PEDESTRIANISM.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 631, 3 February 1870, Page 3

PEDESTRIANISM.

« Several most absurd rumors have been afloat recently about the backers of Hewitt paying forfeit in the match with Harris. These have not the slightest foundation in fact. The truth of the matter is that Hewitt, Bird and Taplev are so satisfied that Hewitt can beat Harris, that they have authorised their employers to put every sixpence of the money they will make in the colonies on the "issue. In order to bring them into proper form Ledger has removed the three men to Brighton, where in future they will take their necessary exercises. In consequence of the time fixed for the champion match between Hewitt and Harris falling upon the same days as the Intercolonial Cricket Match, it has been proposed to alter the date of the race ; and as Hewitt and hia backei'3 are confident of his being in proper form before the date fixed, they wish the match to come off a week sooner than was originally intended ; but Harris is opposed to this, as he says his arrangements will not permit him to alter the date from that already decided on. No positive decision has yet been made on the subject ; but it is expected that in a day or two some arrangement will be 'made which will suit the convenience of all parties. The Bendiffo Advertiser says : — " We understand that there are four men on Sandhurst — Banks, Gray, Wiesmeyer, and Seaville^ — who severally consider themselves the fleetest of foot in the district. A match has been on the tapis for the last day or two between Banks and Wiesinayer, but as this is considered a slow way of arriving at the championship it has been proposed that the four pedestrians n o med should 'nake up a sweepstakes of L 25 each. This proposition has met with general approval, and already three of the men — Banks, Seaville, and Wiesmeyer-— have agreed to it, so that Gray, who it is said is also likely to agree, is the only one remaining to give his sanction or refusal " " Young Austin, the ten-mile champion of Australia, has;" says the Newcastle Chronicle, (i during the year 1869 performed the extraordinary feat of running forty-seven ten-mile races, one eighteenmile race, one fifteen-mile race, and twenty five-mile races. Out of the fortyseven ten-mile races, forty-four were accomplished under the hour, the quickest being run in 57 minutes 5 seconds. The tif teen-mile race was run on the Wagga Wagga racecourse, in 1 hour 29 minutes 7 seconds. The eighteen-mile race, at Orange, was run in 1 hour 45 minutes 14 seconds. The quickest five-mile race was run on last New Year's Day, on Gunnedah racecourse ; time, 26 minutes 14 seconds. The distance altogether rim in 1869 is 605 miles, and the time occupied was 59 hours 47 minutes. This performance far exceeds both Lang and Mills, the longdistance English champions, who, during their long career of seven years, have not accomplished one half the distance. Austin's best performance was on the Wagga Wagga racecourse, in July last, running fifteen miles in 1 hour 29 minutes 7 seconds, being only 45 seconds longer than the quickest time on record. Austin has been absent from this district about four months, during which time he has made a long tour to the North, having run various matches at Mnswellbrook, Taraworth, Nundle, Peel River Diggings, Gulligal, Gunnedah, and Narrabri. At the latter place he beat the celebrated' runner Frost in a five-mile .*ace, although be (Austin) had ridden on horseback sixty-five miles the same morning to reach the running ground. A challenge appears from Austin to run Bird, the champion English runner, and who is now in Melbourne, a race of ten miles, or twenty to fifty miles, for from LIOO to L2OO a-side. We shall be glad to see the challenge accepted, and we have no doubt that':Bird will have his work cut out for him to beat our young champion. He will find that running on the English turf is rather different to the Colonial."