WORSER BAY RACING

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 49, 27 February 1937, Page 23

WORSER BAY RACING

Last weekend was a full;' one ■ for yachtsmen at Worser Bay, one race being sailed on Saturday, arid two on Sunday. ' There were '.ten ; starters in the race for the Bellamore Cup in a moderate south-eastejrly .wind, the course (a special one fpr ; this race) being from the clubhouse to Point Jerningham. and back via .-: Arkley's Buoy, Blinking Billie, and Ward Island.

The Maputu was first away, followed by the Valkyrie, Gipsy, Bonny Jean, Minx, Spitfire, Elvine, Spinet, Antoinette, and Nahlin. The boats-continued in this order-until Ward'lsland was reached when the Valkyrie" overtook the Maputu and the boats rounded Jerningham Light at the following times:— Valkyrie, 3h 58Jm; Gipsy, 4h o£m; Bonny Jean, 4h o|m; Minx, 4h lim; Spitfire, 4h 2im; Spinet, 4h 44m; Nahlin, 4h 4}m; Antoinette, 4h sm; Elvine, 4h sim. , .-•■;• ■ .:■•:.. ;• :\-. ■ ' v.:

The Valkyrie held the lead until Kau Bay was reached, when, keeping-in near shore, she lost the wind' and was passed by the Gipsy^ and/laterbymost of the other boats. The Gipsy. (9min) was the first boat home at 5h 3m 15s, with the Minx (6min) at 5h 5m 5s and the Spitfire (4min), 5h 5m 30s, second and third respectively. The Gipsy sailed an excellent race and, her skipper, J. Wohlers, certainly deserved his win. . - ' ■ . ..''

On Sunday, morning the ladies' race was held for the McWhinney Cup. There were seven starters at the '.following ' times:—Bonny Jean-. . (Miss Young), lOh Om; Minx (Miss .Woods), lOh lm; Spitfire (Mrs. Mumford), 10h 2m; .Nahlin . (Miss Kaine), lOh . 2m; Elvine (Miss Newton), lOh 3m; Antoinette" (Mrs. Toy), lOh. 4m;1 arid 'Spinet (Mrs. Cain), lOh srri. • They continued in this order until early in the second round, .when the Spitfire broke her rudder and retired. On the second beat the Antoinette, worked up.to third place andvSpinet to fourth.The Nahlin finished first at llh 2m 10s, with, the Spinet' 3 ..seconds behind for; second place, and the Antoinette third. ' ■ .. The skippers of the first three -boats are to be congratulated ..on' their .fine sailing when one realises . the little, practise they have.had. .Mrs. Cain did especially we 11....... In the afternoon a race was'held for the Spiers Cup, the starters.being..the same as for the Bellamore Cup with the exception of the Valkyrie. ■ The Courier, of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club,"-which -/had called in at Worser Bay. during..' the morning, was. also ; a.starter,' as ; -her skipper, B. Moore, was : anxious to try her out-against the Worser-Bay/craft. The Maputu (lsmin) was first off,, followed bythe Bonny Jean (Bmin), Gipsy (7min), Minx (6min), Spitfire (smin);, Spinet. (2min), Antoinette (2min), Nahlin and Courier (scr)., -. - and,. Elvine (smin). In the, second ground of the race the. Bonny Jean capsized and was very, cleverly- righted.; and bailed, but by her crew, although 'she.retired:.from the race shortly afterwards, as did the Maputu. '.-■■■ "■' •■ '*.■■■ • The race was won by the Spinet at 4h 15m,- with," the.-Courier,at ,4h ,17m 40s filling second place, the Nahlin.third at 4h 18m 40s, and the Elvine fourth at 4h 19m 10s. Vf';>.•■■' : ! ' '

The outstanding boats; in this race were the Spinet, which" was very cleverly handled by Her, skipper and never looked .like losing,' and the Elvine, which, although starting .7 minutes late owing to a breakage, was only a little over 4 minutes behind the leader at the finish. ■ ■ .

