FASTEST TIME ON RECORD. (Sporting Life.)

Waikato Times, Volume VII, Issue 367, 19 September 1874, Page 2

FASTEST TIME ON RECORD. (Sporting Life.)

Some SOOO people assembled at the Lillie biidge enclosure on the l&t June, the occasion being three miles walking match, for the championship and .£5O :t side, between Joseph Stockwell and William Perkins. There was a general expectation that something extraordinary in the way of time would be done, and that anticipation was amply realised. Stockwell, who is now thirty years of age, has been long before the public, having come out first of .ill in 1862, and for some years has been regarded as the fastest and one of the fairest walkers in England, his style, when once he settles down into his stride, being one that aspirants may well copy. His last match previous to that of Monday "was with Hurley, for the championship, in May last year, when he won. Perkins is only twenty-one years old, and stands sft 4in — 3in less than Stockwell. He gradually made his way to the front rank, and by his defeat of Hurley last March, established a right to challenge Stockwell for the championship, which the older man then held. At half-past six Mr E. Smiih, having been appointed referee, gave the signal for the men to go, and Stockwell dashed oft' with one of those tremenduous burts almost peculiar to him, Perkins, however, keeping close at his heels. After going about 100 yards, Perkins put on the steam, and, going with the utmost fairness, dashed right in front as they turned iuto the back-stretch, and soon was leading by a dozen yards. At the end of the first lap (three to the mile) Perkins was over twenty yauls ahead, going in magnificent style, and keeping up a cracking pace, and finished the first mile in the unprecedented time, of Gmin 25sec. Still gaining, he was between 70 and 80 yards ahead at the end of the second mile (time 13min 2Sisecs). Commencing the third, he drew still further ahead, but Stockwell now made a plucky effort, which had the effect of reducing the gap, though he failed to get quite up, and Perkins, getting away again, won by 50 yards, the tune for the whole distance being 20 mm 50 4-ssec — the best on record. Betting at the start was G to 4 on Stockwell.