Athletics and Football (extract)

IOO ATHLETICS Pelham and took the lead into the straight. Once well into the straight Hill made his effort, however,rushed past the pair, and took a lead of several yards. Then came the shouts for Elborough ; the championwas seen striding up to Hill, and a hundred yards from home he took the lead. Hill, however, ran with the greatest determination, and chased the winner home, being only beaten by about three yards. Half-a-dozen yards or so behind Hill came Slade, and about an equal dis­ tance behind Slade came Pelham, all four finishing within 2 minutes, Elborough's time being i min. 57^ sec.. Hill's 1 min. 58 sec., and Slade's and Pelham's a shade inside 1 min. 59 sec. and 2min. respectively. Here, as in other caseswhengoodmen meet, they serve to extend each other, and some fine perform­ ances are the result. In 1877 Elboroughwasbeaten at 1,000yards byC. Hazen- wood,a Northern runner, whoafterwards cameto London. The latter, like the others we have mentioned, although a fairmiler, wasonly first class at the medium distances. Of his powers whilestill a provincial runner many tales are told, and he is freely credited by some of his admirers with having done 1 min. 56 sec. or thereabouts in practice. He wasa small man, with by no means a taking style, and after he came to London certainlynever displayedany remarkable performance. We be­ lieve that whenhe defeatedElborough he wasbetter trained than any amateur beforeor since ; for, according to one enthusiastic admirer, he was so fit that his face and skin absolutelyshone. In 1881 when Myerspaid his first visit to England he met the best English cracks at half a mile at Stamford Bridge in June, and after forcingthe pace for three-quarters of the distance left the others as if standing still and won at his ease in 1 min. 56 sec. That Myerscould have knocked off a second or two from this record if pressed we have verylittle doubt, and his easy win was hardlywonderful. What is more wonderfulwas that the second and third men, S. H. Bakerand S. K. Holman, both sterling good runners, but who had never got within 2 minutes before, were so far ' pulled out' by having the pace