SPORT IN BRITAIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 249, 21 October 1933, Page 4 (Supplement)

SPORT IN BRITAIN.

Racing News —Football in Hot Weather —Boys' and Women's Golf —Some Cricket Incidents — Boxers and the Quest for Big Purses.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

Quite a deal of unusually interesting sporting chat is contained in this week's budget from our London correspondent. From racing, football, golf and cricket sources come points of more than usual interest to the devotee of sport, and in his boxing chat Mr. Eugene Corri discussed the point of view of present champions and near-champions in regard to purses, and shows that big purses, even in the rich times of ten to twenty years ago, only came after the boxers concerned had proved their merit over a period of years.

LONDON, August 31. RACING: A SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP. After Goodwood (writes our racing specialist) most of the- leading horses retire to their training quarters and are not seen in public again until the York meeting. Unfortunately, this famous racing festival began under conditions which did not encourage owners to risk their valuable horses. Not only was the heat sweltering, but the turf was so dry and hard that the hoofs of the runners pounded on the top, raising clouds of dust. There was, iowever, one exception. This was in the Nuntliorpe Sweepstakes, a five furlong weiglit-for-age championship test. Only three horses went to the post, but they were the champion sprinters Mvrobella, Lord Lonsdale s flying filly, Sir H. Cunliffe Owen s Concerto, and Lord Beatty's Gold Bridge. Myrobella had twice beaten Concerto over six furlongs, and the shorter distance in the Nuntliorpe Sweepstakes was thought to be even more in her favour. In the circumstances, it was not surprising that the bookmakers asked for edds of fifteen to eight. Gold Bridge started at three to one and Concerto at six. Curiously enough, the outsider was the winner. It was a magnificent race, and a wonderful spectacle, with the three rivals running shoulder to shoulder, and when the winning post was reached less than a yard separated them. The admirers of Myroibella were disappointed, and I am afraid they lost heavily. When a favourite loses so narrowly it is usual for excuses to be sought, or for some one to be blamed. Gordon Richards rode the filly, and if the race were to be re-run it might provide a different result, because I think other tactics would be adopted. In her all-conquering two-year-old days Myrobella ajways flashed away from the tape, and won her races almost as soon as they started. On this occasion Richards restrained her, acting, I believe, under his trainer's instructions, and Concerto was actually in the lead at the end of the first furlong. In the circumstances, the latter enjoyed an unexpected advantage in 'being allowed to settle down in a perfectly balanced fashion so early. There the York meeting must be left for the present, except to say that Richards lias now ridden 101 winners, and is up to schedule in his attempt to beat Fred Archer's record. His most recent success was on Col&stream on behalf of Lord Glanely, who has now won more in stakes than any other owner. His chief contributor to a total of £18,000 has been his unbeaten two-year-old Colombo. START OF FOOTBALL. Once more football has started in a blazing sun with the shade temperature in the eighties. It would he much better if there was a revision of the calendar, a fortnight being borrowed from cricket in May and the opening of the season delayed until the middle of September. The one thing against this is that the clubs would' lose the advantage of being able to play their matches in the even- / ings before the clock is put back. Everyone has sympathised with the player in having to perform in such intense heat, and on ground as hard as a macadam road. He has also had to run considerable risks of' injury, and the number of men who were' iiurt in the opening matches was disturbing. Indeed, it is not too much to say that the prospects of some of the clubs have already been affected by the loss of valuable players. The Arsenal, for instance, have suffered greviously. Five minutes after th» beginning of tlieir game with Birmingham, James, the star forward, had to go off with a badly damaged ankle. Later, Hulme, the international outside right, twisted his knee, and it is feared that both the players may be compelled to miss several games. In the circumstances, the Arsenal did exceedingly well in drawing with Birmingham. The sensation of the start was the startling defeat of Aston Vila, who, with their array of talented players, appeared all-powerful. To make the reverse the more astonishing, it was brought about by Leicester City, who last