PEDESTRIANISM.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3482, 4 September 1882, Page 3

PEDESTRIANISM.

MILE BACE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP OF NEW ZEALAND. (BT TELEGRAPH.) Dunedin, September 4. T A mile foot race between Burke and O'Connor for £100 a side and the championship of New Zealand was run on the Caledonian Society's ground on Saturday. Great interest was taken in tbe affair, and between four and five thousand persons were present. O'Connor had been a slight favorite until the past few days, the betting changing from 6 to 4 on him to even money at the start. The day was fine, but there was a strong wind, whicb, in addition to the heavy track, made the time poor. O'Connor went off at a great pace, and quickly showed that bis tactics were to obtain so commanding a lead that Burke, whose finishing powers are remarkable, would not be able to catch him. Entering the fourth lap he had a lead of about forty yards, which Burke had reduced at the end of the lap to between twenty-five and thirty. O'Connor waß still running strong, and few thought Burke could catch him, but, putting on apeed by a wonderful effort, Burke io tbe fifth and last laps gradually wore his opponent down, and over a hundred yards from home passed him, winning by fifteen yards amidst uproarious cheers from his local admirers. O'Connor stuck to it till the finish. The time was 4 minutes 38 seconds. O'Connor's supporters are dissatisfied with the result of the race, and are anxious to match him again. A match will probably be made to-night to be run off in about a fortnight's time. A good deal of money changed hands.