GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1917, Page 6

GIRLS' HIGH SCHOOL.

THE ANNUAL SPORTS, ■ AN ENJOYABLE GATHERING. The New Plymouth Girls' High School annual sports meeting, which was postponed from November 1, was held on Saturday and proved a great success, the afternoon attendance being very large. Comfortable seating accommodation was provided along the well marked out courses. A more ambitious goal was aimed at than heretofore, and attained, the day being equally as pleasant from a social point of view as on former occasions. Tho first event was run off at 10 a.m. and the sports were continued till noon, when an adjournment was made till 2 p.m., the afternoon's events lasting till 4.43. The programme was so arranged that practically all the finals were decided after the luncheon interval. Forty-three events were decided during the day, which speaks well for the organisation of the staff and the senior girls. The athletic capabilities of the girls came as a pleasant surprise to visitors. This was especially so in the more important events, the 100 yards sprints, the senior and junior hurdles and the high jumps, The sprints were done in good time, and the five flights of 2ft. 6in. hurdles were tackled by both seniors and juniors in great style. Unfortunately the school was handicapped in having few hurdles, necessitating a large number of heats. The finals were very exciting and it was difficult to pick the placed competitors. The high and long jumps results were highly creditable performances. The neat school uniform lends itself well to healthy and unhampered exercise. As the sports gathering is more or less an innovation for the school, all the competitors started off the scratch mark and no times were taken, but next year will 1 probably see handicapped events and the first school times recorded. As it was, the competitors)entered into the spirit of the day enthusiastically, and those who were not successful in carrying off prizes had the satisfaction of knowing that they had helped materially in making the gathering a success. Valuable help was given by Messrs D'Arcy Robertson and E. P. Webster as judges, and senior boys of the High School worked willingly in marking off the grounds and attending to little matters during the day. Miss Clark capably and satisfactorily filled tho post of starter, and Miss Burrow that of recorder. Afternoon tea was dispensed in tho assembly hall by the girls, under the direction of Miss Drew. The hall was prettily decorated with roses. About £0 was realised, which amount will be devoted to the funds of the St. Dunstan's Hostel for blind soldiers and sailors. Miss Barr, the principal, is to be congratulated on the fine display given by her pupils. .Following are the results of the day's events and of the items, 4MO yards, senior and junior, and long jumps, which ivere decided previous to the sports: —

SACK EACE (10 entries). ' 1 First heat : O. pucker 1, B. Cartwriglit 2, ID. Brown 3. Second heat: M. Mills 1, N. Peach 2, L. Ovendon 3. Final: 0. Ducker 1, N. Peacli 2, M. Mills 3.

100 YARDS SENIOR (24 entries). First heat: M. Mills 1, M. Hawkes 2. Second heat: T. Burwell 1, E. Bullard 2. Third, heat: N. Collier 1, C. Terry 2., Final: M. Collier 3. A very close finish. 100 YARDS JUNIOR (18 «ntries). Ffrs.t heat: F. Cameron 1, M. Berridge '2. Second heat: M. Evans 1, A. Fookes 2. Third heat: I'. Stringer 1, M. Thomson B. Final: F. Cam?r°n 1, M. Berridge 2, P. Stringer 3. The placed girls ran very close together. 100 YARDS SENIOR HURDLES (23). Run in eight heats and semi-finals: E. Bullard 1, M. Mills 2, <}. Gibson 3. 100 YARDS JUNIOR HURDLES (26). Run in five lieats and semi-finals: M. Thonistm I, M. Evans 2. A close finish POTATO RACE (Senior), 20 entries. First heat: P. Brown 1, M. Brunette 2. -Second heat:, M. Johnson I, H. Wilson •2. Third heat: C. '.Musker 1, E. Mouat 2. ' M. Brunette 1, Sf. Johnson 2, P. Brown

' POTATO RACE (Junior), 14 entries. First 'heat: A. Collins 1, D. Gardner 2, C. Cuff 3. ' Second heat? M. Jflry 1; M. Kivelt 2, K. Smart 3. n ~ Final: -A. CoDins 1, M. Jury 2, M. Kivell 3.

POTATO RACE (under 13), 12 Series. First heat: M. Mawkefl 1, C. Greatbatch 2, P. Griffiths 3. Second heat: J. Ramson 1, If. ./summer 2, E. Smith 3. Final: J. Ramson 1, B. Sumner 2, ,M. Mawkes 3. SENIOR LONG JUMP (21 entries). M. Hawkes and J. Cassie (each lift. 4in.) 1, M. Mills (lift. 3Jin.) 3. JUNIOR. LONG JUMP. s M. Berridge and C. Cuff (eaelt 1 Iffrf 7in.) 1, M. Thomson (lift. 4in.) 3. THREAD NEEDLE RACE (38 entries). First heat: 11. Wilson and A. Fookes 1, M. Jury and M. Kivell 2, 0. Ducker and E. Ballantyne 3. Second heat: R. Bell and D. Brown 1, F. Evans and M. Hawkes 2, N. Dell and D. Leech 3. Final: O. Ducker«and E. Ballantyne 1, R. Bell and D. Brown 2, N. Dell and D. Leech 3. x SENIOR HIGH JUMP (14 entries). E. Bullard (3ft. llin.) 1, J. Cassie and F. iEva.ns (each 3ft. 10in.) 2. , JUNIOR HIGH JUMP. M. Berridge (3ft. llin.) 1, W. Dovrnes and V. Johns (each 3ft. lOin.) 2.