season were down at the bottom of the table most of the time, and only saved themselves on the last day. But under the abnormal conditions the first results are not a trustworthy guide to form, and great changes are likely to take place when tlis ground becomes softer. Meanwhile, I the two promoted clubs, Tottenham Hotspur and Stokg, have made a most encouraging start, and in the second division Fulham, by winning two games, have justified themselves as strong candidates for elevation to the senior class. Interest in the game has been as remarkable and as widespread as ever, three-quarters of a million people watching the start. In a few centres, however, there was no improvement on last season. This was specially _ notable in Sheffield and Huddersfield. Indeed, there were no more than 8000 people at the' hitter's match with Sunderland, and it is a mystery how they are ahle to carry J on so successfully. " * j BOY GOLF CHAMPION. The boys' golf championship .has developed into a big affair. Inaugurated thirteen years ago with a handful of players on an obscure course, this season's entry numbered 170, and it took place on the championship links at Carnoustie. It has also served ah excellent purpose in bringing out youths and fitting them for the more important senior competitions. For instance, six years ago the boy champion was Eric Fiddian, who has since captured the English championship and is a Walker Cup representative. I think the new boy champion, P. B. Lucas, may liave an equally distinguished career. At Carnoustie all the embryonic champions of Scotland were arrayed against him, but from the time ■ the first ball was struck it was apparent that he had a touch of class that none of his rivals possessed, and he went fairly easily through his matches to

r triumph in, tho thirty-six holes' final. His opponent in this was a 17-years-old Scottish boy named W. A. McLachlan, who, by some wonderful putting feats, held his own during the first round which finished all square, but was outplayed in the afternoon, the match coming to an end on the fifteenth green by four and three. It has often been said that boys should be kept out of competitive golf, that it is better that they should keep to cricket and football. In the case of Lucas I think it can be taken that it is his third sporting interest, for at Stowe school he is captain of both the cricket eleven and the Rugby fifteen. The eon of the late secretary of the Prince's Club, Sandwich, Lucas started hitting a ball about with a child's club, and in the meantime liis only golf has been during the school holidays. A lefthanded player, he has a handicap of scratch at the Sandy Lodge Club, London, and, as his success at Carnoustie suggests, he seems now to be on the threshold of a distinguished career if he decides to concentrate on the game. Women Golfers for South Africa. A strong British team of women golfers is to visit South Africa, but it is unfortunate that Miss Enid Wilson, the champion, has withdrawn from it. Miss Wilson some time ago announced that she did not intend to take part in any more competitive golf after this season. She has held the championship during the past three years, and with no new fields at home to conquer she was to retire after making one more attempt to win the American title. (Miss Wilson was eliminated in the U.S.A. semi-final.—Sports Editor.) The American championship has defied the attacks of all overseas players for 20 years. The last British player to win the event was Miss Gladys Ravenscroft, now Mrs. Temple Dobell. Miss Cecil Leitch failed, and this was Miss Wilson's third attempt to gain the prize. Before she left home Miss Wilson had promised to join the British team who are to visit South Africa. But she has already been a month in America, and I imagine that she is a little home sick. At any rate, she lias cabled that she will not be able to go to South Africa. To be away from home for a further five months is too long. The vacancy in the team is to be filled by Miss Diana Plumpton, who contested the final of the championship at Gleneagles with Miss Wilson, and she is a strong and excellent choice. Miss Plumpton is a comparative newcomer to first class competitive golf, but sin) has not only an easy and graceful style, but she is a most determined fighter, and. although South Africa may be disappointed that they are not to see Miss Wilson they will admire Miss Plumpton. The other members of the team are Miss Pentony, the Irish , champion, Miss Diana Fisliwick, Miss Molly Gourlay, and Miss Doris Chambers. i They are to play matches over a wide | area, and I think they will give a good account of themselves. Next season a team is to go to America to attempt to avenge the defeat sustained in this country a year ago. CURIOUS CRICKED INCIDENTS. It