PEDESTRIANISM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4352, 2 March 1875, Page 2

PEDESTRIANISM.

The walking match between Ashton and Purdy took place yesterday afternoon, on the Basin Reserve, and resulted in the defeat of, Purdy, who after the third eventfrankly aoknow-' ledged his opponent to be the better man. This opinion is of course borne put by the results, but from the first it was apparent that Ashton, a younger man than Purdy, had the best of the business. He is, in short, a first-class walker, although of course a diminutive “star” compared to Wbodhouae or Lyell, of Victoria, from ; which colony Ashton hails. Purdy’s powers seem to be very much pn the wane, for lie has since his advent in Wellington cut a much! better figure than he did yesterday. When the men stripped for the first event neither seemed fit to do fast work. Purdy was, as usual, too fat to look formidable. Ashton, on the other hand, looked very thin and lathy, but he.showed a wonderful amount of substance and pluck in his “walks.” He has a surprising stride, too, which he put on in capital style when he wanted to pass Purdy, and when leading, as in, the three-mile event, for two miles straight .off, he kept up a killing pace |with dogged determination, and walked Purdy clean off his legs. Speaking of the events, there] is in reality little to be'said; In the one mile walk, Ashton, went Away, with the lead at a bound. Subsequently Purdy was allowed to go to the front, Ashton evidently shaping the race in this manner to asoertain accurately Purdy’s pace. When it suited him he went again to the .front and won, but was disqualified for breaking , out, of his stride towards the finish. Purdy was therefore 'accredited with the heat. In the next event, the two miles, Ashton walked away with the lead, cut it out at top .pace, and passed the winning post two-thiids ttf a lap m front of Purdy, who walked very pluckily throughout. The time for this event was given at . Iflmin. 52secs., : but there is no doubt this is a mistake, as the two miles were got over In very fast time. The three mile event* though a very '

hollow affair at the finish, was a splendid set to for the first two miles. From the fmst Ashton set himself to cutting Purdy down, and he so far carried out his purpose that Purdy at the end of two miles went along in a very tottering manner, and gave up the ghost ; though he kept going when he learned that Ashton was trying to “ lap ” him, and succeeded in preventing this being done. The first mile was walked in 7miu. 20Jsecs. ; the second in Smin. Usees. ; and the three miles in 21mm, SOJsecs, Though beaten, Purdy’s was a very creditable performance considering the great weight he had to carry compared to his opponent. A 150 yards handicap race was won by Delany.