(S (S (NP (BASENP (NNP Slim) (NNP Pickings)) (PRN (COMMA ,) (S (VP (VP (VBG leading) (BASENP (DT the) (NN race))) (PP (IN at) (BASENP (DT the) (JJ penultimate) (NN fence))))) (COMMA ,))) (VP (VBD was) (VP (VP (VBN overtaken) (PP (IN by) (BASENP (NNP Silver) (NNP Birch)))) (PP (IN on) (BASENP (DT the) (JJ last) (NN jump)))))) (PERIOD .))