has been a wonderful season for cricket, but it is with relief to the players that the county championship is over and that they may now turn to the seaside holiday games which arc conducted in the festival spirit. As soon as they had made certain of the title it was evident that Yorkshire relaxed. First there was their gamble with Kent, when they audaciously declared when leading by only one rUn on the first innings. Next' they appeared at the Oval against Surrey without their fast bowler. To put them at a further disadvantage Macaulay was struck on the knee by a' ball when fielding in the slips and was put out of action. In the circumstances, the Surrey batsmen, on a pitch that was ideal for rungetting, made merry at their expense, scoring 560 runs before they declared. Yorkshire did not appreciate being kept in the field while all these runs were piled up against th.em, and the action of the Surrey captain in delaying his declaration so long was difficult to understand. At any rate, Yorkshire were so weary of the whole businessthat in the middle of one over Verity suddenly sent down a lob. Immediately he was no-balled, and, of course, the incident caused a good deal of excited talk. But the umpire was right. If a bowler is to change his style of delivery he must give notice to the batsman. Yorkshire had to follow on, but Surrey had batted so long when runs were not needed that they had not left themselves time in which to force a win. Cricketers are waiting to see if the M.C.C. will offer any opinion in regard to another unusual incident at Leicester. In this case the captains and umpires agreed to continue play without bails, inasmuch as owing to the high wind it was almost impossible to keep them on the stumps. This meant, that the match was played with broken wickets, and I do not think it can he contested that it was a breach of rule.- But the arrangement allowed the game to go on, and the possibility of a dispute as to whether the ball or the wind had dislodged the bails was avoided. As a matter of fact, the situation was dealt with in the right sporting spirit, even if the letter of the law was broken. But what if the championship had depended on the result of the match? What would, the other counties have said about it? I think the M.C.C. are bound to give a ruling, and I think they will say that bails must always be on the stumps when the ball is delivered. LITTLE "POKER FACE." Lawn tennis players in London are rather resentful of the suggestion conveyed in cables from the United States that r r rf Helen Wills Moody is nearing the end or her reign. LittJe "Poker

Face" is such a splendid little sports- > woman herself that she has a right to expect a more sporting attitude. She would be one of the last to , make excuses for herself, but everyone j knows that her lack of form is due to j a strained back sustained by gardening at her home. There is little doubt that she will throw off the after effects of this in a few months' time, and there is quite a good hope that she will revisit j Wimbledon again next year to defend j her championship. If she does, I shall j be very surprised if she does not defend it successfully. Miss Dorothy Round is a lawn tennis player of whom we have good reason to be proud, but she would be the first to admit that she is. not yet quite in the same class as Mrs. Wills Moody. Youth will tell ultimately, but j there is no reason in the world why | Anno Domini should drive Mrs. Wills Moody from the courts for another three or four years to come. BOXING AND BOXERS. We are told that Jackie Brown will I light Valentine Angelmann at Belle Vue, Manchester, on September 11 at 8.2 (writes Eugene Corri). That, of course, means that 110 title will be involved. I would have preferred it otherwise. Rightly or wrongly, I take the view that whenever a champion takes the ring it is proper that he should risk his kingdom. Fighting for lighting's sake may be all very well —it is not possible to have a title staked in every contest — but in the matter of champions it is different, and especially in the case of Brown, and Angelmann. We saw them at Olympia at the flyweight limit, and then Brown, to his everlasting credit, beat the Frenchman. So far as I know, Angelmann is a natural 8.0 boy, as is Brown, and as such he should fight. I have not the least doubt that Manchester people will be rewarded with a rousing battle, but, after all, since there will be nothing tangible to be won it is of no more importance tliari ail everyday exhibition. I personally am not curious to learn whether the Frenchman is any better at a couple of pounds over the flyweight limit than he was at Olympia. The only excuse for a return match with Angelmann would be to have a further opportunity of seeing whether he is more qualified to hold the