THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONS.

Observer, Volume 4, Issue 81, 1 April 1882, Page 36

THE AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONS.

The following record of the performances, &c, of these famous pedestrians will, in view of their appearence at the Domain to-morrow, be of interest to our readers: — Joseph O'Brien is a native of Woodend, Victoria, and is 24 years of age, 5 foot 9 in height, and when in thorough form runs at nine stone. No man in so short a time has made so brilliant a reputation. Commencing his career barely three years ago, he has since then met and defeated all the best men in Australia, at distances from half-a-mile to ten, never having yet been defeated in 35 races in which he has competed — from scratch on all occasions. His greatest ambition is to measure pace with the cracks of the old country, notably Cummins and Puddle, for which contest his Australian friends are confident of success. He is universally admitted to be superior to any long-distance runner the colonies have ever seen, and by his quiet unasuining manner, has done a great deal towards raising the standard of pedestrianism in the cjolonies. His notable wins are : Half-mile at Kyneton, 4 times ; one-mile Ballarat, 3 times j miles at G-eelong, Sandhurst, Melbourne, and at Ballarat, three times ; mile at Stawell ; matches against Harrison and Roberts ; miles at Birreguira, Pleasant Creek, Dunedin, Timaru, Christchurch, Wellington ; and 14 minor events. ' William Freeman is a native of Collingwood, aged 27, height sft. sin., and runs at ten stone. He has, for many years, been champion at all distance up to quarter-of -a-niile. He is a very pretty runner, doing all his work forward, and is noticed for his unflinching gameness — having won many of his races on the post. His chief wins are : Grand Intercolonial Handicap, Druids Cup, Stawell Cup, Ballarat Christmas Grift, Williamstown Cup, Eitzroy Handicap, Cricket Club Handicap, Kyneton-Sheffield Handicap, Birregura Handicap, Carlton Cup, Eight Hours Pete Handicap, Melbourne Pootball Sports Handicaps and 27 minor eventsr John O'Connor, the genial Jack, is a native of County Clare, and is too well known to need much comment. He has greatly improved on his previous form, and is the champion from 1 to 50 miles in Australia; having met and defeated all the best men in Australia, and cut all previous recorded times. He won 47 races in New Zealand, and in Australia beat Cann for the championship, and won 27 .contests at all distances.

" Gfeorge, where do you' buy your £3 10s Waltham watches ?" " Why, atF. H. Lowisson's, jeweller, Queen-street, who takes off 3s 6d for cash." All in good going order in the window, " Oh, odoriferous, splendiferous, comankismeriferous William," murmured a scrumptious gusher the other evening, "does Love's sweet tide irrigate your soul?, William took a long-sleever to irrigate his thorax, and replied ala Sims Eeeves : — , . " Oh, come to your William's arms, With lovo his heart now shoots ; Come into the garden, Maud, And put on your William's boots." But William's boots were too large—he had a foot nearly as big as Mr H. ; so he trotted heir off to Messrs . Garrett Bros., of Wakefield-street, and bought her a. pair of Balmorals, made, only as that well-known firm pan make them, for this firm turn out the best work in Auckland. „ . . -. :<. : ... :