Annual sports meeting, 2 May 1894

Referee, 9 May 1894, p 3:

The ninth annual sports meeting of the Sydney High School, held on Wednesday last, was one of the most successful athletic gatherings I have attended for a long time past. The morning opened inauspiciously, but although the afternoon was cold and rather windy, the weather cleared up completely. Although the track was just a trifle on the heavy side, Ned Gregory had it in good order, and it is worth mentioning that he had so marked off the sprint tracks that the runners had the wind dead behind them. The headmaster. Mr. J. Coates, was an interested spectator only, and left the management of affairs to his assistant masters and some of the bigger scholars, who worked hard and successfully. Mr. Coombes, of the Sydney Harriers and S.A.W.C., assisting them in judging the walking. Mr. J. F. Elphinston again officiated as starter, Messrs. T. B. Trebeck, W. Crompton and W. Holmes as judges, whilst W. H. Horton proved a courteous and hard-working secretary. In the open footraces Mr. Coombes held the gun, Mr. Spain acted as clerk of the course, Messrs. Rooney and Maddocks as judges, and Mr. W. Kerr as timekeeper. Last week I spoke about officials not being in their places at Parramatta, and the same state of affairs was noticeable at the High School. At the time appointed for the All-Schools Handicap and for heats of the open sprint, the only Association official on the ground was the starter, and he went to the tape end and also timed the races, whilst the gentleman who was starting the school events kindly took his place with the pistol. For the final heat of the sprint and the Open Mile the Association officials named were in their places, but the referee did not show up at all. I understand the judges were misinformed as to the exact hour their services were required, which accounts for their absence, but it's certainly high time the Association only requested gentlemen to take official positions who are sure of their ability to be present.

The Daily Telegraph, 3 May 1894, p 6:

Between 2000 and 3000 people were present. The band of the 2nd Infantry Regiment performed a musical programme in excellent style during the afternoon. 

The following are the results:—

100 Yards Champion, for boys under 15.— T. W. Lambert, 1; D. Butler, 2; V. Nathan, 3. 

100 Yards for the championship of the School.— S. M. Todhunter, 1; J. Chambers, 2; T. M. Lafferty, 3. Time. 10 2-3sec.

220 Yards All Schools Handicap.— T. Westgarth (S.G.S.), 1; T. de C. Lewis (C.S.), 2; H. MacMahon (S.G.S.), 3. Time, 23 4-5sec.

Egg and Spoon Race, 100yds.— J. A. Bulkeley, 1; E. W. Hobbs, 2; W. G. Forsyth. 3.

220 Yards Handicap, for boys under 15.— W. Russell, 1; J. Wason, 2; D. Butler, 3.

School Cup, 220yds.— T. M. Lafferty, 1; J. Chambers, 2; S. Teece, 3. Time, 24 3-5sec.

Siamese Handicap, 150yds.— S. Fletcher and W. Cumming, 1; H. Palmer and P. Sykes, 2.

Club Handicap, 880yds.— W. H. Horton, 1; G. Leaborn, 2.

Sack Race, 100yds.—E. W. Hobbs, 1; H. Palmer, 2. 

120 Yards Handicap, for boys under 14.— A. Smith, 1; J. Mason, 2.

Club Handicap, 150yds.—J. Chambers, 1; T. M. Lafferty, 2; S. A. Todhunter, 3. Time, 16sec.

Mile Walking Race.— A. M'Gregor, 1; E. W. Hobbs, 2; J. Wason, 3.

Obstacle Race, 440yds.— W. Pratt, 1; J. Chambers, 2; L. Fletcher, 3.

[100 Yards Open Handicap.— First heat : Q-. C. Griffin, 6 yards, 1; W. P. Humphries, 5 yards, 2. Second heat: A. H. Phillips, 6 yards, 1; P. J. O'Donnell, 4 yards, 2. Third heat: J. E. Humphries, 6 yards, 1; A. Davis, 5 yards, 2. Final heat: O'Donnell, 1; Griffin, 2; Phillips, 3. Time, 10 2-5 seconds.

Mile Walk. — A. M'Gregor, 80 yards, 1; E. W. Hobbs, 200 yards, 2; J. Wason, 170 yards, 3. Obstacle Race, 440 Yards.— W. Pratt, 20 yards, 1; J. Chambers, scratch, 2; L. Fletcher, scratch, 3.]