LONG JUMP (under 13), 10 entries. M. Olson (9f,t. 7iin.) 1, J. Ramson (9ft. 4in.) 2, H. Thomson (Bft. 4in.) S. THREE-LEGGED RACE (Senior), 22 entries. First heat: N. Collier and T. Burwell 1, H. Wilson and J. Caaßie 2. Second heat: C. Terry and P. Heal 1, A. Ewing and E. White 2. Final: N. Collier and T. Burwell 1, C. Terry and P. Heal 2, H. Wilson and J. Cassie 3. EGG AND SPOON RACE (20 entries). First heat: W. Downes 1, M. Walker 2. Second heat: E. White 1, D. Gardner 2. B. Third beat: J. Coolet 1.0. ®u«k«r 2, f

Final: E. White 1, W. Downes 2, M. Walker 3. SACK RACE (12 and under), 9 entries. 11. Thomson 1, M. 01 son 2, J. Ramson 3. EGG AND SPOON! (under 13), 12 entries. 13. Sumner 1, E, Smith 2, U. Thomson 3. I FORMS RE LA 7. A very closely contested race resulted: Form IV ,(G. Barnett, M. Brunette, M. Mills, M. Johnson) 1, Form VB (T. Burwell, P. Brown, N. Collier, J. fiassie) 2, Form VA (E. Bullard, F. Evans, C. Terry, M. Hawkes) 3.

TORTOISE BICYCLE RACE (14 entries). First heat: E. Ballantyne 1, M. Brunette 2. Second heat: W. Dowiles 1, D. Brown

Final: M. Brunette. Only one competitor finished. ,

THROWING CRICKET BALL (9 entries) M. C'assie (47yds. 4in.) 1, L. Ovendon (42yds. l'Oin.) 2, G. Barnett (41yds.) 3. All the competitors put up very good performances, though one or two of the balls went "wide." 50 YARDS WALK .(31 entries). First heat: Q. Gibson 1, L, Ovendon 2. Second heat: M. Brunette 1, G. Barnett 2.

'Third heat: A. Leslie 1, C, Miisker 2. Final: Q. Gibson 1, A. Leslie G. Barnett 3.

HIGH JUMP (under I3J, 6 entries. B, Sumner and E. Smith (3ft. 4Jijx.) 1, P. Griffiths (3ft. 3Jin.) 3.

JUNIOR THREE-LEGGED RACE (12). G. Hammond and F. Cameron 1, E. Campbell and R. Hempton 2, M. Berridge and P. Mason 3.

50 YARDS (under 13), 13 entries. J. Ramson 1, M. Okon 2, B. Sumner 3. 100 YARDS (under 13), 13 entries. B. Sumner 1, J. Ramson 2, M. Olson i THREE-LEGGED RACE (under 13), 8 entries. R. A. List and M. Mawkes 1, 13. Sumner and P. Griffiths 2, N. Palmer and C. Greatbatch 3. PETS RACE. First heat: P. Griffiths (setter) 1, 0. Ducker (White leghorn) 2, R. Day (calf) 3. Second heat: G. Barnett (collie) 1, L. Ovendon (spaniel) 2, Q. Gibson (terrier) 3. Final: Q, Gibson 1, L. Ovendon 2, G. Barnett 3. This race was one of tile features of the day. No pet ran a straight course by any means. In the first heat the dogs entered enthusiastically into the sport of the race—at the expense of the hen and the calf, but in the second heat they left them severely alone and won easily. Several pets refused to get off the mark, Whilst some of the canines evinced a desire for a scrap rather than for a race.

OBSTACLE RACE (49 entries). M. Brunette 1. M. Mills 2, N. Wilson 3. As the entry number was very large, the preliminary heats were run oil' before the sports, bringing the starters down to about a dozen. The course was fairly long, and included a sack race, a scramble through a canvas chute, a couple of wire fences, the unravelling of knots, a climb over a hanging net, an'l a sprint to the tape. The girls went through in great style, and their methods of tackling the net brought hearty applause and laughter. They simply jumped for the top, took hold as far down as t'liey could reach, and somersaulted to a heap of straw.

OLD GIRLS' RACE (13 entries). Mis 9 M. Thomson 1, Miss 11. Bullard 2, Miss M. Corkill 3. •' LITTLE VISITORS' RACE. A. Fargey 1, 11. Rawson 2, F. Northern and Roa Day 3. A big field of little folk entered, and were accorded much applause for their 30 yards dash. STAFF RACE. Miss Fainlufether 'l, Mfe Clark 21, Miss Burrow 3. Needless to say, this race was immensely popular. Very little distance separated the placed competitors. CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS. Points for the championships were allotted in the ratio of 5 for first, 3 for second, and' 1 for third place in the more important events. The results were: SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP (17 entries). M. Mills 14, E. feullard T. Burwell 8, J. Cassie 4, M. Ilawkes 4, F. Evans 2, Q. Gibson 1, N. Collier 1. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP (11 entries). M. Berridge 12, F. Cameron 10, M. Thomson 6, C. Cuff 4, M. Evans 3, M. Cassie 3, V. Johns 2, P. Stringer 1.

PREPARATORY CHAMPIONSHIP (12 years and under) 11 entries.

B. Sumner 12, J. Ramson 11, M. Olson 6, lE. Smith 5, P. Griffiths 1, H. Thomson 1.

The championship trophies and prizes wiTe donated by friends and ex-pupils pf the school, and will be presented at the annual break-up next month. A complete list of donors will be found in the school magazine, which is now in the printers' hands and will be released later this month.