GENERAL NEWS

THE PLUNKET: SHIELD LADY SWIMMER INJURED BRILLIANT YOUNG ATHLETE The Grafton senior cricket eleven will l>e strengthened in its next match by the inclusion ,of F. W. Byerley, a former Auckland representative. J3yerley recently underwent an operation, but lias now fully recovered. The Auckland representative cricket eleven will play its first Plunket Shield fixture against Wellington at the Basin Reserve on December 24, 20, 27 and 28. The other two Plunket Shield matches will ho played at Eden Park, against Otago on December 30, January 1, 2 and 8, and against Canterbury on January 5, 0, 8 and 0.

The new ISft V class boat, built by Mr. A. Couldrey for Mr. I?. 11. Auger, of Onehunga, was launched last Saturday. Tho vessel, which is somewhat similar to tho Jeanotto, will race and cruise on tho Manukau Harbour. The well-known C class keel yacht Vanitie, formerly owned by the late Mr. J. L. G. Clarke, has been purchased by Mr. O. Lawless.

Local amateur cyclists are well catered for I his season with tho meetings at Ellorslie each Monday evening, at Papatoetoo each Tuesday, tit Waikaraka Park on Wednesdays, and at Otahuhu on Thursdays, besides tho racing at 0 p.m. each Thursday evening at the Western Springs Stadium. Then on evory Saturday afternoon, when no other open meeting is scheduled, tho Lynndale Club will hold two open events for members of other clubs.

One of the most entertaining batsmen in Wanganui, when ho is in the mood, is G. Hook formerly of Auckland, and well-known Rugby five-eighths. In the first series of Wanganui competition matches recently, Hook made a brilliant century for United, the effort entitling liini to the first of the trophies awarded by Mr. It. E._ Cuthbertson, president of the Wanganui Cricket Association, for each century scored.

With two boundary hits for six runs a cricketer at Sydenham Park (Christchurch) last Saturday "bagged" tho window of a house and the roof of a car. Lho batsman was E. Iv. Phillips, who scored 50 for west Old Boys in a Suburban Association match against Railway. His score included four boundary shots for four and two for six. The first six was hit high over tho park railings and through tho window of a house on tho other side of Brougham Street, and tho second six landed on tho roof of a car parked near the house;

The Paeroa Golf Club, which for the past 30 years has .been playing on the Paeroa racecourse, has recently decided to lease another area of native land, situated on tho old Te Aroha road, and to lay out a now IS-holes course. The area leased is ideal for the purpose and provides ample room for a full course with undulating and flat fairways. There are one or two natural hazards, which will add to the advantages of the course. The club proposes proceeding with the lay-out immediately, and hopes to have at least a portion of the links ready for next season's play.

Auckland swimming enthusiasts will regret to learn that Miss Olga Smith, the Wellington swimmer who won the 220 yards national breaststroke championship at Dun-, edin ill 1930, is unlikely ,to take part in competitive swimming again. Late in 1937, she dislocated a shoulder, and a badly-torn > ligament still troubles her whenever sho attempts anything strenuous. Her doctor has expressed the opinion that the injury ' may take four years to mend. Miss Smith has turned her ! attention to coaching, and is at present in charge of the lady members of the Wellington Club.

The outstanding' senior athlete at the .Rongotal (Wellington) College sports was the powerfully-built, 18-year-old J. D. A'Court. His most impressive performance, among several fine efforts, was probably his shot putt record of 41ft lOin. He also ran a smart 100 yards, his time being 10s. A strong following wind, however, was a considerable factor iu tho making of the time. A'Court, who is the Wellington provincial junior sprint champion, is an excellent runner for a schoolboy, but hardly a 10s man. Just what his future development as a sprinter will be it is difficult to say. He appeals more as a field events prospect, than as a track runner, in spite of his present fine pace. He has all the physical requisites of tho firstrate weight performer.

G. D. Gilbert, captain of the Bradford Northern League Football Club's team, is shortly to return to his homo in New Zealand, states an English writer. Amicable arrangements have been made between club and player for the suspension of his contract (which has still two years to run) for the period of the war. Gilbert is anxious to return to his wife and family in New Zealand and it is expected that he will resume his agreement with Northern after hostilities havo ceased. Gilbert has proved a popular figure at Odsal. and the Bradford Northern ,directors wish to place on record their deep appreciation of the services he has rendered to tho club.

