Athletics and Football (extract)

134 ATHLETICS Challenge Cups, no opponent being able to hold him. In 1877, however, he met Webster in the championship and suffered defeat; Webster finishing the seven miles in 53 min. 59I sec. Both men certainly walked fairly enough at the start, but Webster, who could undoubtedly walk both fast and fairly upon occasions, was in the habit when tiring of getting into a very jumpy action, although it was hard to say at any time that he had both feet off the ground at once. On this occasion, when he beat Venn, he was in our opinion by no means walking fairly; but, on the other hand, Venn, whowas making great efforts not to be outpaced, wasalso not going in the best of styles ; indeed, Venn's style was by this time rapidly deterio­ rating, and we have already stated our opinion that in the suc­ ceeding year, when he turned the tables on his opponent, both men were running under the nose of the referee of walking. The succeeding year (1879) did not see the pair meet, the L.A.C. men showing their opposition to a spring fixture by refraining from entering at Lillie Bridge, and Webster, who came up for the event, finished the full distance in 52 min. 34 sec., only 9 seconds slower than the time in whichVenn had won in the preceding year. At the summer championship at Lillie BridgeVenn walked over, and as he soon afterwards retired from the path the pair never met again. In 1880 Webster again competed for the championship, and finished an easy first, but after passingthe post the judges told him he was disqualified for unfair going, and awarded the race to the second man, G. P. Beckley. The decision naturallygave rise to some unpleasantness, and when the prizes were given away there was a noisydemonstration. A month or so later wesaw Webster win unchallenged the Three MileChampionship of the Northern counties at Southport, and took occasion to watch his style narrowly. His gait wascertainly not that of a walker,if the upper part of his body and hips only were looked at, as each step was undoubtedly a spring ; but as long as walking is to be judged solely by the criterion of there being always one foot on the ground, it must be admitted that when not