WALKING MATCH AGAINST TIME.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1903, 31 March 1880, Page 3

WALKING MATCH AGAINST TIME.

C. Swan commenced his task of walking 115 miles in twenty-four hours last night at the Sink in Gloucester street. Previous to the principal event a handicap walking match of five miles took place. There were seven entries, but only the four following competitors Btarted :—Eraser, Wilson, Pentecost, and Lavery. The ?first mentioned pedestrian was conceded 15sec. and Pentecost and Lavery 45sec. respectively. Pentecost led off at a smart pace and maintained the lead for the first mile, and was then passed by Wilson, who at a mile and a half increased his lead by one lap and kept that advantage until the finish. Eraser retired after walking half a mile, and two miles was sufficient for Lavery. Swan started at ten o'clock, and did his first mile in ten minutes. By half-past ten he had accomplished 2£ miles and a lap, twenty laps going to the mile. He was in capital form, and was full of confidence in' his ability to do his distance in the specified time. The attendance was only moderate. During the night Swan made very eood progress, both he and his trainer, Mr David Steele, being confident of his ability to carry out the task he had undertaken. By eleven o'clock he had covered 5£ miles, and he maintained that average for some hours. At midnight the board recorded 10 miles and 13 laps. Erom this point Swan walked steadily on until 3 a.m., when he took a spell of eight minutes, having accomplijhed 26 mile?. *At 4 a.m. the distance walked was 31 miles, and at 6 o'clock 40 miles and 12 laps had been negociated. Here there was another spell of 11 minutes. At 7,8, 9, and 10 o'clock the respective distances t>ere 45 miles and 6 laps, 50 miles and 6 laps, 55 miles and 2 laps, and at the last mentioned hour 60 miles and 3 laps, being a trifle over half the distance. By noon Swan had walked 63 miles, having, as before stated, averaged five miles an hour. His feet were a little blistered, but otherwise he exhibited no signs of distress, which was owing to his excellent training. He was walking with a light springy step, and was very sanguine of coming off the victor in his contest with " Old Time."