Annual sports meeting, 11 May 1887

The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 May 1887 p 11:

SYDNEY HIGH SCHOOL AMATEUR ATHLETIC CLUB.

President: Mr. J. Coates. Committee: Messrs. R. L. Houston, N. Mackenzie, C. H. Cooke, J. F. Flashman, T. O'Byrne, C. P. Watt, C. M. Drew, and F. W. Doak. Referee : Mr. J. Coates. Judges : Messrs. T. B. Trebeck, W. C. Taylor, and G. Barbour. Timetakers: Messrs. J. G. Legge and C. Blumer. Referees for walking: Messrs. L. Stevenson, F. Bettison, and W. C. Shipway. Starter: Mr. J. F. Elphinstone. Hon. sec. : Mr. F. W. Doak.

The second annual sports meeting of the Sydney High School Athletic Club was held on Wednesday on the Association Cricket Ground. There was a very large attendance, not less than 5000 to 6000 people being present. The Naval Volunteer Artillery band rendered some very pleasing selections during the afternoon. There were 22 events on the programme, and they were all kept well up to time. C. P. Watt won the 100 yards championship of the school, and W. H. Wood, of the Sydney Grammar School, the 220 yards All Schools' Race. The All Schools' Mile Bicycle Handicap was carried off by P. Higgins, the Queen's School representative, and the 220 yards Handicap School Cup was appropriated by F. Lewis. F. Bettison, of the London Highgate Harriers' Club, broke Hardwick's Australian two-mile walking record of 15 minutes 15 seconds, accomplishing the distance in 15 minutes 13 1-5 seconds. One watch made the time 15 minutes 14 1/2seconds. The handicap in several of the events was very indifferent. The following is the programme of events:—

120 Yards, boys under 14.— First heat: W. Lewis, 12 yards, 1; A. B. Davies, 10, 2; Delohery, 16, 3. Second heat: James Garvin, 10 yards, 1 ; O. Nickless, 16, 2; G. Brentnall, 12, 3. Final: James Garvan, 1; G. Brentnall, 2. Time, 14 2-5 seconds. Won by a yard and a half.

100 Yards, Champion of School.—C. P. Watts 1; I. Cullen, 2 ; C. M. Drew, 3. Won by five yards. Time, 11 seconds.

150 Yards Handicap, boys under 16. First heat : A. B. Davies, 30 yards, 1; W. Morris, 26, 2; R. Saywell, 22, 3. Won by about 6 inches. Time, 16 1-5 seconds. Second heat: F. Lewis, 20 yards, 1; James Garvan, 28, 2; O. Nickless, 36, 3. Time 15 3/4 seconds. Won by 5 yards. Third heat: P. Parkes, 28 yards, 1; L. Booth, 12, 2; P. Gibson, 28, 3. Time, 16 seconds. Won by a foot. Final: F. Lewis, 1; James Garvan, 2; O. Nickless, 3. Won by a yard and a half. Time. 15 2-5 seconds.

220 Yards, All Schools--W. H. Wood (Sydney Grammar), 1 ; K. L. Street (Sydney Grammar), 2; C. P. Watt (Sydney High), 3. Time, 23 seconds. Won by about a yard.

100 Yards, scratch, under 15.— L. Booth, 1; F. Lewis, 2; W. Hopkins, 3. Time, 12 seconds. Won by a yard and a half.

All Schools' Mile Bicycle Handicap.— P. Higgins (Queen's), 50 yards, 1; W. I. Perry (Newington), 2. Time, 4 minutes 20 seconds. Won by about five yards.

150 Yards Open Handicap.—First heat: R. Dolby, 19 yards, 1; W. Morris, 30, 2 ; R. Saywell, 26, 3. Won by a couple of feet. Time, 16 seconds. Second heat: R. H. Beardsmore, 32 yards, 1; John Garvan, 28, 2; A. J. Flashman, 26; 3. Time, 15 1/2 seconds. Won by two yards. Final: R. H. Beardsmore, 1; R. Dolby, 2; W. Morris, 3. Time, 15 2-5 seconds. Won by about 3 yards.

120 Yards Hurdle Race.— J. Bull, scratch, and E. H. Quodling, 10 yards, were the only starters. Time, 19 seconds. Won by Bull by about 4 yards.

220 Yards Handicap School Cup (presented by Girls' High School). First heat: W. Suttor, 12 yards, 1; R. H. Beardsmore, 40, 2; C. P. Watt, scratch, 3. Time, 25 1-5 seconds. Won by two yards. Second heat: F. Lewis, 30 yards, 1; G. Brentnall, 45, 2; G. Seccombe, 32, 3. Time, 24 seconds. Won by three yards. Final: F. Lewis, 1; W. Suttor, 2; G. Seccombe, 3. Time, 24 1-5 seconds. Won by three yards.

Mile Walking Handicap.—Delohery, 350 yards, 1; A. M'Phee, 260, 2; T. Punch, 230, 3. Time, 8 minutes 54 seconds. Won by about 15 yards.

300 Yards Ex-students' Handicap.--A. J. Watts, 60 yards, 1; J. H. Toose, 15, 2; E. James, 35, 3. Time, 30 1-5 seconds. Won by nearly 20 yards. 440 Yards Open Handicap.--G. Wynne, 30 yards, 1; T. O'Byrne, 50, 2; A. M'Phee, 70, 3. Time, 47 1/2 seconds. Won by a yard.

F. Bettison, of the Highgate Harriers' (London) Club, then essayed to break the Australian two-mile record held by G. H. J. Hardwick--7 minutes 10 1/2 seconds for the first, and 15 minutes 15 seconds for the two miles. He failed for the first but accomplished the task for the two, increasing his pace in the second mile. His times for the quarter laps were—1st, 1 minute 40 seconds; 2nd, 3 minutes 38 seconds; 3rd, 5 minutes 37 seconds; 4th (mile), 7 minutes 34 3-5 seconds; 5th, 9 minutes 29 3-5 seconds; 6th, 11 minutes 26 1-5 seconds; 7th, 13 minutes 25 2-5 seconds; 8th (two miles), 15 minutes 13 1-5 seconds.

150 Yards Siamese Race.--C. P. Watt and T. Gunning, 1; J. F. Flashman and M. Cleve, 2. Time, 20 1/2 seconds.

880 Yards Handicap.—J. Houston, 160 yards, 1; E. Fisher, 120, 2. Time, 2 minutes 5 seconds. Won by 80 yards.

Three-mile Open Bicycle Handicap.—A. Kinnimont (Balmain), 340 yards, 1; J. F. Peers (Balmain), 490, 2; T. H. Betteridge (Suburban). 480, 3. Time, 9 minutes 40 seconds.

300 Yards Strangers' Handicap.— W. J. Macpherson (E. S. A. A. C), 4 1/2 yards, 1; T. J. Kelly (E. S. A. A. C.), 19, 2; A. Mardardy (A. A. A. C), 12 1/2, 3.

220 Yards Maiden Race.—T. Gunning, 1 ; M. Cleeve, 2. Won by about three yards.

This terminated the sports.

See also: The Daily Telegraph, 13 May 1887 p 6; Referee, 19 May 1887 p 7