SIDELINES

Press, 18 June 1982, Page 15

SIDELINES

LIKE IT OR NOT. and most of us don't, the nicknames acquired in childhood tend to stick for life. Not so with New Zealand's most promising squash player. Stuart Davenport, pictured right, a few years ago Davenport's features lent themselves to the name "Pixie," and that rested well enough on a lad just 1.55 m high. But at 19 years of age. it seems the young Wellington man is still growing and with the most recent spurt of scm in the last year, he's up to 1.93 m. His new name of "Stork" is rather more appropriate. OUR WELLINGTON SPY reports gloom and despondency in Wellington rugby circles over prospects of retaining the Ranfurly Shield or the Lion first division championship this year. The senior competition there has buried some wellestablished reputations, while the match against WairarapaBush was drawn. 9-aJI. Wairarapa was subsequently thrashed by Hawkes Bay. REPUTATIONS to suffer tire those of the tiro 19M locks. Stere Hinds and Brendon Gard'ncr. the flankers. Paul Quinn and Morrie Standish. and the All Black wing. Bernie Fraser. Tu Wyllie has been out with suspected concussion and a prop. Grant McGratten. with a broken nose. Add to this that the oilier AH Black wino. Stu Wilson, has just returned from Italy and the test No. N. Murray Mexted is still playing club rapby in Durban and prortncial rugby for Natal. in South Africa. The Wellington coach. lan I'ps.ton. has (founds for real alarm. LNGE.MAR JOHANSSON, the former world professional heavyweight boxing champion, was this week awarded the Olympic silver medal denied him at the Games in Helsinki 30 years ago. The judges in Helsinki refused to award Johansson a medal because of "inactivity in the ring” during the Games final against Ed Sanders, of the United States. Johansson, now 49. went on to beat Floyd Patterson for the world professional title in 1959. but the next year Patterson became, at Johansson's expense, the first fighter to regain the title. No reason was given for the International Amateur Boxing Association's decision to recognise Johansson’s Olympic placing FRED LINDOP. of Britain, will control the two rugby league tests between Australia and New Zealand at Brisbane and Sydney next month. Mr Lindop. who has extensive international experience, was chosen by the Australian RugbyLeague in preference to another British official. Billy Thompson. Mr Lindop has controlled New Zealand teams in four tests since 1970. the most recent being that at Odsal Stadium. Bradford, two years ago when the Kiwis beat Britain. 12-8. MID WINTER means Brass Monkey Trophy time in Canterbury surf lifesaving circles, and the mid-winter has gone back over the hill to Taylors Mistake. As usual it is postentry. so it is not yet known who will be challenging David Clarke, of North Beach, for his title. Last year, the race was held on New Brighton beach, in conjunction with the public dip sponsored by 3ZB and Fresh-up, which is also on Sunday and again at New Brighton. KEEN SURE TYPES will be able to handle both swims . if they are able. The New Brighton swim. which inrolres. at most, only a 50 or 60m swim, with certificates for all and prizes for the first male, .first .female and .first school-pupil of each sex. is at 11.30 am. The Taylors Mistake swim isat 1.30 p.m. New Brighton is taking stringent security precautions for the public swim, said its organiser. Simon Duncan. An inshore rescue boat will be patrolling the chilly waters, and wetsuited lifeguards, with rescue tubes, will also be on hand.