PEDESTRIANISM.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1200, 3 June 1872, Page 2

PEDESTRIANISM.

The foot races between Messrs Drake and P. Twohill for LIOO a-side were to have come off on Saturday last, but only one of the .three events was decided, and that in anything but a satisfactory manner. The racecourse was chosen as the " convinciog ground," and it was in splendid order. To reach it, however, ever, was another matter, and the pursuit of sport under greater difficulties has seldom been attempted. Along the whole, or nearly the whole route, the road was a succession of quagmires, vaijdng in depth from one toot to three, interspersed with,, good clayey tracks that only covered the boots of wayfarers. : There were no boats procurable, and all who were on pleasure bent had to wade through the above-men-tioned difficulties or stay at home. Notwithstanding these . difficulties fully four hundred persons were on the course, including some eight or nine ladies. On the ground there was one booth only, that under the grand stand, where Mr Sheedy dispensed creature comforts to visitors. These,' certainly, were wanted after the walk, or rather pl'inge. A greater lot of mud larks could not be well seen than were visible ou the course, the only consolation being that one could not laugh at another, the condition of all being alike. The absurdity, however, of fixing on the racecourse, when its approaches are considered, was manifest, and if those interested are wise they will run the two other events either on the Police Reserve or some other place, near town, for most assuredly those who had experiences of Saturday's journey will not venture the^ same again ur less very specially interested. This, however, is for the competitors and their backers to determine. As we have before stated, the ground when once reached was. in first-class order, but considerable delay after took place in scoring a scratch line and other preliminaries. Dr Morice was chosen starter, Messrs G. Belcher and J. JR. Welsh referees, and Mr Chamberlain judge. Apropos of the starting, we cannot help saying that it was anything but satisfactory, and the mode Adopted of letting the -men slairtr themselves ana tiring the pistol when they were away only, by no means proved a success. Possibly, however, it may be the orthodox manner according to "pedestrian rule ; if it be so, it did not answer in this instance. Owing to one delay or another it was a quarter past three o'clock before the men came to scratch, very little betting taking place in the interval. Of the two Twohill was the favorite, but we hardly think there were a dozen wagers laid altogether. The first race was 150 yards, but fully half an hour if not more was occupied in false starts, the competitors starting alternately as it were. After this dodging had been practised some time, the starter fired his pistol, and Drake forthwith made tracks at a rattling pace, but Twohill did not-get off at all, and Drake ran the distance alone. As a matter of course, a slight amount of " barney" resulted, but, as the starter declared it a start, the judge declared it a win, and thus terminated the first of the three events. By. this time nistht was drawing on, and though the competitors prepared themselves subsequently for the next race of 200 yards, the same difficulty in starting kept them employed for somet ime. Eventually, the starter drew the trigger of his pistol, but it snapped only, and the powder did not explode. Twohill, however, went off at score; and ran solus as Drako had done before. It seemed, however, that prior to the races commencing Dr Morice had specially told both Drake and Twohill that' if the pistol snapped only, and did not go off they were not to start, and thus, although Twohill did the distance, it was not scored as a win. This gave rise at first to some grumbling, but after explanation, it was clear that the starter was right. There were, therefore, two of the three events left undecided ; it was then far too late to think of running them off that night, and they were 1 necessarily postponed, and will come off torday on, as we have before suggested and hope, nearer ground. Both men were in splendid condition, Twohill particularly so. It is with great regret that we take exception to any portion of manly sports of this kind, but at the same time, for shame's sake, we must protest against the abominably' indecent manner in which the competitors appeared on the occasion. They were literally naked/ with the exception of a very minute piece of silk in front, a thin riband-like piece at the back, running from the waist downwards, and a pair of shoes. When Hewitt 'came out at Melbourne in similar undress the' committee of the sports compelled him to dress himself decently, aa far as a singlet and drawers woufc, and the same, ought certainly to he insisted on at any public match where ladies are, or can be present. There were several policemen on him the' ground, any one > oi whom, had either of' the competitors appeared in that state in, the street, 1 would have arrested him on the spot. The journey home had to be made in the dark nearly, and, as may well be imagined, the trials' and troubles of the road were doubled. Many an inverted blessing was pouredout out on the.authorities, and a more bedraggled lot ; of excursionists were never seen than those who, on Saturday last, returned to Greymouth, after " being at the races." • ' - r [Since the above was written, we believe that the competitors have arranged' to run off : tho events on the race-course to-day, at two o'clock.] "