FOOT RACE BETWEEN SELBY AND FRANK WOODS.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1035, 11 February 1882, Page 2

FOOT RACE BETWEEN SELBY AND FRANK WOODS.

A FOOT «acy, to which a great deal of interest was attached, came off at the Newtown Park in Wellington lately, the competitors being Selby, the wellknown English cricketer, and Frank Woods, who has earned for himself the reputation of being the best sprint runner in the central parts of the colony. The former has lost no opportunity of pocketing a wager or two during his trarels. During his present trip round the world he came to Wellington unbeaten, but when he first came to New Zealand he was beaten by one of the brothers Frith, iu Christchurch, the best two out of three erents. On his arnral here a hint was immediately thrown out that Selby would not be averse to meet Woods for a good round figure, the distance to be 50yds, and the backers of the latter were not slow in taking the matter in hand. Woods was however, disinclined to start for such a short distance, and after various fruitless attempts to come to terms on tho distance mentioned. Woods offered to concede two yards in eighty, and run for £25 a-side. This offer was immediately accepted. The fact of such a cession having been made caused not a little surprise among sporting men, who thought that Selby ought to have made ir, especially as it is well known that Woods has not kept himself iu condition since New Year, and betting was, therefore, in favor of the visitor. About 300 persons assembled on the ground to witness the match. The men were not long in taking up their position, which was with their backs to the wind, Woods giving the word to start. A wonderfully good start was made, neither of the men either gaining or losing ground. At 50 yards, Selby's favorite distance, Woods bad made good the two yards which he had allowed to his opponent, and during the remainder of the distance he obtained a clear lead of three yards. The result was greeted with loud applause, Selby paying his opponent a compliment by remarking that he was a pedestrian of no mean order. The time is said to have been 8 l-sth secs. Mr IL Mace acted as referee.