Famous Fliers of the Cinder Track

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 103, 22 July 1927, Page 11

Famous Fliers of the Cinder Track

, OLD-TIME CHAMPIONS AN ENGLISH ESTIMATE ‘They run in all shapes.” This was originally said of racehorses, but it applies with equal truth to athletes (says Fred Parker in the English ‘‘Athletic News.”) We have seen running champions of all types—ranging from small and almost fragile-looking to the big and brawny specimen of humanity suggestive more of the heavyweight boxing title-holder than the path runner. Among sprint champions coming under the first-named category would be classed Reggie Walker, the South African, who won the Olympic Games sprint at Shepherd’s Bush in 1908, thus turning the tables on big Bobbie Kerr, the Canadian, who had beaten him for the A.A.A. sprint championship three weeks earier. STRENGTH AND STYLE Walker at that time was barely 19 years old, and weighed very little over 9 stone. There have been few, if any, smaller or lighter sprint champions than Reggie Walker. He was a quick beginner and a good finisher, but had the peculiar habit of appearing to falter during the middle portion of the short journey to the tape. I am inclined to think that this was largely due to nerves, for he was subject to a noticeable twitching about the eyes, particularly on the occasion of a big race. BRADLEY’S FINE FEAT Of a very different type was big Charlie Bradley, who won the 100 yards title four times in successive years. It was said he owed his successes to “sheer strength,” but he was a magnificent mover, and as, smart away from the mark as the nippiest of rivals. His best performance was at the 1893 championships—held at Northampton. Up to that time only Wharton. the West Indian runner with a style reminiscent of Harry Hutchens, had been credited with even time, and Bradley expressed his desire to “have a go for it.” It was pointed out that the track was slightly downhill, and the wind blowing in the same direction, circumstances which might nullify a record, if made. “Then,” said Bradley—he was resting on a sofa at the time—“l’ll run oop hill, and against the wind, if they'll let me; then no one can say owt against the time!” No one objecting, this was done, and Bradley recorded a sound ten seconds against both wind and incline. He beat the second man, H. T. Bell, the Australian medical student, who was always capable of 10 1-5 on a fair day, by five yards. THE BEST HUNDRED I have seen “events” beaten since then, but I still consider Charlie Bradley’s performance that day the best hundred yards I have ever seen run. And I have seen a good many. Big and strong as he was, Bradley could not stay more than a hundred. This was shown by his many meetings with A. R. Downer, for while that mercurial Scot only once managed to beat Bradley at 100, it was usually the other way round at 120 Next «to score four consecutive successes in the 100 yards championship was the Georgetown University athlete A. F. Duffey. He did lOsec “flat" each time. Comparatively short in stature. Duffey had great thigh development, and owed his speed as much to strength as many a bigger sprinter. “BILLINGSGATE” BEATEN It surprised me to see his trainer (Mike Murphy) make Duffey practice starts with a piece of worsted suspended across the track to prevent the runner from rising too quickly from the crouching start. I was far more surprised to hear the trainer conveying instructions to the University athlete in terms calculated to leave a Thames bargee or Billingsgate fish-porter pale with envy. Well, America is a democratic country. Another “four-timer” followed in J. W. Morton, the South Londoner, who annexed the 100 yards title 1904 to 1907. He, too, was of the big, strong type, and could stay but little over the five-score yards. Makes old linoleum like new, revives the colours. —K.P. Linoleum Reviver. 6