ATHLETIC SPORTS GAMES AND PLAYERS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26745, 31 May 1952, Page 4

ATHLETIC SPORTS GAMES AND PLAYERS

(By

MILES)

Riccarton Boxing gehool The most cneeiful pei'aonality In Canterbury boxing circles to-cay is the Riccarton trainer, "Mick" Murfltt, who not only helps light-weight apprentice jockeys to keep fit for their work, but also has in his care his champion light-weight orother, Keith, and a very promising young boxer-fighter in T. Lucas, who, a growing boy, is better known for his success in Christchurch Boys' High School competitions. Lucas is one of the best young boxers the writer has seen in action In recent years, and his judicious handling may be left to his trainer. It would be a pity to see him allowed to compete against matured men. At present Lucas has a good style, he leads with a left, which Is snappy, yet. without the shoulder behind, is not the punishing punch it should be. It seems to the writer that Lucas has not had the sparring partners to take his left hand bunches, which still lack the real follow-through. A course on the punch-bag—not ball—may be all to his benefit. The worst thing that can bappen.however, is matching him against old and experienced fighters. “Mick" Murfltt, however, can be depended upon to look after this. Cross-Country Running

The annual 18-inile block relay race conducted by the Anglican Harrier Club, and bp en to all Canterbury harrier clubs, will be held on Monday afternoon and run ov ® r a tbr ee m,1e . 8 Cbuwe. starting from and finishing at the New Brighton racecourse. Each member of each team will do a lap of four mites. The course has been slightly altered this year, and will entail about 400-600 yards of track (on the course), in addition to road work, turfed paddock, heavy ground, scrub and sandy areas, the whole embracing • 12 obstacles. The sealed handicap section of the race is expected to create interest and can be won by any of the competing teams. Timaru Anglican won this section of the race last year. Scarcity of Wing Three-quarters

With three of Canterbury's best wing three-quarters In W. Langley, K. Davidson, and J. Kennedy not available for games against Buller and West Coast, R. Smith is the omy winger Included in the nine backs selected to make the trip. Of Jhjs number B. McCormick, J. Waine, D. Wilson, J. G. Hamilton, and G. John on have been playing at five-eighths. Hamilton may have the speed of a wing threequarters—this has yet to be shown—but is seems that a better choice would have been P. Dempsey (Marlst), R. O. McDowell (University), or K. Blick (Old Boys). Answer to Correspondent

Ringside: The Canterbury boxing champions In 1951 were: fly-weight, J. winder: bantam-weight, M. Eddington; feather-weight, J. Adamson; light-weight, N. Clarke; light welter-weight, K. Mur-welter-weight, W. Newltt; light middle-weight, W. Mitchell; middleweight, p. Larkin; light heavy-weight, P. Larkin. The 1952 Canterbury championships will be held on September 2 and 3. Football Association Trophy

To-day and on Monday the annual tournament among Auckland. Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago lor the English Football Association's tiophy will be held in the Basin Reserve, We.lington, On the first day Canterbury will meet Otago in the early match, followed by the Auckland and Wellington game. The winners will play the final on Monday, preceded by a game between the losers. Since it won the trophy last in 1949. Canterbury lias had a lean period, gaining the wooden spoon in 1950 and being eliminated last season by Otago, when travel restrictions prevented more than an elimination coni!?*,'.. Afler beating Auckland by default. Wellington became the holder of the trophy when Otago was beaten in the final, after extra time, by 6 goals to 3 Previous holders of the trophy are; Auckland, 1928-30, 1939, 1948, 1947,1950; Otago, 1931, 1932, 1938; Wellington, 1940. 1951; Canterbury. 1938-37, 1941, 1944-45, IMB-49 Toe Canterbury side is the cream of the talent available In Christchurch, and unless the standard of the code has risen beyond expectations in the other centres it has an excellent chance of regaining the emblem of provincial Soccer supremacy. Turpin in Favour

Randolph Turpin’s spectacular knock-out victory over the French cruiser-weight champion, Jacques Hawabedin, at Harringay, has helped ensure a capacity oouse for his British cruiser-weight title fight with the holder. Don Cocaell, on June 10. Turpin was in magnificent condition, and the contest proved that he can deal with heavier opponents—he was conceding over 91b—with the same efficiency and dispatch as he has employed against the middle-weights. A Women Referee For the first time In the known history of Manawatu Association football, a woman refereed a competition game on Saturday. It was a sixth grade match between West End and Russell Street. When no referee arrived, Mrs Kathleen Harris, who was on the sideline, and had a whistle available, offered to control the game. The suggestion was enthusiastically accepted by the teams, and the game started. When it had been in progress for 20 minutes, the chairman of the junior management committee arrived, but declined to take over control of the game. He congratulated Mrs Harris on the manner in which ahe controlled it. ar ! . *“6 boys backed his statement up with a round of applause at the conclusion. Mrs Harris has two sons who play the code. Growth of Bowling

