BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1922, Page 3

BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL.

| THE ANNUAL STEEPLECHASE. TWO GOOD CONTESTS. The annual steeplechase events in connection with the New Plymouth Boys’ High School were held at the Waiwakaiho golf links yesyesterday, the senior contest going to D. Robertson, who started off the Imin. 50sec. mark, and the junior to A. Field, last year’s winner, who had a start of 40sec. The day was very suitable for such a conclusive test of athletics, the sun being obscured, whilst a refreshing breeze, which the competitors had at their backs coming home, was blowing in from the sea. The arrangements made for the events were, as usual, complete in every detail, the masters acting as officials. There was a good attendance of parents and friends. Sixty-two competitors faced the starter in the junior steeplechase for boys under 14 years of age. One and a half minutes lapsed between the dispatch of the limit and scratch men, and soon the competitors were strung out across the green fields in a long white line, till they disappeared over the crest of a hill. On coining into view again one boy was seen to have a substantial lead, while four others followed at close intervals, after which the next score of competitors were bunched. Conjecture as to who the leader was remained unsolved till about half a mile from home, when field-glasses revealed that Field, last year’s winner, was in the lead and running well. This lead he maintained, and ran down the slope to the tape 18 seconds ahead of Grover, a scratch man. Three other, scratch men, Olsen, Roebuck and Bellringer, were close up, and finished in that order. From then on a steady stream of competitors came in till all had completed the course. For the senior event a big field of 230 boys lined up. The course, nearly four miles in length, followed a fairly straight line to the sea, thence traversed the beach for aDoui a mile, after which a tortuous elbow-llke course over a varied type of country was followed. The limit men had 2% minutes’ start over the seven scratch men. The long white trail of runners, after disappearing over the sand hills, were not sighted again till the rise ascending from the beach was reached, when one boy, running well, was seen to be well in the lead, with several others at varying distances lying further back, followed by a big bunch of other competitors. A mile from home the leader was identified as a young third form boy, Robertson, and it became evident that, barring accidents, he must run out the winner. Smith, the winner of the previous year, had started from scratch, and was espied lying fifth and striding out in fine style. He set out to overhaul the leaders, but Robertson was too far ahead, and won fairly easily. Smith, finishing strongly, succeeded in running into second place, both boys being hailed at the winning post with acclamation in recognition of their splendid effort. Gray was next, followed by Wilson, Richardson, Crawford, and others in a steady stream. Smith’s performance is a particularly meritorious one. He won the event in each of the two preceding years, gaining fastest time on the latter occasion, whilst yesterday, starting from scratch, Jie ran a sterling race, and succeeded in breaking his record by 58 3-ssec. over the same course. Field, the winner of the junior event, also deserves congratulations on winning the steeplechase for the second occasion. Details:— JUNIOR STEEPLECHASE. About one mile and three-quarters. A. Field (40sec), 13min Jjs.. 1 P. Grover (scr.), 12mfn. 38sec 2 H. Olson (scr.), 12min. 39sec 3 N. Roebuck (scr.), 12mln. 42sec 4 T. Bellringer (scr.), 12min. 55scc 5 H. Thompson (Imin. 30sec), 14mln. 30sec. 6 D. Jackson (Imin. 20sec.). 14min. 22sec. 7 L. Barlow (scr.), 13min. 3sec 8H. Law (Imin. 30sec.), 14min. 34sec 9 A. Reed (30sec.), 14mln 10 Gordon (40sec.). 14min. Usee 11 T. Bayly (40sec.), 14min. 12sec 12 A. Wilson (30sec.), 14min. 3sec 13 Buchanan (20sec.), 13min. 53sec 13 J. Hammond (lOsec.), 13niin. 43sec 13 McCann (scr.), 13min. 35sec 16 B. Cooke (scr.), 13min. 41s.ee. 17 D. Johns (scr.), 13min. 45sec 18 G. Simons (30sec.), 14min. 18sec 19 R. Mahraj (30sec.), 14ipin. 19scc 20 Fastest time.—Grover, 12mhl. 38sec., 1: Olson, 12mln. 39sec., 2: Roebuck, 12min. 42sec., 3; T. Bellringer, 12min. 55sec., 4. The previous year T. Bellringer gained fastest time with 13min. 51sec. SENIOR STEEPLECHASE. About three and three-quarter miles. D. Robertson (Imin. 50sec.), 25min. 20 2-ssec 1 E. Smith (scr.), 24inin. 20se'c 2 J. Grey (2imin ), 2Gmin. 30sec y.. 3 D. Wilson (30sec.). 25min, Isec 4 L. Richardson (Imin. 2(lsee.), 25min. 52sec. 5 D. Crawford (Imin.), |26min 0 Jackson Palmer (50sec.), 25min. 55sec. .. 7 W. Brewster (Imin. 30sec.), 26rnln. 45sec. 8 H. Knuckey (Imin.), 26min. 16sec. 9 R. Brewster (scr.), 25min. 30sec 10 K. Taylor (30min.), 26inin. Isec. .’ U W. A. Brodie (Imin. 20sec.), 26min. 53sec. 12 A. Christian (Imin. 20sec.), 27min 13 J. Brodie (20sec.), 2Gmin. 2sec 14 G. Morey (30sec.), 2Gmin. 15sec. 15 E. Brokenshire (30sec.), 26min. 23sec. .. 16 D. .Tillett (Imin.), 26min. 53sec 16 G. Sutherland (Imin.), 27min. Isec 18 R. Forsyth (Imin. 20sec.), 27min. 21see. 19 C. Jackson . (Imin. 50sec.), 27min. 52sec. 20 Then followed: Bree (Imin. 20sec), Tuffery (Imin. 50sec.), Insull (Imin. 30sec.), Julian (Imin. 50sec.), Strombom (Imin. 30s»?c.), Carter (Imin. 50sec.), Goldsworthy (2mln.), H. Hawkins (50sec.), Anthony (Imin. 50sec.), J. W. Thompson (Imin.). Fastest time.—E. G. Smith, 24min. 20sec., 1; D. Wilson, 25min. Isec., 2; D. Robertson, 25min. 20 2-ssec., 3; R. Brewster, 25min. 30sec., 4: L. Richardson, 25>min. 52sec., 5; Jackson Palmer. 25min. 55sec., 6; D. Crawford, 26min., 7; K. Taylor, 26min. Isec., 8; J. Brodie, 26min. 2sec., 9. The previous record time was Smith’s 25min. 18 3-ssec., made last, year, so that on this occasion Smith improved on this by 58 3-ssec. CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS. The steeplechases are run in connection with the championship events at the athletic sports, which take place on Saturday, October 28. The following gained points towards the championship as a result of yesterday’s events: Senior: R. Brewster 5, D. Mackay 3, L. Abbott 1. Junior: G. Sutherland 5, C. J. Collins 3, E. Mason 1. Under 14: J*. Grover 5, H. Olson 3, N. Roebuck 1. 4» Under 12: A. Field 5, O. Clarke 3, R. Cresswell 1. , Under 10: H. Thompson 5, T. Barlow 3, H. Law 1.