TIMARU HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 2814, 29 September 1883, Page 2

TIMARU HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS.

Tim fourth annual athletic competition of the Timiru High School whs held yesterday, but we regret to say that the pleasure B'Hicipated fr.irn the meeting by the boy? and girl? Bnd their friends was Badly marred by an inclement siu'-wester that blew all tha afternoon so strongly nnd 80 ki'enly that the programme was almost of sheer necessity curtailed. The weather during the forenoon was not too suitiiblo, a strong nor'-wester blowing steadily, but. i his was warm, and did not muse much inconvenience About one o'cloct, h'-wi-vrr, during an interval for luncheon, the wind ner>d to 'he southward, and the utterncmn apurta were spoiled. The eronnd on which tie boya 1 games were held is ex..osed lo southerly winds, and spectators and competitors alike were chilled and rendered »o thoroughly uncomfortable, that everyone wis g ! ad when it was announced at balf-pait thro* that the programme would not be lurther proceedfd with. A lawn tennis tournament and a croquet competition were set down for the girla m tha afternoon, but it was impossible to pr.icend with them j probably these and the remainder of tha bnjs' sporte will be carried out on some Saturday before Bpefich Day, when all the prizes will be distributed. The attendance during the morning was larger than it has ever been before, giving promise of a very numerous attendance during the afternoon, but the change of weather prevented the fulfilment of this promise. Nevertheless, there were a good many ladiei and gentlemen present, and the manner m Trhioh they faced the keen wind showed that they took a great deal of interest m the game". Among the ganl lemon present were Mr Butter, Yen. Archdeacon Harper, Mev. W. Gillies, and Messrs J. Jackson and G. F. Clulee, members of the Board of Governors. The sports were managed by Messrs Steven, Miller and Catlan, members of the High school stiff, assisted by Messrs Clulee and H. Ford, whose experience as members of the lenior Athletic Club of South Canterburj enabled them to render efficient aid as judges, Mr Dawson, the Sector, exercising a general supervision, Mr Steven, atsi&ted bj a Committee cboien by the boys themielver, acted as bandicapper, and bis very difficult taskwat fairly achieved ; m eotne oases the bigger boys had too much advantage, bat m several instances smaller ones beat them. There were numerous competitors m most of the races, bub few for the jumps, The quarter mile race was a capital one, and the winner, Cook, ran m a rerj pretty ,tyle. The mile race wa» slio a very

good one. This was open to" old boys," and four old boys entered for it, but they wero not m condition, and though not too heavily handicapped could not hold their own with tbe youngsters who had been training. A striking feature m this race was the way Turnbull led the field all the way to the last twenty jards, the steady pace he inainlainrd from firs' to la^t was quite remarkable, and though be was beaten at tho post, the little wearer of tho blue and whito jersey dererved to win. Tho steeplechase was a tame nffair. This was the last event taken, and the boys had become so dispirited by tho cold, that out of a score who bad entered for it only fire started, and two of theso fell out farly m the race. The princip»l obstacle was a, water jump which was too wide to be clctred by any of Iho boys, and the wouther being so bitterly cold, a consideration for their health and comfort should have suggested that it be omitted. Tho three lads who ran tho rnce splashed through it, but they evidently did not like it. A half holiday was given at the Public School, and a number of children from this school being present m tha afternoon, a race was got up for their benefit which was very prettily won by Drummond. The jumping was very fair, but rather too much time was spent upon it. The pole jump was won by C. Mclatosli at 7ft 7in. He jumps very prettily indeed, and m a few years, if ho retains bis present style, may ba expected to come out well at the S.C A. A. Club's meetings. The competitors all appeared m costume, and some of them looked very ne»t indeed. It is worth mentioning that theso who wore ior>ae knickers looked much better than those wearing trunks after the manner of professionals. The following is the programme so far as carried out, with the narneß of the winners : — 100 Yards Race for boys under 12. Five competitors — B. Planto, Ist ; McKerrow, 2nd. Putting Stone, open to old boys. Eleven compet'tors — A Kay, Ist ; P. Cook, 2nd. 100 Yards Race for boys under 14. Thirteen competitors — W. late, Ist ; Drummorid, 2nd. High Jump for boys under 12. Five competitors—W. Coy, lft; R. Plaute and McKerrow, equal, 2nd. 100 Yards Race, open to old boy?. Nine competitors — P. Cook. Ist; A. Kay, 2nd. Sunning Long Jump for boys under 14. Four competitors— G. Jones, Ist ; C. Plnnte, 2nd. Pole Jump. Two competitors — 0. Mclntosb (7ft 7in), Ist ; A. B ( .urn, 2nd. Quarter-mile Race. Nineteen competitors—P. Cook, l.»t ; C. Mclnto?b, 2nd. Standing Long Jump for boys under 14— Cook, Ist ; Kay, 2nd. 100 Yards R a ™ for b^ys under 16. Fourteen competitors — Cook, let; Molntosu, 2nd. Running High Jump. Two competitors — Molntosh, Ist; Bourn, 2nd. Quarter-mile Hurdle Kaco. Ten competitors — Mclntoah, Ist ; Cotter, 2nd ; Cook, 3rd. Running High Jump for boys under 15. Four competitors — Cotter, Ist ; Gray, 2nd. Running L ng Jump. Four competitorsKay (13ft 6in), Ist ; Mclntosh, 2nd. One Mile Race, open to old boys. Nineteen competitors — McLean, Ist; Hennah, 2nd; Turnbull, 3rd. Quarter-mile Race, open to Public School boys. Ton competitors — Drummond, lit j Smith, 2nd ; Bull, 3rd. Sack Race. Three competitors — Cotter, Ist. Hop, Btep, and Jump, open to old boys. Four competitors — Cotter, Ist ; Kay, 2nd. Mile Steeplechase Handicap, for Ladies' Cup. Five competitors— Drummoud, lit ; Gray, 2nd ; Mnlntosh, 3rd. At the conclusion of the steeplechase tho winner was shouldered by his companions and carried to where tbo spectators wero assembled, and Mrs Haeeall presented to him a neat silver cup, m the name of the ladies of Timaru, aud expressed a hope that master Drummond would by and by be able to carry off tbe ladies' prize at the Bouth Canterbury Athletic Club'B sports by an exercise of tbe same courage and skill be bad just shown. Master Gruy, as U-t m the straight when tha steeplechase was won, was also shouldered and presented with a whip, Mrs Haesall encouraging him to strive to win tbe cap next year. Tbe Bector then called for three cheers for the ladies, which the boys gnve as heartily as their shivering would permit, and then three for tbe Rector. Tbe gathering then dispersed, everyoco being glad to escape further exposure to the bitter wind.