BY "VICTOR."

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXII, Issue 12436, 8 April 1908, Page 2

BY "VICTOR."

If the proposal to send H. E. Kerr and H. St. A. Murray to London to compete in the Olympian games in the walks and hurdle events respectively on behalf of the Dominion is vo assume definite shape no time will need to bo lost in raising the necessary funds. As I pointed out a week ago, the Wanganui Amateur Athletic Club is willing to contribute its quota towards the expense of sending these two champions Home, and I have no doubt that a fair amount v-ould be subscribed by enthusiasts on Ihis coast, where Kerr is 6o well-known as a brilliant walker. W. McManus, the veteran Victorian professional runner, lias established a wonderful record on the track. He is over 40 years old, and still running in great form, having only the other day placed his 81st Sheffield Handicap to his credit. He opened his career 26 years ago, when only 14 years of age, by winning a race at Cootamur.dra. Since that time he has been a consistent supporter of almost every programme, big and small, in Victoria, as well as competing- at intervals in N.S.W. and Queensland. He was for years regarded ac the best man in Australia over distances from 50 yards up to half a mile, at which latter distance and over a quarter mile he was a champion. During the last fow years he was not heard much of, but ti>is "season *he handicappers have let him out a bit, and he has had a remarkable iioiings, showing .something like Ms old fcrm. He cleared the board at WiHauro* on March 23. He won the Sheffield, ran second in the hurdle race, appropriated the 220 yds, and wound up by scoring in ijflie 440 yards. ' McManus visited New Zealand some years asro, when that famous match with L. C. McLachlai was run at Oamaru. The Australian champion then wen£ over to Greymouth, and ran two matches with I. Lord, one of which McManus wdn and the other fell to Lord, who was a rattling good runner over the 440 yds, which distance he could cover in 52secs. McManus gave him 15yds and defeated .him, and then failed to give him 25yds. McManus was always a great believer in drinking a moderate amount of beer each day, contending that the beverage in question tended to keep an athlete fresh and well when in training, and prevented staleness. Whatever may be said to this, the fact remains that the Victorian has retained his dash in an extraordinary way for over a quarter of a century. Cyclist Ivor Lawson, of Salt Lake, by bis famous jump sprint, won the six-day bicycle race at the Park Sauare Coliseum on February 22. He completed 415 miles and nine laps in twenty-one hours, the race heiav run two h:nrs each night during the iix days' contest John Bedell, of New Y> rk. was recced, two lengths behind Lawson. Lloyd Krebs, of Newark, N.J., was third.

Recently W. V. Aitken, the Victorian C.C.C, and who is to be sent to England to con pete in the "Marathon" race next July, inn from B-overidge to the Brunswick Cri.*k?t Ground — 21-J miles — in 2 hour 3 26min. 26sec. George Blake is also being sent to England for the "Marathon."