1914-10-23al

“Perhaps there are thousands of Hamilton’s citizens who did not know that a race occurred this morning over the Herald course around the bay..”

Hamilton Herald.   October 23, 1914.

Just days after the official 1914 Herald Around the Bay road race, witnessed by thousands all along the course, another race over the same course took place to little notice :

“Nevertheless it occurred, and while the contestants were not running in an effort  to lower Duffy’s record, the men were walking for the championship of East Hamilton”¹

¹ “Walking Race”

Hamilton Herald. October 23, 1914.

The second around the bay race did not begin in front of the Herald Office near King and James streets in Hamilton’s downtown core, but at the corner of Little William street and Barton street east.

The winner was one of East Hamilton’s well-known characters of the day, John Brisbane, familiarly known as “Scotch John” :

“There was a fly in the ointment for while ‘Scotch John’ is the champion, he failed to cover the course in the time he thought himself capable of doing. He expected to finish inside of four hours, but took nearly five to accomplish the 19-mile race.”¹

The list of entrants in the second Herald Around the Bay road race was short. “Scotch John’s” only opponent was another well-known character in the east end, “Dinny” Davison :

“At least he (‘Scotch John’) finished, and that was more than ‘Dinny’ Davison did: the other entrant throwing up the sponge at the power house on the beach.

“It was a match race for $5 and the title, and ‘Scotch John’ got both, although lanky “Dinny’ is praying for a return match.”¹