SPORTS DAY 4

At last they were really away ! Monroe led; but Livingstone overtook him ; our man came up on the outside, caught Livingstone, stayed neck and neck, overtook him, and handed over first to the next man in his team. 

It was a perfect hand-over, and our man streaked off with the baton, gaining a good ten meters on the rest of the field, and keeping his lead until he handed over to the third man. 

Then, horror of horrors, our third man stumbled as he took over the baton, almost falling headlong. A gasp went up from the spectators as he recovered, half-stumbled again, then was off. 

The  Livingstone runner had gained on him, overtook him whist he was struggling to regain his balance, and was away round the track, leaving him a good five meters behind. 

Luckily our third man had  determination. Gritting his teeth, he pounded along behind his rival, putting every ounce of strength into the effort, gradually lessening the two of them ran, leaving the other two far behind, their legs going like pistons, their faces set and determined. It seemed it must be a draw. 

Then, five meters from the tape, our man pulled away, drew ahead, and broke the tape half a meter ahead of the Livingstone man !

Cheers burst out all round the field; our Captain ran up to offer a blazer to our hero and lead him away ; and the younger spectators tried to surge on the field too. 

The final results went up: "Aggrey 65 : Livingstone 64 : Wilberforce 40: Monroe 42" ; and we all gathered round for the presentation of the prizes. As our Captain took the shield and was carried shoulder-high from the field, I was as proud as if I, personally had earned that day's victory.'