ATHLETIC.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12582, 1 October 1908, Page 5

ATHLETIC.

ARTHUR POSTLE GIVES HIS VIEWS OF HIS RACE WITH DAY.

Writing from Southport, Lancashire, under date 18th inst., Arthur Postle says : "Australian sports will no doubt have heard of my defeat here by B. E. Day for the world's championship over 440 yards. Many will perhaps be sorry and also puzzled to know how I got beaten — particularly those who saw me defeat Day so easily on the goldfields of Western Australia.

''None of my friends will, I hope, think other than that I was a fair trier. I can. positively assure them that on the day the better man won. I have lost a deal of money over the race. So also have my friends, O'ConnelJ and Todd. I had an ambitious hope that I would return to Australia and retire an unbeaten man, and naturally feel this, my first taste of defeat, very- keenly. However, I was beaten fairly, and there is no one I would sooner have lost to than B. R. Day. Still, I am far from convinced that Day is the better man, even over the 440 yards — his favourite distance." He certainly wa» at Salford on Saturday, when, before 20,000 people, he made me look almost like a novice, and beat me by fully eight yards. Now, I detest making excuses for myself, but I am going to say right out that I waa right off on Saturday when Day beat

me— tired and stale, as I have been half my time in England. I don't know what to think; something is radically wrong with me; either the climate is not suiting me or I want a rest. Ido no think I would be exaggerating if I said I was twenty yards below my true form on Saturday. In fact, everyone who saw the race is convinced that I was not fit to run. All the Press reports here say I was stale. However, 1 hope to prove ere I leave England that what I am writing now is true. I am going to have a rest now, and hope to show some of my Australian running — I have not done so yet in England. Of course, I admit that Day is at present very much improved on his Australian form; and is a very hard man to beat ov«r 440 yds. All the same, I have an equal chance with him, and am always sure to beat him at sprinting. Probably Day, Growcott, and I will come together in a triangular race over 220 yds, each to put in J2OO. Should this come to pass, I honestly think I shall be the winner. If so, this will be my last race in England, and probably anywhere else. Todd arid O'Connell join me in sending regards."