GAMES AND PLAYERS

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25448, 20 March 1948, Page 4

GAMES AND PLAYERS

ATHLETIC SPORTS

(By •‘Mmss.”) An Olympic Prospect W. H. Nelson, New Zealand’s hope in distance events at the Olympic Games, gave a mere glimpse of -his brilliance in the mile invitation race at the University sports meeting at Rugby Park last Saturday. Only the best competition in the world will show what he is really capable of. Last week he ran the mile in 4min 25sec—a mere exercise canter for a man of his class. At only two stages of the mile race, in which he was opposed by the best milers of Canterbury and Wellington, did Nelson attempt to show his paces. The first was at the end of 600 yards when trying to brighten up the pace he shot away to a lead of 20 yards. He eased up to give the others a chance to be in the race. The second was at a point about 300 yards from home. Again he shot aWay from the field. This time he did not ease up.. He carried on his sprint to the tape and wdh by 50 yards. Neither W. R. Wilkinson (Canterbury) nor N. Sutton (Wellington) is slow over a mile. Yet . against Nelson they appeared tenthraters. The fair-haired Otago runner is possibly the best distance man ever seen on a Christchurch track. -The writers guess is that he weighs within a pound or two of lOst 51b, and he is built on racing lines. His is the/perfect balance, long, elastic stride, and, most important of all, his games are played from . above the shoulders. Seeing Nelson in action and knowing the capabilities of D. M. Harris, the Auckland half-miler, and R. Goslin, the Wellington bantam-weight boxer, the writer is hopeful that New Zealand will take more than one Olympic title at London in July. Dunedin Golf Champion Members of the Christchurch Ladies’ Golf Club will have been gratified by the success of Miss Kathleen Rutherford in the Dunedin golf championship last week. Otago golfers may derive satisfaction from tne fact that the winner at least has a Scottish name. Miss Rutherford is one of the younger generation of Canterbury golfers and this is her first big success. It was won from ' a field which included some of the strongest players' in the Dominion and should give Miss Rutherford the necessary confidence to aspire to even more important heights, including the New Zealand championship. Miss Rutherford is tall and slim. _ She hits with, an unusually short back-swing for a wonran, and derives plenty of length from a powerful follow-through. She possesses an excellent match temperament. University Cricket

Sport in the Universities in New Zeaj land is alwavs carefree and open and, with the example of bright, breezy cricket as plaved by the Fijians to gu;ae them, the students may be expected to provide bright entertainment at Hagley Park on April 2' and 3, when the New Zealand Universities’ representatives will meet a Canterbury XI. Next week tournament matches among Auckland, Victoria, and Canterbury University Colleges and the University of Otago will be played. The New Zealand team will be chosen on the form shown in these games. Prominent university players include H. R. Thompson and J. H. B. Fisher (Auckland), T. W. Wells, 8.-M. Brooks, P. D. Wilson, and J. H. Oakfey (Victoria), and B. T. Hunt. V. A. C. McArley, D. A. Morrison, and W. A. Orr (Otago). The team should be a match for anything but the best team Canterbury can field. New Australian Champion Winning the New South Wales 440 .yards championship in 47.6gec—the best time ever by an Australian—Maurice Curotta made his inclusion in the Olympic Games almost certain. It was only l-10th of a second outside the record made at the 1938 Empire Games in Sydhey by Fritz Herb McKenley’s world record of 46.2’ has yet to be officially recognised. Bartram, holder of the Australian title, was beaten by seven yards. Curotta completed the first 220 yards in 22sec, took a breather, and ran all out over the last 110 yards. Treloar added to his great deeds by winning the 100 yards in 9.5, but it was ruled that there was an assisting wind and'the record was not allowed. Curotta, still a student at Christian Brothers College, Waveriey, received a letter from Seton College Hall College, New Jersey, offering him a place there after representations had been made by the Jamaican, Herb McKenley. It J* hot likely that the offer will be accepted, for Curotta, who wishes to become a dentist, is not keen to be parted from his family. The youth is not being encouraged to leave Australia, for a Dental Board official said it was most unlikely that any dental degree obtained in America would be recognised in New South Wales. Curotta’s family think it would be better for Maurice to return to school and pass his matriculation examination, not an easy job for a youngster with a trip to the Olympic Games in view. Paced by Treloar over the first 220yds Curotta recently tan 300yds in 30.7 sec beating the Australian record of 31sec. After the run Curotta said he was disappointed in his effort. He could have bettered his time for he ''did not get into full stride round the back.” Decision indicators

