WONDERFUL RUNNERS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15977, 20 November 1919, Page 6

WONDERFUL RUNNERS.

•: O- ■ - MEMORIES OP A GREAT BOOM. 'lhe death of William Cummings, of Paisley, the famous runner, conjures up many memories of the running track (writes S. A. Mussabini, a noted British authority on athletics, in an English paper). Old sportsmen will recall the big boom in foot-racing during the seventies aid eighties. There were champions—and worthy ones—at all distances from 100 yards to the overdone six days’ “go-as-you-pleass” affairs at the Agricultural Hall, Islington, and later, within the Royal Aquarium, Westminster. The stars of the cinder and peat tracks at that time stood high in the esteem of the sporting public, and Cummings was always one of the greatest. He bore the same relative position in the running world of his day that Jimmy Wilde holds in boxing. Standing sft Sin in height, and weighing well under Bst, Cummings was the possessor of the truest and most elegant footwork imaginable. He had the gait of’ a champion .trotting pony—all fire, resolution, and effectiveness, and he covered a mile and a half in 6.43, and 10 miles in 51.6.

The day arrived which brought the Scottish champion a formidable rival. Just as he had placed himself securely at the head of the professional group, so had the Worcester high-stepper, Walter S. George, given many and convincing proofs of his superiority in the amateur class.

It is not difficult to recall George’s great matches with W, SJnoek, of Birmingham, at old Lillie Bridge(' outside West Brompton station) and Bennington Oval. George’s deer-like bounding stride proved too much for Snook. George’s challenge to Cummings created a tremendous sensation at the time. That an amateur should meet a professional in a race was unthinkable to the high-toned A.A.A. authorities of the time. George’s application for permission to take part in such a series of races was refused; but this fact did not deter him. He agreed to run Cummings at one mile, four miles, and ten miles, in London, Birmingham, and Edinburgh. They had two sets of races, George out-pacing and outstaying his shorter and lighter opponent on each occasion at a mile (he made times of 4.19, and the still standing world’s record of 4.12f). But Cummings won at four miles and ten miles, carrying Iris light weight round the laps like a pdece,of well-oued machinery.

Those were wonderful days. W© ,may never see their like again. Tet there is consolation to some of us who have the sport at heart that to-day we have in this country a very worthy successor to these two old-time champions. He is Albert G. Hill, the Polytechnic Harrier. He revealed all the art, stamina, and skill of the great runner at the recent A.A.A. championships.