THE CHAMPION PEDESTRIANS IN CANTERBURY.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2572, 16 May 1871, Page 2

THE CHAMPION PEDESTRIANS IN CANTERBURY.

As much interest is centred in the doings of the English pedestrians now in Canterbury, we give a condensed account from the Press of their first public performances in Canterbury, which took place outhe 9th inst., in the presence of about 2009 persons. The champions were much disatisfied with the amount of start given to the local runners by the handicappers, and the consequence was did not run with any heart in the races in which they were concerned. In this, so far as the mile and a half race was concerned, there is no doubt they were right, as the amount of sturt given in the former particularly, was far too gre t. The handicappers in their anxiety to make the races interesting, and not merely one-sided ali'airs, appear to have erred in this direction, as from the start given to Webb and others in the mile race, Bird had no chance whatever of pulling the race off. The first race, the I of a mile handicap flat race was an easy victory for Harris. For the 120 yards flat race, the Canterbury champion sbort-distance runner, Mason, did not start, owing to illness ; and out of a field of six, entered for the first heat, only three came to the front. However, a very good race was the result, the pace being warm from start to finish. The winner of the first heat, Gahagan, ran at the cricketing and boating sports some short time since, and has the reputation of a fast runner. In the second heat, Harris had all his work cut out, as the nearest man to him was eighteen yards, Stifle, who had been running very well lately, being liberally dealt with by the handicappers to the extent of twenty-six yards, thus giving him, in the opinion of the knowing ones, the race, an opinion which he justified by winning a game race in fine style. He ran splendidly throughout, cutting out the running all through at a hot pace. O'Brien, the second man, was looked upon as a dangerous character at this diata ee, although he had to give Stiffs eight yards. He runs well for a short distance, and had the race been twenty yards further, would have overhauled Stifle. Kirwiu, who ran third in this heat, has a nice stylo with him, but runs rather heavily. A s was anticipated, the handicapping -was too much for Harris to get over, and he finished in rear of the rest. In the deciding heat, the weight of opinion was that Gahagan would beat Stifle, but the latter, who ran as game as a pebble, came in a winner, after a fine race, being loudly applauded. Stifle has a very bad stylo with his running, but there

is no doubt that if be practices to get rid of this that he will take high rank among our amateur pedestrians. The mile handicap brought only four starters to the post. This, from his well known ability in the distance, and the liberality of the hamlicappers, was looked upon as Webb’s race, Bird, in face of the crushing distance, not being thought to have a show. Pentecost had several backers, but ho was out of form altogether, and was never in the race. Brandon was fancied by some, but after taking his preliminary it was thought by many that he, although having 300 yards start to his credit, would not be much. Webb rau beautifully throughout ; his style and pace being excellent, reflecting great credit on his trainer, Young Austin. Bird went a lap or so, but saw the ease was hopeless, and retired. The 100 yards spin between Harris aud Hewitt excited great interest, aud was looked upon as the race of the day. It certainly was a tine piece of running a.l through, being won by Harris just on the tape, narrowly escaping a dead heat, Considering the state of the ground, the time, lOsees, was exceedingly good, and there is no doubt that had it been run on the cricket ground they would have covered the distance in a second less lime. The race was really an excellent one, and went far to mitigate the disappointment felt at the retirement of Bird in the mile handicap.