Quits Boxing Ring, and Wins Staeell Gift

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 67, 10 June 1927, Page 6

Quits Boxing Ring, and Wins Staeell Gift

Young Queenslander’s Meteoric Career— VICTOR IN FAMOUS CLASSIC OF AUSTRALASIAN PEDESTIANISM The winner of this year’s Stawe2 Gift, the blue riband of Australasia! pedestrianism, was a young Queenslander. Tom Miles, who, up til] 1: months ago, took no interest at all in running. Miles, who is only 21, was keen to make a name for himself as a boxer, and entered a preliminary contest at the Brisbane Stadium last year. His enthusiasm for boxing, however, received a rude rebuff. He was knocks out and saw “stars.” That settled him. He was not cut out for boxing, Miles decided. Playing Rugby football in Bnndcberg. Miles began to show some speed. Some of the “old hands” persuaded him to take on running. Although “green." he ran a trial in four j’ards worse than “evens.” Before long, in a against L. C. Parker, Australasian amateur champion, he decisively defeated Parker, who is an old schoolmate of his. Young Miles then set his mind on winning the Stawell Gift, an ambitious programme for a nov ce. When He told some of his friends his intentions, one of them said: “It’s nearly 4,D00 miles there and back—be sure you have your return fare.” Miles not only made good his intention, but won so decisively as to set the old-timers singing his praises a? the biggest athletic “discovery” cf the year. Next summer, he proposes t r> compete in the big £I,OOO handicap Melbourne.—With acknowledgments -e Melbourne “Sporting Globe.”