PEDESTRIANISM.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 30, 26 May 1876, Page 2

PEDESTRIANISM.

AUSTRALIA V. ENGLAND. : By the s. s. Easby, which arrived yester-'; day morning, we have particulars of the; footrace between Watson, of Australia,!; and Hewitt, the English Champion, ran; at Maitland, N.S.W., on May 7. The; race was for £.200 ; distance, 200 yards, ,- The weather, through heavy rain, was; very unsuitable, making the ground bad' for running. There were probably 5,000'. people on the ground, who became rather impatient as the light began to fail, and the men made no of buaiiu s :■ until past; five o'clock, when on account of the wea-; ther it became very dark. There is no ■ doubt that the Maitland man was in splen-f did form, and looked the winner all over. He had the elastic step of an athlete ; but Hewitt appeared rather pale and anxious, was evidently nervous, and had not the condition of Watson. There was not much betting. A few frantic individuals were screaming out 70 to 40 on Watson, and as the starting time Crew near, increased the inducement by offering 700 to 300. at last 10 to 5, but they could not find parties willing to back the other side of the question. At about twenty minutes past five, the men, after a couple of feints, effected a start at the report of a pistol, when the Englishman, with his peculiarmethod of darting off, gained the ad van- 1

tage fit the jump, and led by about three or four yards for Ixo yards, when the Maitland man came up •with a rush, like a racehorse, collared and passed his opponent, winning by nearly a yard. ..Chronometer time, 20 1-lOtli seconds.