People In The Play

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27878, 28 January 1956, Page 3

People In The Play

IrpHE Canterbury allx rounder, A. R. Mac Gibbon, has now bowled far more overs in test cricket than any other New Zealander. He has had 623.2—inincluding 171.1 eight-ball overs during the, tour of South Africa. J. R. Reid has had 534, H. B. Cave 521. T. B. Burtt 432.1 and J. A. Cowie 337.1

Little more than a day after his return to Wellington from the tour of Pakistan and India, the New Zealand cricketer, Trevor McMahon, was married to Miss D. I. Perry, a nurse at the Wellington Hospital.

Victorian athletic officials believe that Graham Thomas could be a surprise finalist in the 3000-metre steeplech.ase at the Melbourne Olympics in November. He has twice lowered the Australian record by 30sec, and his best time is 9min B.4sec, made this month. The world record, made last August by J. Chromik (Poland), stands at Bmin 40.2 sec.

With the last match of the Indian tour, the Canterbury batsman. J. G. Leggat. completed 100 innings in firstclass cricket, and brought his aggregate to 3528. After having to withdraw during his attempt on the Otago six-mile record two weeks ago. K. E. Williams was back on form last week to defeat P. Sidon in their first meeting of the season in Dunedin. In a mile race Williams finished 20 yards ahead in 4min 15.4 sec. * * ♦ The former Australian champion sculler Bill Fisher celebrated his eighty-second birthday on January 9 by rowing 15 miles. Fisher rowed a 14ft skiff that he had built more than 30 years ago. Afterwards a doctor told him that his condition was good, but the incident should not be repeated.

A beltman, Rex > Watchman, of Lyall B Bay, competing in the B Hackshaw Shield surf ■ life-saving carnival at * Wanganui last Sunday * was rescued by his >

patient. Hampered by a line from another of the teams. Watchman struggled for a long time against high waves and a severe rip to reach the buoy 70 yards off-shore, to which his patient. Dan O’Neill, was clinging. Hundreds watched as O'Neill left the buoy to go to Watchman's aid. Assistance was then given by other surf men. When Valkyrie won the Idle Along yachting trials at Dunedin last Sunday. Miss Lesley Jordan, of Ravensbournc, became the first girl ever to be a member of a trial winning crew on the Otago harbour. Miss Jordan is third hand in the Valkyrie. The other members of the crew are Darcy Price (skipper) and Arnold Mears (forward hand). Two Christchurch athletes appear to be benefiting from a schedule drawn up by L. A. King (Auckland), the national six-mile record holder. In two of his three appearances at Rugby Park this season, Clarrie Reece has recorded personal bests for the mile (4min 23.8 sec) and three miles (14min 42sec. R. Stevens has also shown good improvement. ★ ★ ★ Two Wellington runners, B. J. Everitt and R. A. Ward, are to attempt to break the New Zealand junior mile record at Basin Reserve. Wellington, today. Murray Halberg set the record of 4min 17.2 sec in 1952. Kerry WSUiams will feature in a special Ihrifee-mile race at the same meeting. The New Zealand cricketer John Reid will play his first game for North Otago against the West Indies on February 9. Reid, who transferred from Wellington to North Otago at the end of last season, intends playing cricket for the Oamaru club. He will probably play tis first match with the club today. Now at Harvard University, the former Australian and British Empire butterfly champion swimmer David Hawkins will be considered lor the Australian Olympic squad. Hawkins graduates from Harvard on June 16, and will return to Sydney on September 29. His best swim is 2nin 32sec for the 220 yards.