THE CHAMPION FOOT-RACES.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2145, 22 March 1870, Page 2

THE CHAMPION FOOT-RACES.

(Abridged from the Argus.) FJKST DAY, The first event on the programme was the handicap Hat-race, at 150 yards, but very little attention was given to this or any of the other events that served to HU up the gaps between the champion races. The Hrst of these was at 150 yards, over a straight course acro-s the ground. When the two competitors made their appearance, the crowd warmly welcomed them. Both men appeared to be in excellent condition, and the friends of both were as confident about success as if the whole thing had been cut and dried. Hewitt was going to win everything, and not leave the Australian a chance, said one party ; the other had made up its mind to expect something very different. The Englishman won the toss for choice of ground, and chose to run from the western side towards the eastern, or Richmond side. This gave the advantage of the wind, but involved about a dozen yards of up-hill work at the finish. They had their preliminary trial, Harris going in his long sweeping stride, and Hewitt in the highstepping style which he affects when not putting himself forth in earnest. The Australian looked the more powerful, as he was the taller, man of the two. All that Hewitt' had about him was what he required for running purposes alone. The race was soon over. Harris got away with a start of half a yard, increased it to three yards by the time they were half way, and won by about two—both going at full speed all the way, and Harris only slackening the merest trifle when he found himself close to home. Time, Is| seconds—very good, considering that there was some uphill running. About an hour and a quarter afterwards, they came out to run the 200 yards race. This time the opposite direction was chosen. To obtain the extra 50 yards in the straight course, the men had to go behind the chain fence at both sides. A lane, just wide enough for their purpose, was accordingly fenced off at each end of the course. Though the starter says the men started dead level, yet when the pair came out of the lane, Hewitt had an undoubted lead. For 30 yards the distance between them—a little more than a yard—did not alter, and it looked as if there was going to be a turning of the tables, but Harris’s stronger running brought him alongside the champion by the time they were half-way.-Then they went side by side for a second or two, and after that Harris lefc his opponent inch by inch. At 30 yards from home he had a clear lead, and lie won by three yards. Time, 20£secs. Hewitt said, as he entered the Pavilion Reserve, “There is no doubt he has beaten me on my merits.” | There remained the 300 yards race, which had to be run up on a curve. Hewitt got | the advantage of inside position, and the further advantage of tho lead as soon as the two were in motion. They dashed off at a grand pace, Harris a little behind for some distance, but soon putting forth a determined effort to get on a level with Hewitt. They ran very close together, Hewitt's right arm being in front of his opponent’s left, and half way across his chest. Tho splendid struggle was kept up to the very finish, when the result was left in doubt. Mr H. C. Harrison, umpire for Hewitt, gave it a dead heat;

Mr Wallace, umpire for II ms, gave the race to Harris, and the referee, Mr George Watson, was appealed to He said “A dead heat.” Immediately after the race a protest was lodged by Harris, who complained of having been jostled towards the close of the race. The time by Mr Harrison’s watch was 33} secs ; unfortunately in the excitement the official time was not taken exactly. ' SECOND DAY. The excitement over the champion match had considerably increased. The first of the remaining races was the quarter-mile race—the one out of the five for which the English champion was most fancied from the beginning. His running in the 300 yards match had, in the minds of his numerous friends, greatly improved his prospects for the longer distance. Great things, however, were expected of Harris, and the least that anybody was prepared for was a close race and a struggle from end to end. Hewitt looked even better than on Saturday, and wore a more confident expression on his face, while whispers of Harris’s having caught cold were circulated about. A capital start was effected, the pair bounding away together, but in a few strides Harris got in fro it, and having previously been on the outside, now took up the inside running, and having Hewitt immediately behind him led. the way at a rattling pace. The Australian increased his lead as they went along, and was a good two yards in advance when the opposite side of the ground was reached. They continued the same distance apart until they began to shapo their way towards the wiuniiig-post, having then about 100 yards to run, when Hewitt, who had been lying contentedly behind, suddenly increased his pace, was alongside Harris in an instant, and immediately afterwai'ds came away from him as though he alone was attempting to run. The race was settled 80 yards from home. Harris pulled up 20 yards from the tape, and Hewitt’s last dozen strides were done in a trot. The official time was 51} secs —by the watch of a gentleman who carefully timed most of the races, 51}. A cold caught on Saturday had given Harris a slight attack of soie throat, which all the remedies that could be applied had not been able to drive away. This however was not advanced, and would not have been accepted as a complete explanation of the defeat; it merely accounted for a falling off, just enough to be perceptible in the appearance of the colonial champion. The question of superiority was settled beyond a doubt; and every one who witnested Hewitt’s splendid performance must have felt that he had yet to meet the man in Australia who could compete with him on even terms at 440 yards. The final event came at the close of the day’s sports, and the spectators waited for it with much anxiety, (he discharge of the pistol was watched for with breathless interest. It came ; and away the two dashed for the goal on the opposite side of the ring, at their topmost speed. The advantage of the lead at starting —so important in so short a race—was with Hewitt, and a score yards from the mark Harris was a yard and a half, or more, behind. As they flew on at almost equal speed across the ground, the interval between them scarcely altered, but from half-way Harris began to gain on his opponent, and the hopes of his friends, almost drooping, revived. As they neared the winning post, their backs were turned towards the pavilion, and they seemed almost in line. So close was the finish that no one could say who had won. The spectators broke the bounds, and one universal rush was made from all parts of the ground (save the reserves) for the group who had been stationed at the de« cisive spot; and competitors, judges, and committee were at once lost iq the crowd that swarmed around them. Before the judges were well within the gate, the figurp “1 ” was hoisted on the board. No. 1 was Hewitt, but the board was lowered again, the number removed, aud the place left blank. Some miuufes of confusion ensued, amid which it was ascertained that the judges were disigrerd. These gentlemen, with the referee, retired into the pavilion with the committee. In three minutes the finding was made known. The decision ha 4 been arrived at in this way. Mr Harrison, utnpirb for Hewitt, could not say which came in first, and gave it a “dead heat;” Mr Wallace, Harris's umpire, was confident his man had won by a foot. The referee, Mr George Wotson, said that both were wrong, aud pronounced emphatically that Hewitt was the winner, aud when asked by how much, said, “By the thickness of his body.” Another question, however, was quickly brought into prominence “Could Mr Watson do more than decide between a dead heat and a win by Harris? ” The discussion was kept up until the approaching darkness sent people homewards, aud a protest was lodged with the referee by Harris. The proceedings, therefore, had a most unfortunate termination, aud the question is so far from being settled. Harris has given the stakeholder notice not to hand over the stakes in the events at 100 yards an ! 300 yards.