The Antoinette sailed a disappointing race and seemed.to.be causing .her crew a considerable amount of trouble,

Yes, there were the wonderful "Griffo," Billy Murphy, and many others in Australia and New Zealand in those days, but "Little Tommy" did not suffer- in comparison with any of them.

■ ,H.e ■ was', Ipprn.'in Diinedin on; June 20,, 1367, aindvAysis first encouraged-to take 'up. ; .the; -pbble'-.art by ; Jem/iVlace, when the latter-.made his iieyef9o-be-f orgotten tour of this'-country;: .tommy suffered,;from an .impediment'ill"- .his spegch • and: was;;. : being ; continually goaded.by his..more :fbrtunate;schoolmates, so he decided to sell photos of MJace and, with the proceeds, pay Jem to teach him how, to. box. ;.;

. .He..arid'•■his■'.younger, brother,:Sandy (also j later 'a .great ■ fighter) immediately- began .and, -sold'the', photographs like hot cakes. When they went .to Mace •; with. the rnoriey in their : -hands to pay for:, their, lessons theiigreat master,. with .characteristic generosity, refused to' accept- it but taught: them free. of; charge.:■ ■'•' ..- • ;:; Js ■', ■ ;:mace's first:pupils:■; They were among his first pupils in Dunedin and eagerly assimilated the knowledge '■ he imparted. Later,;. they; proved to. be .as good as any of-Mace's famous-pupils. .' ■ ' -. fj Of Tommy's'earlier doings I have no knowledge, but I dp know thtat he went to Australia either in the, late eighties or early nineties and,fought there with great success. He :Was a terrific puncher . and a colourful fighter as well as a clever boxer. "Of course, in those days of: long ago, they used two-ounce! gloves and not, in the words of my subject; "pillow cases.". .' ■ • • ■ ':;:; AN EAKLY FIGHT FILM. Tommy arid Dummy Mace (no rela» tion to Jem) were the first .pair in Australia or New Zealand to be-:filmed in action.: The film was taken in. Wellington on a lawn at the back-.of tha Cecil Hotel, It proved .a. great, success, and was shown for some-time, attracting large attendances. -,■■•-'"■ It speaks volumes for Tommy's, ability: that he was selected, in spite of the tremendous disparity in weight, to engage such a redoubtable opponent as Dummy Mace, who .was one' .of the greatest ■ middlevyeights • ever to*, visit this country. Tommy's heart was in the game and I was his last pupil. Although he was over 65 years of age when he .first met me- he .; of tea put on the gloves with me for a round or-two, to the amazement and admiration: of onlookers, for he showed ha could still punch and demonstrate how it should be done. '.--. ' ':'. . For some years he was boxing instructor -at Otago University.,: He was also a first-class side-drum-mer and',.was a. member..of several famous: bands,- arid was ..associated in this ' capacity with Pollard's Opera Company, which toured New Zealand many years' ago. ;.-■ ■'■. ■

Rugby Distinctions -In 'congratulating those members who gained representative honours, the Poneke Football Club's committee makes special reference in its report to J. li.. Griffiths, who was appointed captain of the 1936 All Blacks. There is also a special note about one of tha youngest players in the club, the report stating: "It is worthy of mention that M. F. Calcinai, another of our 7th grada players, was for. the third year in succession picked for, the primary schools representatives. Fewplayers can claim to equal this, one of the'few being H.B". Pollock, of Petone." . - - • - *•» ■ . * lan Driscoll, New; Zealand walking champion, failed by 7 l-ssec to equal the national two-mile record in a, special attempt at McLean Park, Napier, last - week.' The conditions were against him, there being a very troublesome wind. He -walked the first mile in 6min 52sec. and ths full distance in 14min 19 4-ssec. The record is 14min 12 3-ssec made by A. •Brady of Auckland in 1896. Under the circumstances Driscoll's effort was a very fine one.',. With: favourable conditions he must have gone very close to Brady's figures.'