Athletics and Football (extract)

RUNNING AND RUNNERS 89 provincial runner, W. L. Clague, of Burslem,somewhat unex­ pectedly displayedin London an extraordinaryperformanceat a quarter-mile. Starting in a handicap at Lillie Bridge in 1873, in which he wasunable to get nearer than third, he undoubtedly covered his distance, untimed, in something well under 50 seconds. Clague originallymade his appearance as a hurdler, and, as a rule, in sprints and quarters used to be unable to beat J. C. Clegg, but at the time of which we speak, when he appeared in London, he struck us as one of the finest natural runners we ever saw. He was of medium height and weight, but ran withhis body low,and with the smallestpossible appear­ ance of effort,although his stride was verylong for his height, indeed the length of stride seemed in no way due to length of leg. He took long and easy bounds over the ground, and both in build and style of running was not unlike Cowie, although the latter had not that peculiar ease and lightfooted- ness which distinguishedClague. Unfortunately Clague never met Elborough, whowas the leading figure amongst amateur runners of short distances, during the three seasons of 1875, 1876, and 1877,and whoduring that time divided with Walter Slade, the miler, the reputation of being the most famous amateur upon the path. Elborough waswell above the medium height, being quite 5 ft. 10 in., and weighing, we believe,about 11 st. in training. Although not so strong physicallyas Colbeck, who must have been a couple of inches taller and a stone heavier, in his capacities he was a second Colbeck, as his long stride made him a sprinter hard to beat at 100 or 150 yards, and invincible at 220 or 300 yards. As a quarter-miler he had no one to extend him, and as, although he trained assiduously, he was somewhatfitful and fanciful in his appearance on the path, he did no performanceat this distance at all worthyof his repu­ tation. A line, however,can perhaps be drawn by collateral form which would showhis powers. In two quarter-mile races in twosuccessiveyears at the CivilServiceSports a handicap of sevenyards brought Elboroughand J. Shearman together. The