PEOPLE IN THE PLAY

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28128, 17 November 1956, Page 5

PEOPLE IN THE PLAY

A cricketer with strong claims to the Canterbury captaincy again this season is R. T. Dowker of Lancaster

u d ii caster Park, who last summer led Canterbury in its four outright wins. His innings of 34, 21 and 49 this season suggest he is in form. In each of the last two seasons Dowker has averaged more than 38 runs an inn-

ings in representative matches, finishing fifth for New Zealand in the averages each time, and in each instance there was one “false” average above his own. There are. however, at least two others who must also be considered as captains —M. E. Chapple and P. G. Z. Harris. ☆ The death occurred last week ir Wanganui of Mr H. B. Cave, who represented Wanganui at cricket for 25 years. He was a member of a very noted cricketing family, and one of his sons, Harry Cave, has been a New Zealand representative on many occasions in the last few years. ☆ When Gordon Pirie set his fifth world record of 7min 52.8 sec for the 3000 metres he became the first runner to beat the

ner to beat tne H u ngarian trio, IharosTabori- Rozsavolgyi, in the same race. ? r eviously their combined strength had been too much for their o p ponents The stamina and confidence and the speed

that enabled Pirie to beat this amazing trio must mark him as a very likely winner at Melbourne. Pirie’s performance is the more remarkable for he finished with a 57sec last lap.

The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association’s new president, Mr A. H. Malcolm, has had considerable success at several sports. Until 1940, for 17 years Mr Malcolm was an active athlete in the high jump, hurdles and 440 yards races, and represented Otago, Auckland and Waikato in these events at national championships. Mr Malcolm also played representative Rugby for North Otago and was the New Zealand squash rackets champion in 1946 and North Island champion on four occasions. He has also played senior .cricket and lawn tennis. ☆

The management committee oi :£ the Canterbury Cricket Association has sent a letter of appreciation to J. A. Hayes, the New Zealand and former Canterbury fast bowler who recently left Christchurch to live in Auckland. In •$: suggesting that such a letter should be sent, the chairman (Mr C. F Collins) said that all cricketers knew of Hayes’s service to Can terbury and New Zealand. ☆ f The national cross-country champion, Kerry Williams, intends to make the marathon his main event fnr the next.

for the next two years, in the hope of selection for the 1958 Empire Games at Cardiff As part of his preparation for the marathon Williams competed in a 10mile road race at Dunedin last Saturday A former three

a lormer inree ' miles track champion. Williams has <•: lost interest in track events, and as he has had outstanding success >:• in cross-country and road racing events, the marathon should suit him. He will concentrate during X; the winter on gaining inclusion in the national harrier team to tour Australia. If his form this year is encouraging, Williams will set him- << self a target of 2hr 20min for the following season—llmin faster than the best time yet done in New Zea- g land.