Addressing the annual meeting of the Greymouth Bowling Club, one of the West Coast Bowling Centre delegates. Mr F. A. Hughes, gave some interesting figures on the remarkable growth of bowling in recent times. The total number of bowlers in the Dominion had recently increased from 36,000 to 40.000, he said. There was a greater strength in the North Island than the South. When the total was 36,000. there were 24,146 bowlers in the North Island and only 11.912 In the South Island. There were 614 in the West Coast area. 281 In Buller, 864 in Nelson, and 531 in Marlborough. The largest total in New Zealand was in the Auckland Province, where there were 7000. The formation of new clubs at Ikamatua and Ahaura would further consolidate the position of the West Coast Centre, said Mr Hughes. Club greens, he added, were generally in good order, and he trusted that certain Improvements being effected by clubs would measure up to the requirements and standards of green research investigation.

Lesson in Selling The American Masters’ tournament winner, Sam Snead, recently gave a golf lesson for 800 dollars. During a charity benefit at a Miami restaurant, a set of golf clubs given by Snead was about to go for 300 dollars when Snead told the auctioneer to "hold it.’’ “That’s not enough," said Snead. “Keep the bidding going and say that I will give a free lesson to the buyer.” The clubs were knocked down for 1100 dollars.

Hockey Styles The style of hockey adopted by New Zealand and Australian players is affecting the standard of play, according to Mr C. V. Walter in his manager’s report on the 1951 New Zealand University hockey team’s tour of Australia. "I feel,” he adds, "that Australians and New Zealanders have turned away from the Indian theory to one which can support hard hitting with plenty of running, mu-h of it ineffective. The ability to retain possession of the ball, to dribble effectively, to draw a man the right distance, and to give a short and accurate pass at the right pace is not a characteristic of Australian or New Zealand hockey." Reserve for Waikato

The Waikato Rugby team to play Auckland at Rugby Park, Hamilton, on Monday lists among its reserves the All Black R. D. R. Wightman, a former Auckland and Otago centre-three-quarters, who toured Australia with the New Zealand team last year. D. B. Clarke, who is still suffering from a knee injury received last year in the Ranfurly match against North Auckland, was unavailable. R. A. Adam has been given the full-back place, in the absence of Clarke. E. H. Catley. the veteran hooker, is included. Tommy Burns's Offer

Tommy Burns, former Australian professional welter-weight champion, has offered his services as coach to Australia’s boxing representatives at the Olympic Games. If he gets the job he will have to pay his own expenses. The Australian Olympic Federation will not pay expenses of coaches.

Offer Rejected The New York Athletic Commission has rejected an offer by the world’s middleweight boxing champion, Ray Robinson, to appear in a non-title fight for the benefit of the United States Olympic Games fund. Robinson said he would be content to receive only one dollar for fighting. Dealing With "Bumpers’*

The amendment to the Laws of Cricket which the New South Wales Cricket Association is seeking would empower the umpire at the bowler's end to intervene when there is excessive bowling of "bumpers" at the batsman, even if he Is standing in front of nis wicket. Existing law 46 says: "The persistent and systematic bowling of fast, short-pitched balls at the batsman standing clear of his wicket is unfair, and If. in the opinion of the umpire at the bowler’s end, this takes place, he must adopt the following procedure," etc. The association, by a two to one majority, has decided to recommend to the Australian Board of Control that the words "standing clear of his wicket" should be deleted from the law. A Moral Obligation

Russell Mockridge could probably have ascertained that there was only a moral obligation in the bond requiring him to remain an amateur for two years after the Olympic Games, writes Frank Tierney in the ’’Sydney Morning Herald." Mockridge. a cyclist, refused to sign the amateur bond and was omitted from the Olympic Games. "It would be extremely doubtful if the federation could succeed tn any legal action against any athlete who broke the terms of the bond," a legal authority said. “In signing it there would be a moral obligation on him to keep to its term. I think the federation is probably well aware of its legal position." Mr H. Opperman's statement In the House of Representatives that the Olympic committee’s thinking needed some readjustment because of Its attitude towards Mockridge, received strong replies from sports administrators. An executive member of the federation said each case was treated on its merits. Mockridge had gained much from amateur sport, and. though a possible Olympic winner, was not entitled to special privileges The secretary of the New South Wales Olympic Federation, Mr S. B. Grange, said that since 1948 Mockridge had been at the Olympic Games (1948), Empire Games (1950), and the world championships at Milan (1951) on public money. He had benefited to a greater extent than most sportsmen, and owed some allegiance to the federation. Cost of Olympic Games

It will cost about £6.425.000 to stage the Olympic Gaines, according to the Helsinki organising committee. The competition sites and Olympic villages constructed in 1938-39 and cost £3.575,000. The operational cost of the games will amount to £2 850,000. The organisers, while not expecting great profits, do not expect a oss. Re"enue from admission tickets alone will be more than £1.000,000, while it is estimated that visitors to Finland's capital will spend about £1.400.000