PEDESTRIANISM AT FAIRLIE GREEK.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2414, 11 December 1880, Page 2

PEDESTRIANISM AT FAIRLIE GREEK.

The “ unemployed ” at Fairlic Creek had a grand racing festival all to themselves the other evening. The athletes were George Hancock, a noted fast runner, and John Lawry, a famous walkist. Exercise on the railway lino had brought them both into capital form, and as the event was of a novel character, the excitement among the pick and shovellers ran high. As Wednesday evening approached a betting mania set in, a number of books were made, and the infection spread among the surrounding settlers like measles. In consequence the convincing ground was patronised by all the “ unemployed,” and any number of cockatoos and ploughmen. Hancock had a mile course to run while Lawry had to walk three-quarters of a mile. The track was duly measured, and the men being placed in position, the pistol was fired at seven o’clock to the minute. The runner made a capital display, and amid cries of “ Go it, Georgia !” “ Well done legs!” “ Two to one on trotters!” he made a desperate effort to overtake “ Jack-the-Lad.” The latter was, however, the favorite with the crowd, and as he travelled along, heeling and toeing the ground with the utmost fairness, lie was sprinkled occasionally with something stronger than lemonade, “just to keep the dust down.” Amid yells of excitement from all sides, Lawry breasted the tape just two yards in advance of his opponent.