Athletics and Football (extract)

WALKING AND WALKERS 133 of Knotty Ash, a representativeof yet another class of the ath­ letic community. Webster,like the greater part of the Northern amateurs of the past and present day, was of the artisan class, and beforehe wasseen in the South, rumours of his fame as a walker reached the metropolitan athletes ; but in those days Southernerswho ran on carefully measuredcinder-tracks used to be verysceptical of the fast times alleged to have been done byprovincial runners upon grass tracks, or at unimportant meet­ ings. However, in the summer of 1874, Morgan had practical proofof the ability of the North­ ern walkersat the meeting held at Lurgan in the North of Ireland. Lurgan then had one of the most interesting meetingsof the year, as the Northerners, Southerners, and Irishmen often met there for the first time. In the walking race in 1874 Morganonlyfinished third, Webster being the winner, and Hughes of Liverpoolsecond, and an acrimonious controversy followed as to whether the judge had not been too lenient. Web­ ster, however, made no appear­ ance in the South till afterMorgan A fine free stl -ide. had retired and his place as champion had been taken by H. Venn, jun., whowas the best walker that the L.A.C. had produced since Rye's retirement. Venn first appeared on the path in 1875, and, although quite young,walked in irreproachablestyle, and witha fine free stride. Althoughslightly built and only of medium height, his staying powers seemed very great, and he walked very erect, and without a suspicionof a ' lift' when he first came out. He won the championship very early in 1876, and whenever he was in training was indulged with a walk over for the L.A.C.