PEDESTRIANISM.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1300, 20 May 1878, Page 3

PEDESTRIANISM.

WALKING MATCH BETWEEN BOWLEY AND PENTECOST. The great walking match of fifty miles, between Bowlcy and Pentecost for £SO aside, came off last Saturday afternoon in the Oddfellows’ Hall, Lichfield street, A strong rivalry has for some time existed between these local pedestrians, but the contest of Saturday fairly tested their respective merits, and established the superiority of Bowley for a long distance. Pentecost walked a game race, with a fine springy free style, and for the first few miles justified the belief of his friends that ho would prove a winner, but the pace at which he started was far too hot to keep up long, and, when his rival put in an appearance the great difference of the two men was at once apparent. Both appeared in excellent condition, Bowley looking rather more fit than his rival, who still bore the traces of his recent severe illness. Both walked well, but the length of stride and easy swinging style of Bowley gave him an advantage from the first over Pentecost, although the latter was allowed half an hour’s start. The track was marked round the hall with iron rods, and thirty circuits of the former, or laps, completed a mile, each round being a trillo under fifty-nine yards. The cards marking the miles and laps were hung up over the platform, at the south extremity of the hall, so that progress was reported from the beginning to the finish. Mr E, Whitley acted as starter, and Mr Duncan as judge. Punctually at twelve o’clock Pentecost started at a slashing pace, doing his first mile in llmin., the same time for lus second, his third was accomplished in lOmin., his fourth in llmin., and his fifth in lOmin, Eleven minutes was his average for a long time. At half-past twelve o’clock Bowley commenced work, walking his first, second, fourth, and fifth mile in 10 minutes respectively, and accomplishing his third in 9 minutes. From the very first it was evident that if the two men kept up the'" pace, the victory for Bowley was only a question of time, as he was slowly but steadily creeping up to his opponent and diminishing the odds between them. When Bowley started overhauling Pentecost in the second round, the latter had accomplished two miles and twenlytwo laps. At seven minutes to one o’clock Pentecost had walked five miles, and Bowley did the same distance at 1.19 p.m. From this time until they retired for refreshment, both men steadied down to serious wmrk, Bowley gradually increasing his advantage by making occasional spurts, which were gamely responded to by Pentecost. At 4.48 p.m. Pentecost left the track for a brief spell and rofreshment, and commenced walking again at 5.7 p.m., accomplishing thirty miles at 6.11 p.m. Bowley ceased walking at 4.57 p.m., and recommenced at 5 15 p.m., his thirty miles being walked by 6.18 p.m. From this time until Pentecost retired from the contest there was no doubt as to who would be the winner, Bowley keeping up his steady pace with marvellous ease, and without the least appearance of discomfort, while Pentecost was exhibiting obvious symptoms of dist ress. The men’s time in the interval between starting and to the finish of the matchw T as as follows :—Bowley: 10 miles, 2.12p.ra.; 15 miles, 3.9; 20 miles, 4.7; 25 miles, 4.57. Pentecost: 10 miles, at 1.50 p.m; 15 miles, 2.48; 20 miles, 3.51; and 25 miles, 4.48. At 7 p.m. Bowley had walked thirty-three miles and fifteen laps, and Pentecost thirty-three miles and twenty-six laps, Bowley, having taken two miles from the latter. Irom this stage of the match until the end Bowlcy kept forcing the pace in a series of tremendous spurts, which told terribly on Pentecost, although the latter struggled gallantly to respond. Still it was obvious that with every fresh call made on him he was getting weaker and weaker. When Bowley had half completed his thirty-sixth mile there was only a difference of nine laps between the men. At. 7.53 they were on equal terms, the score then standing respectively thirty-seven miles and twenty-nine laps. Bowley now had it all his own way, and seemed almost, as fresh as when ho started, Pentecost walking lame and with painful efiort. In his

39th mile Bowley took a short spell for a couple of minutes, but it was of no advantage to bis opponent, who was completely beaten and gave up the struggle at his 40th mile, time then being 8,30 p.m. Pentecost finished with an expiring flash, making a desperate effort in the 29th lap of the 40th mile ; he completed two laps over that distance when ho was carried off the (rack thoroughly prostrated. From first to last Pentecost deserves every credit for his pluck, especially when taking into account that ho has only recently recovered from a severe illness. But the fact is that, whatever his merit for a sho t distance may be, he is no match for Bowley in a long journey. The latter is a much more muscular man, and possesses far greater powers of endurance, Bowley, by the terms of the match, had to walk over the ground before ho could claim the money. Ho accomplished the task with comparative ease, completing his 45th mile at 9.33 and his 50fch, which was walked in lOmin. at 10.30, thus winning one of the most interesting walking matches that has yet taken place in Canterbury.