Walking Match.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 167, 10 July 1888, Page 3

Walking Match.

PENFOLD V. HOOPER. Ab was predicted, Saturday night’s walking match between W. Penfold and F. Hooper excited a large amount of interest among local sports, there being about 250 spectators present. The line was toed at five minutes after eight, and just after starting Hooper took up the lead, keeping about half-a-dozen yards ahead of Penfold. This lead was kept up to the seventeenth lap (30 laps to the mile) in the first mile, when Penfold got ahead with about the same advance as Hooper held over him in the first seventeen laps. Ground was slowly gained by Penfold, but in the third lap in the second mile, Hooper came on him in magnificent style, receiving much applause from the spectators. He then slightly ?uickened his pace, as did also Penold, but no more ground was gained by either of the competitors. Hooper was twice again passed by Penfold during the evening, but did not allow the latter much of an advantage. At the end of the first hour, Hooper led by two laps, the score standing:— Hooper, 8 miles 4} laps ; Penfold, 7 miles 2 laps. The pace was now slackened a little, and it was very evident that both men were suffering from the effects of the fast pace they had taken. Penfold appeared very sore under foot, and Hooper, too, was evidently a little worn out in the legs, but both worked with great determination and gameness. At the end of an hour and a-hulf, Penfold remained in the same condition as he appeared at the end of the first nine miles, but Hoorer had overcome all his troubles and walked up again in fine style, many of those present who had seen a number of professional walkers remarking that without doubt Hooper was one of the prettiest and best walkers they had ever seen. Little of particular note took place during the next half hour, except that Hooper gained slowly on his opponent until within a quarter of an hour of time being called, when Penfold came up in good style, and gained on Hooper for the last time, the latter being still two laps ahead. During the last five minutes of the two hours, Hooper put on a spurt again, and passed Penfold twice, thus being four laps ahead at the finish of the race, which is thought by many to have been the best ever seen in Gisborne. The scores were then: — Hooper, 13 miles 8 laps ; Penfold, 13 miles 4 laps. At the close of the race the public were thanked for their attendance and it was remarked that all would agree that the race was a fair and honest one. This was greeted with rounds of applause by the audience, and three hearty cheers were given for the losing man Penfold, whose game struggle against odds was a matter of admiration. Three cheers for the winner also followed.