“Why not adopt the American system of announcing the judges’ decisions after a bout,” asked a member of the Canterbury Boxing Association when decisions were discussed at the annual meeting. “This would assist the sport, and would probably assist decisions, since the referee, after every bout, reads out the marks awarded each contestant,” he said. The public, too, he considered, would appreciate this system since it woyld make them feel that they were being taken into the judges* confidence. “Why not use red and green lights,” suggested another member. “The judges could press a button after each round, red or green, according to which boxer they had awarded the round.” The chairman (Mr G. JBettle), after asking for discussion, said that the committee would investigate the proposals but would retain the system of compiling cards tor each round, the cards to be handed in to the secretary or an offical after every bout. English Park

There is promise of another cycle-racing boom in Canterbury for amateurs and cash bodies working in harmony interest in the sport is growing. The only drawback to the progress of the sport is the lack of accommodation for spectators at headquarters—English Park. Once a wellequipped stadium with seating and standing room for thousands (English. Park was the scene of many stirring battles on the cycle-track and at least one athletic event—a race between the New Zealand champion, Randolph Rose, and the American, Lloyd Hahn. English Park was then the best equipped sports ground in Christchurch, but because of lack of funds during the war years the stands and embankments ■ were allowed to get in such bad repair that it would now cost a big sum of money to bring them back to the original state. This is one of the responsibilities of the Christchurch City Council, which has done Ifttle to preserve the appointments on one of thfe best sporting grounds in Canterbury; One of New Zealand’s greatest amateurs, Frank Grose, at a meeting recently said the English Park track was as good as he had raced on in New South Wales and England when he was representing New Zealand in the Empire Games. On the subject of accommodation for spectators he had little to say. If Christchurch has ho “ inß 2 hc Empire Games in 1950 then a big effort to restore English Park to its former state must be made at once if cycling—and the home of New Zealand cycling is Canterbury—is not to be transferred to some other part of the country. A Fallen Idol Peter Kane, former fly-weight chamion of the world, surrendered the European bantam-weight championship which he won from the Frenchman, Theo Medina, last September, when he was beaten by -ihe Italian, Guido Ferracin, at Manchester ?!’_.. Feb^ ar X j - According to an English writer the difference between Kane’s neriormance in September and that In his latest fight was unbelievable, His work lacked fire, and there seemed to be little steam, behind his blows. The Italian too was possessed only of punches of the leather-duster type. A writer In •’Sporting Life says: "As a championship it af r £?‘ ly , Appointing. ... Kane must mevitabiy f f de from the picture es a world-title coptender.’’

Successful Season The cricket season, which is ’now drawing to a close—the only matches td be played are those between Canterbury Colts and Wellington Colts, and Canterbury apd New Zealand University—has been the best since the war ended. The first day of competition play was ruined by ram but on every succeeding Saturday, a full day’s play, or nearly so, has been possible. The performances in club cneket have been a mirror in which the condition of New Zealand cricket has been reflected. Canterbury is almost wealthy in gqod young batsmen, but good bowlers, and fieldsmen who will hold catches, are badly needed. However, the cricket has been most interesting, and games have, generally, been played with a zest which emphasises the return to favour of cricket as a summer game. Brighter Cricket The Fijian cricketers to a man showed a disinclination to "sit on the splice,” and their bright, breezy scoring showed an acceleration that was as refreshing as it has been unusual when visiting teams La nca ster Park. Yet the sixes hit by Bula and the rate of a run, and often two runs, a minute is slow scoring when compared with the performance registered on the Waikari Domain when the locals were beaten by the Waiau first eleven. In the Waiau score of 179 W. Hogg and J. Palmer, in a bright partnership, scored 60 runs in 15 minutes off three eight-ball overs.