WALKING CONTESTS AT THE QUEEN’S HALL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2193, 30 March 1880, Page 2

WALKING CONTESTS AT THE QUEEN’S HALL.

The walking contests at the Queen's Hall were well attended last evening. It was half-past eight before the men started for the first event, a three mile walking handicap for a silver medal, for winch six competitors entered. As the space at command was not sufficient to enable the pedestrians to start together they walked in pairs. The first two wore Geaney and O’Brien, who started at scratch, and for a time Geaney seemed to have it all his own way, but O’Brien, who showed plenty of pluck, gradually crept up on his antagonist, and finally“ont-distanccd him altogether, finishing the distance alone. Time—2lH minutes. T. Clarke and K. Knights were the next to take the floor, Clarke conceding two laps to his adversary, which, however, he quickly recovered, and was two laps ahead at the 'finish. Time —271 minutes. Eoloy and Laurie, the two remaining competitors then started, Foley giving Laurie 400 yards start, and winning, the latter giving in. The final heat between the winners of the three events will bo walked off this evening. At ten minutes past ten p.m„ Hegarty, the Invercargill long - distance walker, started on his long walk of 113 miles in 24 hours. He maintainns an even pace, and shows plenty|of pluck and endurance. At 19 minutes past 13 o’clock, he had accomplished 14 miles of his allotted task, which he expects to finish shortly after ten p.m. this evening, when there will doubtless bo a large number of amateurs and others to witness the finish.