Athletics

Following upon a term of frustration for the Hockey club, Rugger club and other outdoor pursuits, Athletics cannot be said to have fared any better. In fact one has to go back a long way in the records to find years which compared equally as badly. 1947 was a memorable year when the severity of the winter provided opportunities only for winter sports, and no Athletics whatsoever was at any time contemplated. In 1951 Standards were completed but no Sports Day. In 1958, again Standards were held, but only the Jumping events of the final Sports Day programme—(memories of D. G. Macpherson's classic long jump record). 1963 was unique for the fact that no Standards could be held, but one week only of Athletics preceded a Spring-like Sports Day, and in 1964 only Standards could be held. The weather can undoubtedly be fickle at this time of year, but the case FOR Athletics in March was clearly stated in these columns a year ago. And so this year, with the Athletic season becoming completely bogged down after a mere 41 hours of the Standards programme, it can be said that we have never "had it so bad" since 1947. A situation which brought joy only to professional abstainers and lay-abouts.

Conditions had been grim, the track a soggy mess, and the unequal struggle was finally abandoned a week before the end of term. Ironically the track became fit for the first time on Sports Day and Sports Day alone. So for the second successive year the Bootham match was cancelled and one could not but help sympathise with the more talented ones, both Senior and Junior, who had already begun to show promise. It was left only to the long distance runners earlier in the term to demonstrate their prowess.

INTER-HOUSE CROSS-COUNTRY RACE

THE GOODBURN CUP

Monday, 10th February

Provided preparations had been made early enough (and it is no secret that the winning House team had formed the nucleus of their team at the end of the Christmas term), conditions for practice prior to the race had been reasonably good. The running of the race on the appointed day was however, very much in jeopardy, with overnight snow, frost and ice making conditions underfoot treacherous. Responsibility for the organisers was considerable and, only after astute assessment of the conditions and the necessity for a re-routing of the course, was the decision made to hold the race which proved successful.

RESULT

1 A. C. Dunn (M.), 2 T. P. Littlefield (S.H.), 3 R. M. E. Raley (R.), 4 E. R. Walker (Q.), 5 M. A. Cantrell (T.), 6 A. D. Penty (R.), 7 J. R. Lund (T.), 8 R. J. Hamilton-Williams (T.), 9 C. H. Noble (R.), 10 S. R. Bowen (Q.). Time: 22 min. 52.4 sec. (shortened course).

Dronfield Grove Manor Queen's Rise School House Temple

21 14 1 4 3 2 5 23 15 12 10 6 27 7 25 19 16 13 9 36 8

29 22 18 26 17 38 11 30 37 20 28 24 40 39

47 44 35 32 31 48 41 — — — — — — —

Total 175 151 102 113 90 191 111 — — — — — — — Place 6th 5th 2nd 4th 1st 7th 3rd