"A COLLEGE MARATHON."

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 244, 12 October 1908, Page 6

"A COLLEGE MARATHON."

On Friday afternoon the annual "Marathon" Steeplechase of the King's College was run off over a course roughly estimated at a little over four g miles. The starting point was at the o foot of Mt. Wellington, and from there, li about a quarter of a mile along the C r_nmure-road towards St. Johns' Col- t lege, then turning into the paddocks- a skirting St. John's I__e, coming out at t the "Ladies' Mile," down through then race-course into Green-lane, then up p Vincent-road into Remuera-road, finish- v ing inside the College grounds. The 1 event created c__«_erable interest amengst the boys, and no less tnan 174 nominations were received, and of these Itß* went to the post. In these days of money-making, the a fact that such an entry had been re- » ceived would lead one to believe that a big prize was to be awarded the winner, but the contrary was the case, for the c only prize awarded was a bronze medal, 1 the intrinsic value of which would be 1 threepence, and it speaks volumes for the lads that so many should turn out to run for "honour and glory." The event counted in the aggregate for both the Senior and Junior Challenge Cups; Hill, Walker and Dickeson, the competitors for the former being on scratch, and J Clifford, Reid (2), Reed, Whitney 11., j! Farquhar and Gorrie the contestants for the latter, receiving 2J minutes. The sight as the 168 boys lined up at the start was a memorable one, the agss of the lads ranging from 8_ years up to about 18, and the ptucfc of the youngsters, whose handicaps ranged from 1.3 minutes down) in tackling the form idable task set them was something to be admired. Mr. Plugge, assisted by Mr. Stuck «y, officiated as starter, while at various c stages of the race, Messrs. Wilks, I_,_nn t and others were stationed to guide the 1 lads in their coarse. Mr. C. Major was ju<Jge and Mr. Collins timekeeper. i The start was made at thirty-seven -\ minutes past four, the first flag being reached in 3.57 3-5 sees., Burry leading, * being followed by Rainjer, Barripp, Fcr- * gusson and Dalton in that order. As the lads raced across the beautifhl green t paddocks round the lake, and headed d for the Ladies' Mile, they made a strik- J ing picture, the various coloured cos- ~ fumes showing brightly on the green 7 background. Crossing the Ladies' Mile, v/hich was reached just 31 mins. 41 sees. J after the limit boys had been despatch- j ed, Tole 11. was the leader, followed by < Sanderson, Michael, Colbeck, Adams and Brett, with Hill, who had made up his j ground rapidly, next, only 27 sees, behind j lhe leader, his time to this point being j 19 mm. 8 sees. Crossing the racecourse Hill took the lead, with Brett as his . immediate attendant, and the scratch ' man, running strongly to the finish, won . by 42 sees, from Brett, who ran gamely. ( Lamer was third, then followed Sanderfen, with Wilson and Hellaby a dead - heat next, Walker seventh, and Tole eighth. Hill's actual time for the distance was 29 mins. 34 sees, Brett's 34 mins. It! sees- Lanier's 34 mins. 51 sees, ancj Walker's, one of the scratch men, 33 mins. 4 sees. Dickeson, the other scratch man, finished a long way back. The performance of the winner, Hill, < was a most meritorious one, and he gives promises of developing into a firstclass distance runner. He received a . great reception as he finished from the 1 large crowd assembled at the gates, a ' reception which was well deserved. . The points scored fbr the Senior Cup i were: Hill 5, Walker 3, Dickeson 1; and for the Junior Cup: Clifford 5, Farquhar . 3, and Whitney 11. 1. ", l