flyweight title than Brown. Ido not think he is, for I am quite decided that he pulled out his best when he fought under the auspices of the National Sporting Club. lam not sufficiently familiar with all the pros and cons, and there may be good reason why Brown, tiring of inactivity, has been left with no option but to meet the Frenchman in a nonchampionsliip affair. It is said, with what truth I do not know, that if Ginger Foran had not put such a high value upon his services a match between him and Brown would have been made, and so have put an end to what I hold to be an unnecessary controversy. Assuming that Foran is disposed to insist upon a price in excess of what a promoter will pay, I would say unto him: If you honestly believe that you can beat the flyweight champion, and I am sure yoif so believe, you would be wise to forget all .about terms. Let me tell you a story. When Willie Ritchie, the German-American, was the world's lightweight champion, Freddie Welsh did not hesitate to take the ring for what remained after Ritchie had been paid. Said Welsh to Ritchie, "All I want is to get you into the ring. That will be enough for me; you can take all the money that is going. For the moment it is the championship I want." And Ritchie, on that understanding, came to London and traded his title at Olympia. It's the Title That Counts. The fight went 20 rounds, and I was referee. It was a bitter fight, and was won by Welsh. When accounts were squared there was little or nothing left for Welsh. He would have it that he received no more than his expenses. "But," said he, as he made every haste to got back to America, "what does that matter. A lighter who applies a business mind to his job must throw bread on the waters. I have what I wanted after chasing Ritchie thousands of miles. Now, with the title, I shall make a fortune, for I shall at once set out on a non-stop campaign." Welsh held to the programme he fashioned, and accumulated much wealth. Only when he met Benny Leonard, the greatest lightweight America has perhaps produced, did he strike his flag, and then, from all accounts, he contributed to his own downfall by inattention toj strict training. Foran, my boy, if you have a chance to bring Brown "to heel, forget all about loaves and. fishes. I do hope that you have been misrepresented. If you have set your heart upon fighting Brown for the world's championship, and providing that the man in possession is ready to toe the mark, you Should be willing to make any concession. I would that all fighters read Tunney's story of his life. There was no big money for Tunney until he got to grips with Dempsey. When I first saw the old champion he was content to receive a few dollars a round, and even then he was a heavy-weight out of the ordinary. If Tunney had not been content with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table he would have got nowhere: he would have been frozen out. No fighter ever got to the top who made the size of the purse his chief consideration. Do you know that until Carpentier was brought to London by the late Jimmy White to fight Sid Burns, and later fought Young Joseph at King's Hall, Blackfriare, lie would have thought himself fortunate to get a hundred francs, though at that time his name was being screamed throughout France as a coming champion. When he was brought to Paris from Lens he was delighted to get 50 francs. In the last talk I had with the famous Frenchman he said: "I have to smile when I 'hear folk call out 'there goes lucky Carpentier,' as if to suggest that during all my fighting days money took to showering upon me. The truth is that I did not make acquaintance with what is called real money until I had been fighting for nearly four years. I was pleased to accept what was offered until I had made good outside my own country. We should have many more "better fighters if the younger men realised that the top may only be reached by fighting, and not sharing big purses. Real monej only comes in plenty when you have made good, and the only way to make good is to beat all the other fellows." I see that Brown has not so far arrived at a definite understanding in the matter of Midget Wolgast. May we take that to mean that 3."* is leaving himself open for Foran? At any rate, he may be assured that by defending his title at homo he would add to his popularity. As for Foran, the wisdom of his pressing his claims to a championship fight regardless of term 3 should be obvious. Meantime, the fact that Brown is soon to fight Angelmann leaves me but slightly interested, for such a match, though it might well produce a thrilling spectacle, will bo valueless. .If I were Brown I should look for long and far down my nose before going to America, since there is such a desirable opponent as Foran onjg^fid.