Secondary School Athletic Standards.

The present boom in business has been reflected in the Secondary Schools of New Zealand by the number of senior boys who have left to take up positions.

This was expected to have an adverse effect on the standard of competition in the Secondary Schools' Athletic championships held at Wellington a few weeks ago. Strangely enough, the reverse was the result! No fewer than nine records were broken and a number were equalled. Records that had stood the test of years were unceremoniously broken by one, two or even three young athletes!

During the past twelve years I have seen all the leading Secondary School athletes in action in Wellington, but I have never seen one to impress me so much as did A. K. H. Brown, the Scots College hurdler. This lad covered the 3ft. hurdles in the 120 yards event in 15 sec. and hurdled like a champion born. If this athlete is not lost to competition—as so many are—I predict that he will develop into New Zealand's most famous hurdler. That's a big job, but I am confident Brown has the necessary qualifications.

Another athlete who took my eye was Bill Hocquard, of St. Patrick's College. This lad, only 15 years of age, cleared 5ft. 1 1/4in. without hitting the bar at any stage. Using the “western roll”—as yet far from perfect—he made easy work of each succeeding height as the bar rose to 5ft. 1 1/4in. to break the record by 2 inches. For a fortnight prior to the meeting, he had been laid up with a badly sprained ankle! Of such stuff are champions made!