HIGH SCHOOL STEEPLECHASE

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 16, 4 October 1929, Page 2

HIGH SCHOOL STEEPLECHASE

A TEST bF FITNESS EXCELLENT TIMES EEOISTERED f The Stratford Technical High Schools’ annual cross-country steeplechase was held yesterday. Tire senior event wa s won by F. Aitken, with a handicap of 2h minutes, and G. Bilkey, off 3£ minutes, was seconnd. A Bone, with 2 minutes, was third. Eric Jones, who started from scratch, won the Junior event. He was followed across the line hy Courley (scratch) and Symes (2 minutes), The senior fastest time of 24 minutes, 47 seconds was gained by M. Sutton, and the second fatest time of 24 minutes 438 seconds, was set up hy M. Grossman, who went off scratch. T. Boyle, who finished fifth, imputes 51 seconds. In the junior event the winner obtained fastest itrae, which was 25 minutes 45 seconds, taking seconds longer than the fastest runner in the senior division,, Cowley, off scratch, gained second fastest time with 26min IGsec.

THE COURSE. The course is an arduous one and a test of fitness in the competitors. It is full' of obstacles in the way of, creeks, fences, hedges, hills and swamps. On leaving the school the track goes over the Swansea Road bridge down, across paddocks intersected with hedges, to the bottom of Victoria Road. From here there is a hard swing across through swampy ground and over numerous hills to Warwick Road. , It is from there the hardest part begins, a s a large hill, that takes all the pace out of the runners, has to be climbed. From the bill is an easy run to where Swansea Road joins Warwick Road and the track runs from there along Swansea Road to the school, finishing across the hockey field. To see that each ruwner covered the track and did not cut (be corner, observers w r er,e placed atj intervals along the course, and each competitor had to give his name as he passed. The juniors 'left just before the seniors, and thirty-eight faced the starter, tt: J' JUNIOR RACE. Prom the observers’ reports it. seems that Jones, the scratch man, caught up four when about half a mile from the school. When he reached the next observer, about 2 mile s further on, he was leading Johnson, Foley, Tomason and Cowley. From there he held his position till the finish; Cowley, the second man home, dropped back and was lying fourth when about a mile from home. He picked up strongly, however, and finished, in splendid style. The junior event was marred j somewhat by one of the competitors, a boy named Butchart, hurting his ankle. The scratch men, Gibberd

ami Parfit, withdrew from the to help him hack to the school. OFFICIALS. The officials in charge were the teachers of the school. Mr H. C. Johnson was starter, Mr A. H. R. Amess judge, Mr F. Bowler timekeeper and Mr J. C. McDowall record keeper. DETAILS. The first ten to finish in each event were as follows, their handicaps and times also being given. Seniors, < F. Aitken (2imin) 25min 30sec, 1 ; G. Bilkey (3|min) 26min 37sec, 2. A. Bone (2min) 25min 45sec, 3; M. Sutton (imin) 24min 47sec, 4; T. Boyle (Imwi.) 24min 51sec, 5; G. Carrier (4min) 27min 52sec, 6; L. Anscombe (4inin) 2Sinin 7sec, 7, Roy Paul (2|min) 26min 47sec, 8; S. Manx (smin) 29min 23sec, 9; Psoel Cottier (4min) 28min 30sec, 10. Junior. E. Jonhs (scr.) 25min 45sec, 1; A. Cowley (scr.) 2Gmiu 16sec, 2i; S. Symes (2min) 28min I3sec, 3; Rl Nicholls (3min) 29mim 14sec, 4; A. Johnson (Sniin) 25min 35sec, 5; W. Foley (3rain) 29rain 50sec, 6; F. Thomason (2min) 2Smin 55sec, 7; J. Stewart (2min) 29min 14sec, 8; W. Tarrant (4min) 31min 21sec, 9; D. Malfroy (4mii\) 31min 30sec, 10. In the second event there were 30 starters off the following marks: One of the limit of smin, 5 off 4 min, 3 off SAmin, 3 off 3min, 8 off 2Jmin, 4 off 2min, 2 off- Imin, 4 off scratch. In the junior there were 38 starters off the following marks: Two off limit of smin 11 off 4min, 8 off 3£ min, 8 off 3min, 1 off 2min, 3 off limin, 5 off scratch.