ATHLETICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XX, Issue 1124, 26 October 1911, Page 11

ATHLETICS.

“THE KING OF CLUBS.” TOM BURROWS VISITS AUCKLAND. A STRENUOUS CAREER. Tom Burrows, the world-renowned club swinger and athlete, arrived in Auckland from Sydney on Sunday, and intends making a thorough tour of the Dominion. Burrows is looking the picture of health, and his iron constitution has obviously not suffered in any way as the result of his arduous tests of endurance. His at-

tempt at creating a world record for continuous club swinging of 10'3 hours in Auckland will be his final long endurance test with the clubs, and he is naturally very keen on achcomplishing this remarkable feat. It is also his intention to give an illustrated lecture entitled “Health is Wealth,” a subject which he deals with in a novel and entertaining manner. Should he succeed in establishing a club swinging record of 100 hours, Burrows will confine his touring programme to exhibitions of fancy club swinging, and short tests judged on the point system, it being generally? recognised that lonce !the century is reached further proof of his wonderful stamina is unnecessary. Burrows, like many other notable athletes, does not confine himself to club swinging alone, but is able to entertain his audience with numerous sketches specially written for him. One of these sketches was written for Burrows when in London by Neville Fickett, sporting editor of the “Daily Telegraph,” while another is the work of the editor of the well-known physical culture journal “Health and Strength.” Burrows also relates a fine picture story founded on the historic “John Gilpin,” also on “Oliver Twist,” together with a number of other dramatic subjects. FIRST ENDURANCE RECORD. Few athletes have had so interesting a career as Tom Burrows, and during a call 'at this office on Tuesday, he

gave some particulars regarding his connection witn athletics. An enthusiast in athletics from early years, the “King of Clubs” first started on his career as a professional in 1891, when in Melbourne he won the big open championship for fancy club swinging against is competitors. Since then his career has been one of uninterrupted success, culminating in his brilliant achievement in Tamworth (N.S.W.), lately when he swung clubs continuously for 98 hours 50 minutes: Burrows, whose careful mode of living is largely responsible for - his athletic performances, has a magnificent collection of trophies and medals won in different parts of the world. In 1892 he journeyed to England as the lightweight champion boxer of Australia, who was invited to London by the National Sporting Club. He had not been long in England before his prowess as an all-round athlete became known, and in March, 1893, at the Royal Military Gymnasium, Aidershot, he put up the first endurance record attempted, namely, 8 hours 15 minutes. Colonel, now Sir George Malconn Fox (inspector of the gymnasium) was referee, and the Duke of Connaught and others were present. Some months later at Aidershot, Burrows, who was engaged as instructor at the gymnasium, put up the first world’s record of 24 hours, and was presented with a belt by the London “Sportsman.” At the end of 189 5 he went to Egypt, and at Cairo in 189 6 put up a 25 hours’ swing. Towards the finish of the performance

Lord Cromer, Sir Herbert, now Lord Kitchener, and others of the staff called to see the champion, and Lord Cromer remarked, “Remember British supremacy here, Burrows.” ON ACTIVE SERVICE. Burrows returned to England and gave an exhibition of boxing at Aidershot before) the German Emperor. He was subsequently presented with a gold medal from the Kaiser. In 189 6 he again visited Egypt as the manager of the Theatre Royal, and during his stay won the championship for club swinging and wrestling. He was back again in England for the Jubilee in 1897, and. at the National Sporting Club won the championship of England in a 30 hours’ match. During his stay in England .he was engaged for fancy and exhibition club swinging in all the leading cities. He was back again in England in 1899, and when the war broke out he went to Africa as sergeant in the Imperial Yeomanry, seeing active service for two years and six months. It is interesting to relate that the officer in charge of the company in which Burrows ’served was none other than Lord Denman, now Governor-General of the Commonwealth, whose keenness and popularity as a leader was widely recognised. Lord Denman was an expert fencer, and Burrows frequently engaged in a morning bout with this distinguished officer. Burrows secured the necessary permission from Colonel Cooper, and put up a 36 hours’

record at Capetown. He received a presentation from the citizens on the conclusion of the swing.

SOME REMARKABLE TESTS.

