THE RACE WITH TIME.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 30, 29 March 1879, Page 2

THE RACE WITH TIME.

William Delaney, the Champion Long Distance Runner, on Wednesday, at Feilding, essayed to accomplish his feat of running ten miles within the hour. ' The course was staked off m a paddock close by the Denbigh Hotel, used «b the. Cricket Ground^ but although adapted for that purpose, it was hy no means an easy one upon which to accomplish the feat, the ground being hard and lumpy, and the laps necessarily short, as hut a small pdrtion m the centre oould be used. It had been intended that the race with Laing— Delaney against th» hpjise, for- fifty yards — should hare preceded the cither event, but it was decided that the: two races upon the same evening w«uld be too trying, and the struggle between man and beast was postponed. A few minutes past five. Delaney. appeared upon the ground, and Mr. Thomas McMahon having been appointed, starter* and Mr. Baillie judge, the runner toed the line. The course had been staked off m. a circle of Un chains three feet some inches, and Delaney would be, necessitated 'to make its round seventynine times, with a pprtion, of another lap._ At precisely 5.20 he starred off at a good pace, doing the first mUe m six minutes thirty seconds. The second 1 mile took forty seconds longer, being aucompj^ished m seven minutes ten seconds. The third mile, showed an increased falling off of ten seconds, or seven minutes twenty seconds for fee dia-. tance. In the fourth he put on, a spurt and covered the ground m five seconds less, or | seven minutes fifteen seconds; but, the \ effort appeared to distress him, and m the ' fifth he lost considerably more than he had ' previously gained, that mile taking) seven minutes forty-fire seconds. The sixth occupied eight minutes ten seconds, and it then beoame. apparent beyond a doubt that the race was lost and Time the winner; nevertheless, although appearing to labor dreadfully, Delaney gamely struggled on, and putting on a spurt, he covered th© seventh mile m seven minutes thirty seconds, or forty seconds less than the preceding one. It was then seen that as he had three miles to go, and hut nine minute* to accomplish them, it was a moral impossibility to do so. ; When the eight mile was finished, m, eight ' minutes ten seconds, he went twp lapa round, reaching the post exa-tly as the time pired. / Instead, therefore, of the ten miles, the distance covered was just eight miles and a quarter. Delaney appeared much distressed, and although he rah gamely until the expiration of the tin\e, he must have knowm from the starting of the fifth mile that he ' cotiid neveas accomplish; the feat>;in the time. However, it mu,st be conceded that the ground was not. favorable, and beside, he must hfiire. been considerably worried by the stupid attempts of a number of those present, who, would persist in,keep-t ing him company m his rounds, although he had said -distinctly before starting that he did not want anyone do ao excejijb hia trainer. However, such Billy meddle^ only made themselves laughing-stocks for .those present, as Delaney whenever he. chose would put on steam and leave them puffing m th« rear. The race was witnessed by about three hundred people, but ajtjhpugls, they were supposed to -have paid a shilling each, we regret to say a considerable number meanly gained admittance otherwise, than by payment of the required shilling. Although certainly Delaney looked m condition, and stripped well,, it was (juite evident that he could not havje,been m proper •form, as after knocking off he became quite, faint, andhad to 'be supported. Besides, it will ba seen that he took thirty-six minutes to run. the first five, miles, while, as is well • known, he covered that distance m W.anganui m twenty-seven . minutes and a half, or half a minute, under the time m which he had backed himself. Although he looks well) when stripped, we must confess we do not admire, his style, and the manner m which he keeps his hands open, and allows them to dangle about, is neither pleasing to look at nor>effective,i and certainly must be a hindrance, rather than a Kelp~ to progression. Why he. should dp so we> cannot divine, as decidedly the. orthodox manner is. with the fist closed, and (jbe arms m position. Still, notwithstanding his failure. ijUfc/WTednesday, we" woujd. npj; be suspfcisqd to see him accomplish his task, which ceriainjy is no mean one, as persons could iu<dge:of^its, difficulty when they consider the rattling pace at which Delaney. appeared tp go, and still failed by such a very large, amount., [Since the above was m type w«. learn that, he is confined to bed from a swollen leg, the effects of an old accident, and it is more than possible that that had much to do with hia failure.] On Thursday evening Delaney had two! oontests of fifty yards each against a halfcaste, named Laing, on horseback. The' first event was for £10 a-side, and the-se-oond for . £5. Delaney won : the first event easily, having, gone off with a good start ; but m the second contest Laing and his Pegasus distanced their opponent' with even I greater ease, which caused a great deal of chaff to be scattered upon Delaney by a ; number of Maoris who had collected to ' witness the exeitine contest.