and over all distances, if I lose I am pro-pared to race any man in Australasia over three distances, viss.,'3ooydH, 600 yds, and lOOOyde, for £100 side- wager.

"Tho following are my English records, and thoy nro authentic, as everything wa« iv order: — 100 yds, 9 4-56 ec; 130 yds, 12|aoo; 220 yds, 22sec; 800 yds, 30 1-5hoo; 440 yds 49«e0. When I defeated 'Lincoln Lass 1 at Blackpool I was credited with tho 100 yds in 9 3-s«eo, f but tho track, was slightly down hilli; and in another match over 115 yds I ' wu« only boaten by a neck in 10 4-Sseo. Prior to leaving London, Harry Hutohons informed me that I would run. faster in the Australian climate than in England, and after a lew weeks here, 1 am quite prepared to believe it."