MORE PEDESTRIAXISM 85 



while the craze lasted, not only did the " midinettes ' 

 of Paris take the walking mania severely, but the 

 waitresses of various London teashops performed ten- 

 mile wonders. 



On June 20th the gigantic " go-as-you-please ' 

 walking or running match to Brighton organised 

 by the Evening News took place, in that dismal weather 

 so generally associated, whatever the season of the 

 year, with sport on the Brighton Road. Two hundred 

 and thirty-eight competitors had entered, but only 

 ninety actually faced the starter at 5 o'clock a.m. 

 They were a very miscellaneous concourse of 

 professional and amateur " peds " ; some with training 

 and others with no discoverable athletic qualifications 

 at all ; some mere boys, many middle-aged, one in his 

 fifty-second year, and even one octogenarian of eighty- 

 five. Among them was a negro, F. W. Craig, known 

 to the music-halls by the poetic name of the " Coffee 

 Cooler " ; and labouring men, ostlers, and mechanics 

 of every type were of the number. It was as complete 

 a contrast from the Stock Exchange band as could 

 be well imagined. 



The wide difference in age, and the fitness and 

 unfitness of the many competitors, resulted in the race 

 being won by the foremost while the rearmost were 

 struggling fifteen miles behind. The intrepid 

 octogenarian was still wearily plodding on, twenty 

 miles from Brighton, six hours after the winner, Len 

 Hurst, had reached the Aquarium in the record time — 

 26 mins. 18 sees, better than Randall's best of May 6th, 

 1899 — of 6 hrs. 32 mins. Some amazing figures were 

 set up by the more youthful and incautious, who 

 reached Crovdon. 9^ miles, in 54 mins., but were 

 eventually worn down by those who were wise enough 

 to save themselves for the later stages. 



In the following August Miss M. Foster repeated 

 her ride of July 12th, 1897, and cycled to Brighton 

 and back, on this occasion, with motor-pacing, 

 reducing her former record to 5 hrs. 33 mins. 

 8 sees. 



