GREAT PEDESTRIAN MATCH.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 634, 19 March 1870, Page 3

GREAT PEDESTRIAN MATCH.

Victoria v. Engiand. Three out of the five races for the championship of the pedestrian world took place at Melbourne on Saturday week, in the presence of an exceedingly large number of spectators. There were from 15,000 to 18,000 within the enclosure. The gate money showed that 12,000 passed in, but tickets were also issued by the Melbourne Omnibus Company, whose vehicles were running to the ground during the day. The hill was covered. The exhibition of pedestrians was one well worth seeing. It will be long before two such runners as Hewitt and Harris again meet on the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Australian champion, Harris, won the 150 yards and the 200 yards races, but the 300 yards race ended in a dead heat. The time was excellent, and both men ran splendidly. A protest was entered by Harris against Hewitt respecting the third Tace, the allegation being that Hewitt had jostled him near the end of the race. There was great difference of opinion on the but those who saw what Harris complained of spoke with great confidence. The protest was dismissed, the referee (Mr George Watson) being clear that no jostle took place. The races to be decided next day were those at 100 yards and 400 yards, but it had not been settled whether the dead heat for the 300 yard 3 race shall be run off that day or not. A large sum of money has already changed hands over the contest, the backers of the Englishmen having been both numerous and heavy.