The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-17

Although Charles Rankin. the gamey
little skater from Duluth, made good
/, showing with Norval Baptie at the
Dacotah ice rink last night, it was
nothing but Baptie all through and the
champion won the three heats with
ease. The largest crowd that ever at
tended an event of this kind in this
city was present and all showed their
appreciation of the good work done by
both contestants by the enthusiasm dis
played all through the different heats.
Tom Hill, the local harness maker,
started the contestants off and c. o.
MalOney, ]. w. Lyons and c. E. Kelly
were the judges. The following is the
progress Of the race as pulled off, by
heats:
First Heat.
The racers toed the scratch and got
OF the mark quickly. Rankin took the
lead and held it for five laps out Of
the nine which constitutes the half
mile on the local rink, when Baptie
forged to the lead and completed the
heat, winning by a half lap. Time /
minute IS seconds.
Second Heat.
The second heat was for mile and
the racers were off the scratch with
lightning speed. The lead between the
two was changed frequently, Baptie
holding it for a while and Rankin
changing it OFF occasionally. Baptie
took sudden squirt, however, toward
the last and won by almost lap.
Time minutes 6 seconds.
Third Heat.
The third heat, which was for two
miles, was by far the most interesting
of the three and for about half the
distance the two kept well together.
Rankin slipped and fell, however, tow
ard the last and Baptie gained full
lap on him. The last few laps of the
heat were made doubly interesting by
the worlds champion suddenly show
ing burst of speed which was reve-
lation to those who never saw men
who were fast on skates before. Bap-
tie won the third and last heat by fully
Z two laps. Time, 6 minutes % seconds.
The race as conducted was a clean
land sportsmanlike one and the follow
ers of the sport were given treat in
that line. Rankin, although a. Joung
skater, made a surprisingly good
showing considering the disadvantages
he raced under. He is used to a rink:
three or fourntimes as large as the
! local one and skated with pair of
borrowed skates. his own being broken
while practicihg.
Race Next Wednesday.
IN Immediately after the race Rankin
challenged the local half mile cham
( pion. Ted Schumacher, to race, which
challenge was Immediately accepted.
The two will race at the Dacotah Ice
rink next Wednesday night and the
race will be one mile, best two out Of
three. The races promises to be one
Of the, most interesting ever pulled
ON in the city, as the two are well
matched, both being In the class OF
champions OF their respective states.
On Friday Of next week Rankin and
Schumacher will also race at Duluth
under the same conditions. and on
some other date at Two Harbors, Mimi.
"A match race Is also being arranged
between Schumacher and Alroth,
champion Of Wisconsin and ex-cham-
pho NOT Minnesota. The race will sbs
pulled OF at Superior Il II can BE- ar
I ranged. 4 4, 81 81
BsRtie's Reeorrd. I'D Failure R.ess
This evening Norval Baptie, the
worlds champion, Will leave for st.
Paul. where he will race with Sinerud,
champion Of all Europe. for the worlds
championship! sinernd has been de-
feated by Baptie before, but thinks
I that there may be a fighting chance Is
|, winning out this time. These races
viii be pulled on On. the PAD. 2sd and
24th Of this month In the large rink at
ct. Paul. From st Paul the champion