ATHLETES WHO DEFY TIME.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18266, 27 December 1924, Page 8

ATHLETES WHO DEFY TIME.

GROWING OLD IN SPORT.

In making his first-appearance for .England versus America at the ago of 47, Colonel Melville has established a polo record,- declares Major N. W. Fraser in tho "Daily Chronicle." Indeed, tho only modern approach, in other strenuous games, to his achievement is supplied by F. Gilbert, who was 39 when lie won his first English Rugby cap in 1923. Nearly 50 years ago, however, A. N. Hornby staggered the Rugby world by getting his first English colours shortly before his thirtieth birthday, while he had turned 35 when he played his last game for the Boae, and captained the side. In those days 30 was regarded as the extreme limit of a Rugby or almost any hard game player's life. This brings one to the athlete's remarkable playing longevity. There are, of course, septuagenarian, octogenarian, and even nonagenarian walkers, cyclists, golfers, and bowls players, but if the issue bo confined to the first-class games arena there is a big array of. players who would once have been considered in their athletic dotage.

William Meredith is retiring from first-class football, but it is only a few months since, aged 47, he played for Manchester City against Brighton and H-ove Albion, in the third round of the F.A. Cup, while he was 43 when he won the last of 48 Welsh caps. Still, in League football aro Sam Hardy, Alhert Ircmonger, and Jock Rutherford, who ATfere respectively born in 1883, 1884, and 1885.

• In first-class county cricket there' is the ' evergreen. W. G. Quaifo, of Warwickshire, 'who is 54, J. H.' King, -of Leicester, 51, and G/B. Cox, of Susßex, who will be 50 this month. Forty-six years old, Wilfred Ehodes's record feat this season of taking over 100 wickets and making over 1000 runs for the 15th time is fresh in the memory.

The real hero of the last open golf championship was J. H. Taylor, who was born in 1871, and might well have beaten Walto'r Hagen but for that crippling attack of lumbago. Taylor is a grandfather, as was Charles Hutchings, when,' aged 53, he won the amateur golf championship of 1902.

"Anno Domini" beat Norman Brookes in this year's lawn tennis championship, but ho gave a great display for a man of 46, while M. J. Ritchie, who will be 54 next month, continues to vanquish much younger men in big tournaments. Nor should Colonel Mayps be forgotten. Sir George Thomas was 40 when ho won the last four successive All-England badminton championships in 1923, and he considers badminton an even more exacting gamo than lawn tennis. Other examples could be given, but unquestionably athletes "live" longer than in. Victorian day 3.