SPORTSWOMEN ENCOURAGED

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 85, 13 April 1929, Page 18

SPORTSWOMEN ENCOURAGED

British, sportsmen are 'taking the keenest interest in the achievements of sportswomen from their own country (says the London "Daily Telegraph"). In their, eagerness to honour Lady Bailey on her 1 return from her > lone flight to the Cape and back, they unknowingly arranged two public lunches which clashed with one , another.; The British Sportsmen's Club cancelled theirs in favour of'the' Aero Club, which obviously had the in-ior right. Curiously enough, the cancelled lunch was I to have marked the first occasion on' which a woman had been entertained at the club. "To become prominent in' tho sports world, a woman has got to have pluck, endurance, .and stamina," said Lord Decies, its chairman. ','Lady Bailey won through by means' o,f those three qualities. But in this early: stage of women's sport, few have them'sufficiently developed to become really famous.. Not many women have the necessary stamina." : ■

Among the women champions whom the club would like to honour are the four British girl swimmers now visiting South Africa. They have opened their tour with a match at'-Port Elizabeth, which they won easily, in:-spite of a good handicap. ...';.'. '

Women runners have deceived a great deal of encouragement from this group of sportsmen, who attend- their meetings and social functions. "There are quite a number of London clubs for women runners," said Lord Decies. "Some of them, use' the "track' at' Bat-, tersea Park. They are mostly business girls, with not too much of ,this world's goods. It is a wonderful thing for them:. ■ '■

. "We helped to welcome the Canadian, women who came .over here for the Olympic Games. Unfortunately,.'. the American women only passed through London.. Otherwise we"'were most eager to entertain them. Our club was formed with the ; idea ,of showing hospitality to the' sportsmen from abroad who' visit thj.s'" 'country, and the'reis no reason why we-should not include sportswomen. : When !our athletes go to other countries , they are overwhelmed with hospitality, but until now there has been no one in England to make our * visitor's feel welcome. . . .^

"I have always wanted to see a good hockey match played by women's teams," he added. "I believe it is a very,'wonderful thing, and that their hockey association is the finest thing women have in sport."