Bicycle Handicap, three miles.— E. C. Griffiths (Redfern B.C.), 485yds., 1; J. H. Murray (Sydney B.C.), 540yds., 2; A. F. Beaumont (Redfern B.C.), 450yds., 3. Other starters : W. L. Kerr (Sydney B.C.), Alph Brown (Suburban B.C.), George Wynne (Suburban B.C.), scratch; A. Brown (Suburban B.C.), 300yds.; J. Yarnton (N.S.W.C.U.), 450yds.; A. W. Robey (Sydney B.C.), 480yds.; T. H. Barkell (Sydney B.C.), 500yds.; E. Harris (Suburban B.C.), 520yds.; J. Pye (Parramatta B.C.), 530yds.; E. Millikin (Sydney B.C.), 530yds.; W. C. Wood (Parramatta B.C.), 580yds. George Wynne, being dissatisfied with his riding at Parramatta on Saturday, elected to come back to W. L. Kerr, on scratch, and Alph Brown followed suit. The real interest of the race was centred in the performance of the three scratch men, who kept well together throughout, Wynne winning after a stubborn race by a wheel. E. C. Griffiths, the real winner of the race, had a very easy task set him. 

The Daily Telegraph, 3 May 1894, p 6:

CYCLING.

AN EXCITING RACE.

The Bicycle Race yesterday at the High Schools' sports, on the Association Ground, was one of the best races between the scratch men that we have had for some time. Wynne, who was dissatisfied with his riding at Parramatta on Saturday last, determined to go back on scratch with Kerr, and Alphonso Brown did the same. Simpson, on account of business matters, was unable to start. The handicaps were altogether too much for the scratch men, but the feature of the race was the meeting of Kerr, Brown, and Wynne again from the one mark. When the pistol went off Wynne determined to make things merry, and the first half-mile was put in at a great rate, and they brought back the field splendidly, though they were still a lap behind. Kerr then took up the running, but at the mile Brown sidled away to the front, and shortly afterwards, while passing the pavilion, Harris, one of the competitors, fell, and Wynne had a narrow escape. Kerr, sprinting out, took Brown about 100yds. ahead of Wynne. The latter, however, plugged away, and in the eighth lap, with a brilliant dash, raced up to Kerr and Brown and passed them. The three men seemed to recognise that it was hopeless trying to catch the limit men, so they settled down to a race between themselves. When the bell rang the order was— Kerr, Brown, and Wynne. The two former sprinted away, and Wynne began to draw up on the outside. The excitement and cheering were great, and the pace was terrific. Racing past the scoring board Kerr was still ahead, and Wynne was slowly creeping up. It was a great race down past the terraces, and Wynne was up with Brown, and the pair were creeping up to Kerr. At the members' stand it was anyone's race, and the shouting and cheering were deafening. Seeing a wide opening on the inside, Wynne dashed through, and won a magnificent race by a wheel from Kerr, with Brown two lengths away. Wynne rode a New Howe machine, fitted with Palmer tyres. The result of the race adds considerable interest to future championship events, and it is to be hoped that the officials of the Cyclists Union will only allow men to start who have duly qualified themselves for the race.

The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser, 12 May 1894, p 976:

The start [of the bicycle handicap] was much too long for a grass track.

440 Yards Club Handicap.— T. M. Lafferty, 20 yards, 1; W. Cumming, 10 yards, 2; A. M'Gregor, 24 yards, 3. Time, 53 seconds.

Ex-students, 220 Yards. — First heat: D. Walker, 10 yards, 1; P. Wicks, 16 yards, 2: C. E. Morgan, 4 yards, 3. Time, 23 2-5 seconds. Second heat: J. G. Bissett, 14 yards, 1; G. Allison, 20 yards, 2; S. Humphery, 16 yards, 3. Time, 24 seconds. Final heat: Walker, 1; Allison, 2; Humphery, 3. Time, 23 3-5 seconds.

Mile Open Handicap.— P. V. Ambler [D.H.], 65 yards, 1; D. H. Monro [D.H.], 65 yards, 2; F. Hawley [D.H.], 10 yards, 3. Time, 4 minutes 48 1/2 seconds.

300 Yards Presentation Handicap.— T. M. Lafferty, 11 yards, 1; J. Chambers. 4 yards, 2.

Consolation Race. — V. Nathan, 1; Longmuir, 2.

See also: The Sydney Morning Herald, 3 May 1894, p 6; The Australian Star, 3 May 1894, p 8; Evening News, 3 May 1894, p 5; Referee, 9 May 1894, p 3.