KING’S COLLEGE STEEPLECHASE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 168, 6 October 1927, Page 7

KING’S COLLEGE STEEPLECHASE

RECORD TIME ESTABLISHED Under excellent conditions, the first official record on the King’s College steeplechase course at Mangere was yesterday set up by R. Browne, who, running from scratch, covered the six miles in 35.38, beating the previous best time by 2.35. Boys numbering 171 passed the medical examination, and ranged from very small boys on the limit to the proved athletes on scratch. Races and paperchases over courses up to four miles over the surrounding country had been held during the past fortnight and all were prepared for the strenuous run. That the contestants had been well trained for the test wa sproved by the splendid manner in which they sprinted for the last 100 yards, a result largely attributable to systematic trainng in the shape of organised paper-chases, which have been held for weeks past. Not one boy showed signs of distress at the end of the journey. The course, which was approximately six miles, had been w r ell selected to provide an excellent variety of country. Included in the ground covered were Gray’s Hill, Beachlea Downs and the quarry, and the organisers are deeply indebted to Messrs. J. R. and O. Self for granting permission for the use of their grounds. Starting at the college grounds, a line across country was made for the quarry at Beachlea Downs, a run down the hill and returning to the college via Massey Road. THE RACE IN PROGRESS At the Papatoetoe end of Buckland Road, the limit men held the lead, Kent, Potts, Johnston 11., Glover 11., Brown V., passing in that order. Of the scratch men, Browne 1., Gould, Clarkson I. and Wallace held the advantage. At the quarry gates Kent still held the lead, closely followed by ThorneGeorge, 6m., Calvert 6m., and Darling 7m. Of the scretch men Browne I. had gained a quarter of a mile on Gould, Clarkson and Wallace. The hard going behind the quarry told on the limit men. Calvert 11., Darling and ThorneGeorge were still in the lead, with Browne improving his position all the time a quarter of a mile behind, followed at a distance by Gould and Clarkson. At the corner of Robertson Road Calvert 11., Darling, Thorne-George and Brockett were running together, four minutes ahead of Browne, who, going strong, was gaining on the leaders. Browne passed Calvert at Mangere East Hall, and finished very strongly in the exceptionally good time of 35.38. The previous best time was established by Urquhart in 1925, when he completed the course in 38.13. Brockett arirved next, three-quarters of a minute later to be closely followed by Darling, Calvert, Vokes-Dudgeon, the latter gaining second fastest time with 39.26. Clarkson registered third fastest time with 39.35. The first ten competitors to finish were: Browne, scr.; Brockett, 4min., Darby, 7m.; Calvert 11., 6m.; VokesDudgeon, lm.; Collins, 31m.: De Carteret, 5m.; Thorne-George, 6m.; T_'aterhouse, 21m.; Gwynne, 5m When a new competition is inaugurated in connection with the sport of the college, - miniature cup is presented to the mpetitor who registers the fastest time in the first five years of that competition being contested, and in this event Browne registered the fastest time for the steeplechase in its fifth time of running, and so establishes a new record for the school. For the future the cup* will be competed for annually.

SEDDON TECHNICAL COLLEGE EVENTS

The course at the annual crosscountry race of the Seddon Memorial Technical College yesterday afternoon was 3£ miles long and provided a strenuous test. The course started below St. Paul’s Church in Wynyard Road and led round the Domain Drive to Parnell, then circling the Inner Domain, down the hospital hill and finishing at the starting point. Of the seniors, A. Blow, scr., made the fastest time, finishing in 20.5, which compares favourably with secondary school performances. Williams and Gordon ran a dead heat for first in the senior event. Both were handicapped 4.5, and finished in the net time of 23.20. McLaren was third. In the junior event Lovatt, 4m., was first, with a net time of 24.18; Sutherland, 4m., 24.25, was second, and J. L. Jones, 3m. 155., 23.55, was third. Rogers from scratch put up the fastest time. 23.29.