PEDESTRIAN TOURNAMENT.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2155, 21 January 1881, Page 3

PEDESTRIAN TOURNAMENT.

The Oddfellow*’ Hall last evening was a scene of attraction for a large number of persons interested in pedestrianism ; the occasion being the commencement of a feat in walking by Edwards, the well known ped and long distance walker, as which, it is understood,_ ho stands unrivalled in the Australian colonies. The Hall was laid out in the usual style, the course (thirty lops to the mile) having been carefully marked out, and its accuracy duly certified to in writing by Mr Hubbard, C.E. Shortly after 8 o’clock there was a large crowd of spectators present. The Railway Band, whose services had been secured for the occasion, provided excellent music, though rather too powerful perhaps for the size of the building. Before the special feature of the evening, a competition, occupying one hour in performance, took place, being a running match for a silver cup. In this the following well-known pods took part : —Webber, Whiting, Pentecost, and Fagan, the latter an Auckland man,

who carried off several trophies at recent popular meetings in Christchurch. A start was made at hall-past eight, the competitors all starting from scratch. The course was not suited to this kind of match, being too narrow in the first place, and the corner turns were exceedingly sharp, making it occasionally difficult to keep foot-hold on a spurt. The positions occupied by the men at starting were—Webbor, Whiting, Pentecost, Pagan, and they proceeded thus for the first mile, after which the order was slightly changed by Pagan overlapping Pentecost. In the meantime Whiting stuck to Webber very pluckily. At the fourth mile Pagan passed Webber down the long stretch to the right, nhouts of applause greeting the spurt. A good deal of interest was manifested in the match at this stage, when it appeared evident that the race lay between Webber and the Auckland man, but as shown later on this was not so. In thesixthmile Pentecost gave out, having gone 5 miles and 20 laps. He struck his arm violently against a sharp corner of the wall, and being in great pain could not proceed. Some very pretty manes uvring between the two first men then took place. Webber passed Pagan twice, but the latter, cm each occasion immediately regained his position of loader, being in perfect form and ns fresh as a daisy. The positions remained unaltered, except that Whiting, though going in good form, lost several laps. Webber fell out after doing 7 miles and 8 laps. When time was called, at the conclusion of the hour, Pagau had done 8 miles 13 laps, and Whiting 8 miles 5 laps. Mr Edwards then came forward, and having stated the distance s.ccomplished by the winner, presented Pagan with a handsome silver cop. Three cheers were given for Whiting, who ran the hour in company with him. Shortly before ten o’clock, Mr Edwards entered the body of the ball to commence bis great feat of walking 180 miles in fortyeight hours. He had on a very pretty costume, and appeared in good condition. His entrance was the signal for some applause from enthusiasts present. On the stroke of ton Edwards started at a signal from Mr P. Butler, who kept tally for the first hour, Edwards started off at a fine swinging pace. Ho is a pretty walker, and bears a well-earned reputation for going in legitimate style, that is a style about which there could not be the remotest suspicion of unfairness. He completed the first mile in nine minutes and a half.

When Edwards had accomplished 30 miles he took a rest, the first, for 15 minutes. The first 50 miles were walked in 9 hours 44 minutes, and at the 55th mile (10.40) Edwards rested for 40 minutes, during which he partook of refreshments. At one o’clock 72 miles were finished, and he again rested. A good number of visitors dropped in during the day to see how the walkist was progressing. This evening there will be a five-mile walking handicap match, for first and second prizes, open to all comers. This will impart a variety to the proceedings, and should prove a big attraction. It is a “go-as-you-please” walk, and finishes at ten on Saturday night.