Pedestrianism in Australia
- Liz Hardie
Pedestrianism in Australia
Pedestrianism was a 19th-century form of competitive walking, often professional and funded by wagering, from which the modern sport of racewalking developed.
The first notable exponent of this long distance walking is generally considered to be Foster Powell (1734–93) who in 1773 walked 400 miles from London to York and back, and in 1788 walked 100 miles in 21 hours 35 minutes.[3][4] By the end of the 18th century, and especially with the growth of the popular press, feats of foot travel over great distances (similar to a modern Ultramarathon) gained attention, and were labelled "pedestrianism".
A popular goal was for competitors in long distance events to walk 100 miles in less than 24 hours, from which they earned the nickname "centurions". Enormous cash prizes were offered for the races and they were a popular activity for the press, crowds of working class spectators, and the betting public until the 1880s.
Interest in the sport, and the wagering that accompanied it, spread to the United States, Canada, and Australia in the 19th century. By the end of the 19th century, pedestrianism was largely displaced by the rise in modern spectator sports and by controversy involving rules, which limited its appeal as a source of wagering and led to its inclusion in the amateur athletics movement and eventually the creation of racewalking.
The sporting folks of Dubbo had a treat on the 18th Instant in the shape of a twelve-hours' walking match for a stake of £20 aside, between Thomas Meagher, of Bourke, and Patrick McDermott, of Dubbo. The conditions of the match were that the men should walk from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and whoever covered the most ground then to be the winner. Neither men had much time for preparation, it being only a fortnight since the match was made, so that the winner must be credited with having done a very fair performance. He stands 6ft high, has a capital chest, about 50 years of age, and has a thin and wiry appearance, while his opponent is 27 years younger and about the same height. Meagher is reported to br a regular old bushman who has spent the best part of his life in carrying his swag from one end to the other of New South Wales ; it being currently reported that his last performance was walking from Bourne to Dubbo, 300 miles, in six days, which, if true, in my opinion, outrivals tho great O'Leary's feats, for there is some difference between the inland roads of Australia and a made track in the Agricultural Hall at Islington. There were two rings to walk upon, tho outer one, which measured 275yds 2ft 6in, being chosen by Meagher, and McDermott's, which was the inner, 269yds. Tho start was made precisely at 7 o'clock, tho youthful walker going off at a smart pace, while tho old 'un was quite content with the usual bushman's swing. At 1 o'clock, six hours, M'Dermott had covered 31 miles 185 yards, the bushman only having placed 28 miles to his credit, and still going at tho pace he started. At half-past 2 M'Dermott. who had been, most injudiciously allowed by his friends to drink any quantity of water, together with brandy, sherry, and bread and meat, fainted, but his older opponent, who had partaken of a few raw eggs, now commenced to gain. After a quarter of an hour M'Dermott came on the track, and walked well, and, at 4 o'clock, was 800 yards ahead,- but the old 'un was not to be shaken off, and, at tbe end of tho next hour, had decreased it to 640, and. at 6, despite M'Dermott's spurt, was only 400, and doing his laps in two minutes. Soon after 6 M'Dermott was apparently beaten, and very soon his head fell towards his shoulders, his muscles collapsed, and he fell, on the course, after going 52 miles 6 furlongs 145 yards. Meagher, who was only 310. yards behind, kept going on at the old pace till a quarter to 7. when he eased off a Ittle, and at 7 o'clock had completed 366 laps-55 miles 1532 yards-amidst great cheering. According to report he was not muon distressed by his performance, for it is said he danced a hornpipe half an hour after, and was walking round the town at 10 o'clock; and then expressed his willingness to walk to Murrumbidgerie, fifteen miles off, if anyone would pay him a fiver about it. What makes the performance so good was the great heat of the day, the thermometer registering 136deg., of which the men had the full benefit. M'Dermott's performance of over 31 miles in six hours was no mean one on such a day, and he has since challenged to walk anyone living within eighty miles of Dubbo. It is said that Meagher was.only just off a."big spree," in fact was hardly right when he walked, and will back himself to walk 60 miles in twelve hours.