Patrick Roachock

MR PADDY ROACHOCK. Residents of West Australia arc probably not aware that there is at present residing in their midst one of the best athletes that Australia can boast of [...] He can be seen [...] at Farmer & Imray's hostelry at Fremantle, and going by appearances one would imagine that he was not the Hercules that he has proved himself to be. Possessed of a genial disposition he makes friends with everyone, and [...] his quiet, unobtrusive manner gains him many admirers. It is Paddy's intention to settle in West Australia if inducements sufficient are offered [...] Such a man as Paddy we want in this colony, who will interest himself in football, rowing, cricket, or any other athletic sport, and if by chance he settles on our shores we may before long see established a successful athletic hall and a complete gymnasium. Paddy was born at Little River, Victoria, August 6th 1861, and being possessed of a vigorous disposition he was sent to Seners Hill College, South Australia, the intention being [...] to educate him for holy orders or perhaps for the Newspaper profession. However [...] his ambition was to shine as a superior constellation in the athletic horizon, and [...] he made his public debut in 1878 when he astonished everybody at running all distances laid down in the usual athletic programme. He was victorious in many races that year and capped all his previous performances by completing ten miles under an hour. [...] In 1880 he defeated P. Higgins, the champion pole leaper of South Australia clearing 11 feet 2 and 1/2 inches, and at hurdle racing this year he had no equals [...] On Monday 7 evening the public will have an opportunity of witnessing some of his physical feats with the Indian clubs, dumb bells and wrestling, and we are sure that a [...] novel entertainment [will be] given by this popular athlete in the Fremantle Town Hall. We want to know if Mr. Mason holds the championship [of something or other] of the colony and if anybody who can make more than nineteen in a break [...] If so we will produce our high pressure office-boy who is only an amateur and back him for a quart of Cheshire's best prawns.