Although W. Whareaitu, the holder of the New Zealand 50 yards free-style record, and the Dominion's backstroke representative at the Empire Games in London in 1081,. has retired from active competition, it looks as though his name may bo kept prominent in swimming circles through the accession of his brother Kira Whareaitu, to ranks of sprint swimmers in Wellington. Kira is a particularly useful performer up to 100 yards, and, as there are few speedy men over the shorter distances in Wellington, his appearance in competition there will probably be welcomed. He has joined the Maranui Club, and during the coming season will make his "debut as a surf life-saver.

The resignation as secretary of tho Southland Boxing-Association of Mr. F. H. Hughes is a loss not only to tho sport in the south but to the Dominion as a' whole, for there are few, if any, more able executive officials associated with boxing, says a southern writer. His organisation of tho recent New Zealand championship meeting and previously of an Australian-New Zealand contest earned him wide acclaim. He has been responsible for many of tho bigger promotions undertaken by the Southland Boxing Association, and, coupled. with his administrative ability, there is a thorough knowledge of boxing.. He was manager of the New Zealand boxing team at the Ernpiro Games last year. It is to be hoped ho will not bo lost to the sport altogether.

Otago's Empire Games athletes continue to take a keen interest in athletics, both actively and on the administrative side. .A. R. Geddes, who ran as second string to C. H. Matthews, was married recently. He played cricket last summer hut intends to carry on his track activities this, season. T. Allen, who was troubled with a knee injury last summer, has started light training, . and intends trying to regain top form in the coming months. H. J. Tyrie, the New Zealand quarter-mile title-holder, appears to havo completely recovered from an injury received on the football field, 'while the other two Otago representatives—W. A. C. Pullar and Miss Betty Forbes—aro carrying on their athletic careers successfully in Masterton and in Oamarn respectively.

Novelty shoots of an interesting nature wero witnessed at. the Hamilton Gun Club's championship fixture recently, when two "driven game" events were held. The first of the novelty matches, which had previously been held by tho club, was one in which tho contestants stood. 15 yards in front of the trap house and, with their backs to tho trap, shot the clays as they came overhead. The contestants were not allowed to look around and could not sco the birds until they were on their downward flight. In the second novelty event the shooters stood 15 yards to tho right of tho trap house, and, without looking toward the trap, were required to shoot tho clays when they camo into tho line of vision. In each case only one barrel was allowed for each bird, and more accuracy than usual was called for.

Tho world's 21 hours cycling record will bo attacked by Hubert Opperman on Friday week, starting from Mount Gambier, South Australia. Opperman intends to. ride to Melbourne and then along the main highway toward •Sydney going as far as he possibly can in the 21 hours .Opperman is in firstclass form after a strenuous road season. Mrs. Valda Unthank, the Victorian woman endurance rider, Is another who is contemplating record attempts. Sho will first attack tho women's .101) miles record held by Miss ]>. Edney—o hours 8 minutes—within tho next fortnight, and then she will commence an attack.on the .women's week's riding record recently established by Miss Joyce Barry in Sydney—llo7 miles. Mrs. Unthank will ride over a course which embraces St. Kilda Road and Mordialloc and each round of the course is approximately 05 miles.

A minimum pate charge of a shilling, permitting it to tic less in the case of .servicemen and women and boys, litis been fixed for war-time Soccer games in England. Match receipts will be divided between the clubs on Cup-tie terms, and 2 per cent will bo claimed by the League mainly to meet the cost of the insurance of players. For each match the eleven players and one reserve are to receive not more than HOs each. It is also laid down that travelling expenses will not lie allowed in the case of home matches anil the payment of bonuses will be suspended. 1 'layers will bo permitted to play for another club within reasonable distanco of their homes or work by the consent of their own clubs, hut they will he debarred from taking part.in a recognised competition outside England and Wales. Each competition will bo mado up of clubs within a radius of 50 milet. .. .