In 1902 he went to Edinburgh under engagement to Mr. Moss, and created a world’s record of six days of 12 hours each day, and was presented with a splendid trophy, in addition to a purse of £lOO, following with an engagement of 2 6 weeks on the Moss Empire Music Halls of England and Scotland. He returned to Cape Colony where he opened a gymnasium, and introduced scientific fancy club swinging and fencing. It was there that he met Professor West and put up a 40 hours’ record, winning easily on points. Burrows subsequently defeated West again at the Town Hall, Port Elizabeth, m Johannesburg later he put up a world’s record of 43 hours, and two weeks later beat Louis Papenas in a 30 hours’ swing for the championship of South Africa and a £lO 0 purse. In Blomfontein he completed 4 4 houfs, and defeated Charles Spinch. At each subsequent performance he beat his own record. He again toured America, and never met one who could defeat him. In Philadelphia he swung for 12 days of eight hours each, and had a standing challenge to meet all comers, but it was never taken up. His next match was in England at St. George’s Hall, when he defeated Spinch for the championsH’.p of England and £lOO purse put up by the London “Mirror of Life.” Then followed another performance of eight days of eight hours each at the Kursal, South End. He next visited Capetown, and at the Tivoli Theatre created a world’s record of 61 hours 30 minutes, the performance being witnessed by 12,000 people. Under an engagement to the late Harry Rickards he returned to Australia after an absence of 16 years, and at the Tivoli, Sydney, accomplished the feat of swinging continuously for sixty-two hours. Records followed at the Opera House, Melbourne; Tivoli, Adelaide; and Theatre Royal, Broken Hill.

Touring New Zealand he broke records at Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin. His next contest was against Jack Griffiths for a £230 purse, whom he defeated easily, and then at Perth he went up to 66 hours and 3 minutes. At Durban at the Theatre —oyal he beat this by ten minutes, and also defeated Jack Moore in the last twelve hours. In January, 1909, he defeated Jack Beamish, champion of the army. At the Empire, Johannesburg, he defeated Frank Lloyd, and then left for England.

HIS LATEST PERFORMANCES. Burrows’ latest doings in Australia all point to the one conclusion, and that is the world’s champion ciub swinger, despite his lengthy and strenuous career as an athlete, is today as capable as ever of successfully defending his title against all comers. At the Theatre Royal, Brisbane, he met and defeated Harry Lawson for a £l5O purse, and in a return match at Rockhampton Burrows again proved the victor. A third match was then arranged between the pair, this taking place at Charters Towers for a £2OO purse put up by Mr. E. J. Carroll, the well-known Queensland theatrical manager, and again Burrows demonstrated he was Lawson’s superior. A further contest was decided at Boulders City (W.A.), and a fifth match at Broken Hill (N.S.W.j. Burrows in each instance proving the winner. Burrows then created several records from 8 2 hours in 14 am ore, Casino, Wooloomba, and Grafton, on the Northern Rivers (N.S.W.), while at the Theatre Royal, Tamworth (N.S.W.), he succeeded in establishing a world’s record of 98 hours 50 minutes. After a short tour of New South Wales he defeated Jack Beamish, the English champion, at Tamworth, for a £IOO purse, and the championship of the world, this club swinging feat, which finished on the 7th inst., consisting of 82 hours. APPEARANCE BEFORE ROYALTY. During his career, Burrows has appeared before the late Queen Victoria and the late King Edward VH, while he gave a special exhibition of boxing for the German Emperor. He has a'lso given fencing and club swinging displays before King George and Queen Mary. ' On one occasion whilst participating in a boxing bout before the King and Queen a rather distressing incident occurred. Every* precaution had been taken to make

the tout a refined display of boxing, but unfortunately Burrows’ head during a clinch came into contact with his opponent’s forehead, the result being that before the end of the round both men presented a very blood-stained appearance. The Queen, however, quickly took in the situation, and placed the contestants more at ease by remaining until the finish of the bout. Tom Burrows has a very fine collection of trophies, including the handsome belt presented to him in the Olympia, London, in 19 07. He also has in his possession a number of diplomas for fencing, gymnastics, physical training, and anatomy gained during his term as instructor at Aidershot.