SPORTS TOPICS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 225, 6 July 1939, Page 3

SPORTS TOPICS

ITEMS OF INTEREST.

CALENDAR FOR COMING EVENTS. Saturday— Rugby football competitions. Six-a-side women’s hockey tourney. Men’s hockey competitions. Basketball competitions. < Golf. Hunt at Elgin.

Outstanding Performance. An outstanding performance was registered by J. Henderson, snr., at the Takapuna Gun Club’s meeting recently, when lie shot 13 out of a possible 15 birds' in a trophy match. He is 70 years of age. A Golf Record.

To amass 41 points from scratch in a Stablefovd competition must surely be a record for that type of golf competition, says a Sydney writer. Jim Ferrier, Australian open and amateur champion, performed the feat at Manly, Sydney, recently. On a course parred at 72 his stroke round was 67. He dropped a stroke to par at the 240 yards 10th, but as compensation had six birdies, tlife other holes being got in par figures.

Heavily Backed Golfer. Bobby Locke, the 21-year-old . South African golfer, can claim to he the heaviest-backed player of all time, Not only have wealthy supporters of Locke backed him down to favouritism for the British open championship; next, month, but they have put up £ISOO for matches for him in the next two months. Through influential hacking, Locke has become one of "the biggest money-earners in golf since he turned professional about a year ago. He has three millionaires behind his golf engagements. Golf Balls Collide. The collision of two .golf balls in flight from different tees provided a unique happening at the Mirwillumbah course at Dunbiblo, New South Wales. L. P. McLean, hitting off from No. 7 toe, sliced across the front of No. 8 tee, from which Mrs C. Poolman drove a hall. McLean’s hall had travelled ICO yards and Mrs Poolman’s 12 v.-mls when they collided in mid-air.

Six Ordering-Offs. No fewer than six players were sent off the field by the referee, Mr T. J. McMahon, in a recent League football match in Sydney between the Eastern Suburbs and Canterbury-Bankstown senior teams. What promised to be a hard and fast contest was marred by heat among the players, and the referee not controlling the game with his usual discretion, says a Sydney writer. Blows were struck undoubtedly. But there was no reason why six men should have been sent off the field to leave depleted teams, 'shorn of combination, to play a game of football. The scrums became farcical with only the front row men participating. The rest were hacks. The League authorities suspended two men for one match, severely cautioned three others and dismissed the referee’s complaint against 11. Stehr, who'is well known to Aucklanders.

Brilliant Form. The consistently brilliant form shown by James Bruen was one of the outstanding features of the practice for the British amateur golf championship. The young Irish champion had a round of GO despite starting with a seven, being out of hounds at the first hole. In four successive practice rounds, Bruen returned scores of G 9, 69, 70, and 69. Indoor Bowling. A meeting of representatives from all indoor howling clubs and associations in Auckland was held recently for the purpose of making arrangements for an indoor howling tournament, to lie held during the 19-10 Centennial celebrations. The Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, was appointed patron. This tournament which will cater for open lours and pairs, will he the largest ol its kind ever conducted in New Zealand. It is estimated that well over 1000 players will be taking part, and arrangements

will be made to accommodate country players during their stay in Auckland. The preliminary rounds will he played off in four districts, North Shore, Onehunga, Western Suburbs and City. The finals will he decided in the Auckland Town Hall.

New . Golf Ball. Instead of having a new golf ball reduced in power, it is possible that soon we will'have one capable of going 30 yards further than the present standard ball. After years of heated argument as to whether the present highly resilient ball shotild be banned, informed opinion abroad suggests that no action is to be taken. For a while* it was confidently expected that the Royal and Ancient would follow the example of the United States and prescribe an official hall slightly larger, but of the same weight as the present one. Sir Guv Campbell, veteran international and writer, who favours a ball less lively than the present one, says: “Here is a general warning to all those nearly or remotely concerned. As .soon as there is an official declaration that no change is to be made, a ball carrying 30 yards further, for those able to hit it hard enough, will be put on the market. It’s existence is known. So now a battle for length will begin. And what then?”