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On 5 April 1917, New Zealand athlete and distance walker Harry Alpe departed from Ashburton at a gradual strolling tempo, certain for Christchurch. His earlier document for strolling the identical distance, 87 kilometres, was 11 hours and 11 minutes, which was set when he walked from Hawarden to Christchurch in 1915. Harry was not an Ashburton native, however his departure from Ashburton for his 1917 stroll was closely attended, and folks waited with bated breath to see if he would beat his earlier document.
A charitable navy man
Harry Alpe was born about 1869. Early in life he toured New Zealand as one of many “Silbon Brothers,” acrobats and contortionists. Within the Eighteen Nineties he was a drive to be reckoned with amongst athletic circles, primarily within the North Island. He made a reputation for himself in strolling races in Taranaki and elsewhere, together with a 10-mile sweepstake stroll at Whanganui wherein he got here third. Based on an admirer of Harry’s, although he didn’t win that race, he gained the hearts of spectators by “his exhibition of gameness and truthful strolling.” After a profitable season on the Taranaki tracks, he volunteered for lively service within the 1899 – 1902 South African Battle.
After the battle, Harry grew to become well-known for doing charity distance walks. In 1915, his Hawarden to Christchurch stroll garnered loads of consideration from newspapers, the aim of which being to boost cash for the Veterans’ Dwelling Fund. That stroll was additionally an try to beat his earlier document of 12 hours.
The large stroll
His subsequent try to beat his personal document, strolling from Ashburton to Christchurch in 1917, was anticipated significantly as one in all a number of native occasions for “Troopers’ Day”. Based on the Guardian, a “massive quantity” of Ashburton residents assembled by the Somerset Resort on the morning of 5 April 1917 to see Harry off on his journey. The Guardian continues to explain the scene:
“His Worship the Mayor (Mr R Galbraith) congratulated Mr Alpe, who undertook the stroll with the intention to help in elevating funds for the erection of a Returned Troopers’ Dwelling at Christchurch. The Mayor stated he hoped Mr Alpe would achieve success in reducing his earlier document. On the invitation of the Mayor, cheers have been then given for the athlete.”
At 10:27 a.m., Harry Alpe departed “at a brisk stroll”, and was escorted out of city by a lot of cyclists. A number of girls and returned troopers collected cash for the charity whereas following him in a motor automobile. Because the nation was at battle, it might not have been a profitable or noteworthy gathering with out a militaristic speech, the honour of delivering which having gone to a Sergeant C. H. Morris, a returned soldier. After Harry set off, he addressed the remaining crowd, reminding them that Harry had served within the Military, and that navy coaching would have contributed to his athletic prowess. He then “suggested all those that may enlist to take action; he assured them that after a number of weeks in camp they’d really feel all the higher for it.”
Document damaged
Having departed at 10:27 a.m., Harry arrived at Rakaia at 2:50 p.m., Dunsandel at 4:46 p.m., Burnham at 6:13 p.m., and eventually he reached Christchurch at 10:30 p.m. His strolling time, presumably minus some breaks, was 10 hours and 51 minutes, beating his earlier document by 20 minutes. When he arrived at Cathedral Sq., he was given “a rousing reception.” About £70 or £80 (equal to about $7,000 – $12,000 at this time) was collected on the way in which from Ashburton by the motorised cash collectors that adopted him the entire method.
Harry continued to take part in charity distance walks, notably having additionally raised cash for Barnardo’s Houses in 1925. He handed away in 1934 at his Wellington residence on the age of 65.
Historic newspaper data from the Guardian, difficulty 4024 – 4026, Pahiatua Herald, difficulty 12638, Hawera Star, Vol. LIV.
CONTACT
Materials for this web page is co-ordinated by the Ashburton Artwork Gallery and Museum. Articles from different organisations are welcomed, as is any suggestions on what seems.
Electronic mail: [email protected]
Telephone: 307-7890
Copies of the images on this web page could also be accessible from the Ashburton Artwork Gallery and Museum.
By Connor Lysaght
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