Athletics

homeward stretch on the Ings was heavy going and, with Hobson striding out to win virtually unchallenged in the most creditable time of 23 mins. 27.6 secs., the order amongst the leaders underwent very little change.

Meanwhile, the Rise had, in customary fashion, been "packing" splendidly and, although their first runner was placed no higher than 8th, their No. 6 was placed 17th. This was too good for the Manor who had also done well. So the favourites for the Plate had indeed won and a very meritorious performance it was, too. Result :-

1. S. S. Hobson (G.); 2. C. D. M. Wood (M.); 3. Bygate (Q.); 4. Pfluger (G.); 5. M. L. Bywater (M.); 6. Middleton (S.H.); 7. Gibson (M.); 8. Hancock (R.); 9. Mathews (R.); 10. D. A. Wilson (S.H.); 11. Jose (R.); 12. R. R. Baldwin (R.). House Placings :Grove 1 4 22 23 26 27 Manor 2 5 7 13 24 25 Queen's 3 15 16 20 X28 31 Rise 8 9 11 12 14 17 School House 6 10 18 32 33 37 Temple 19 29 30 39 41 43 Total 103 76 113 71 136 201 Place 3rd 2nd 4th 1st 5th 6th

The 1957 season has gone a long way towards popularising athletics. Undoubtedly for many, "sport" must contain the necessary ingredient of a ball, whatever its colour, dimension or shape; for others, it may be, there is no "sport" without surrounding water; but whatever the "pros" or "cons" of athletics there is no denying it does set the stage for an admirable contest between Houses. Such has been the case this year. We also had the good weather without which it is difficult for athletics to gain popularity.

For most, athletics means "Standards", a form of training for the experts, and an admirable competition for the lesser lights. After 21 weeks of expended energy, much splendid endeavour and competition has been experienced, by many who can neither make their contribution nor gain any similar satisfaction throughout the whole year of "sport".

At the outset the track was soft, wet, and heavy, and provided very little encouragement for the unfit, but with every day that passed conditions improved, and never were they better than on Sports Day itself. The Standard's programme was once again pursued thoroughly 57

and exhaustively. For the first time for many years the Rise were deposed from their exalted position as leaders on Standards and had to remain content with second place to the Grove. The following excelled themselves by achieving maximum points in Standards :Set A : D. Pfluger (G.) and M. L. Bywater (M.); in Set B : J. B. Mathews (R.), S. S. Hobson (G.), J. A. Bygate (Q.), and R. T. Burdon (R.); in Set C : D. L. Slade (Q.) and J. J. Rhodes (S.H.); in Set D : C. Hermiston (G.); W. E. Jones (G.), J. G. C. Wheeler (G.), P. N. B. Smith (S.H.), and M. F. Grainger (T.); in Set E : R. G. Armstrong (M.) and P. G. Humpherson (T.).

The first of four new records was established prior to Sports Day in the Intermediate Mile race, when W. Mitchell (Q.) in a rousing finish defeated both S. S. Hobson (G.) and J. B. Mathews (R.) in the last five yards. Mitchell's time of 5 min. 4.0 secs. beat the previous record held by J. T. Ankers in 1949 by 4.2 sec., and only two yards separated the first three runners in this race. J. A. Bygate's success in the Senior Mile was a natural sequel to his success in the Intermediate Mile last year. The improvement in his time of 15.0 sec. emphasises the promise of his running.

Although conditions were chilly, the track remained good on Sports Day, and the Grove held an invaluable lead of 10 points over the Rise as a result of the completion of the Standards. Three further new School records were established, two more in Intermediate events and one in Junior. J. B. Mathews (R.) cut several seconds off the Intermediate Half Mile record, only established by R. R. Baldwin last year, and the Rise Intermediate Relay team also bettered by 1.6 sec. the previous best held by Temple in 1948. In the Junior event P. N. B. Smith (S.H.) eclipsed his previous Cricket Ball throwing record of last year by reaching 88 yards, more than six yards beyond last year's effort.

The decision to run the mile races in lanes proved a successful innovation.

In these as in many other events, times and performances compared favourably with recent years. Not least amongst these improvements, was the fact that, although the Senior High Jump was won at 5 ft. 2 in., no less than five competitors cleared 5 ft. 1 in.

Throughout the programme, competition had been intense. After nine events the Grove lost their lead to the Rise, only to re-establish and maintain the lead from the 11th event onwards. At the conclusion of a successful meeting Mrs. Dronfield kindly presented the Shield.

INTER-HOUSE ATHLETICS Saturday, 30th March, 1957

Points from Standards : Grove 200; Rise 190; Manor 182; Queen's 176; School House 172; Temple 158. Senior Mile : 1. Bygate (Q.); 2. C. D. M. Wood (M.); 3. Jose (R.) and Unwin (G.). Time : 4 min. 54.8 sec. Inter. Mile : 1. W. Mitchell (Q.); 2. Hobson (G.); 3. Mathews (R.); 4. Gale (R.). Time : 5 min. 4.0 sec. School Record.