THE SPORTING WORLD

Evening Star, Issue 14497, 23 February 1911, Page 3

THE SPORTING WORLD

[Ftton Our London Correspondent.]

January 13. THE CRAWL STROKE.

Tho crawl stroke, which has led to such wonderful improvement in speed swimming, is generally regarded as only suitablo for comparatively short, distances. From what -Mr W. Henry, tho fonndor of tho Royal Life-saving .Society, says, it is just possiblo the new stroko may ultimately be adopted for distance work. Most people who take a keen interest in swimming aro probably aware that Cecil Ilealey, of Australia, has won his laurels at sprint distances. At Mr Henry's suggestion ilealey tried a milo swim by tho aid of the crawl stroke, and without punishing himself, finished in 24min 44sec. It may no pointed out, that the world's record is 25min lOjsec, liy tiio Jato Barney Kieran, and tho English recoil 24iuin lj&sec, by T. S. Battersby. After seeing a sprint swimmer (Ilealey) get so near, Mr Henrv gives it as his opinion that 23min will soon bo beaten. lie states that HeaJey's body swing with each thrust of the arm enables tho swimmer to perform the movement with the loast possible oxertion, and also that Ilealey kicked downwards with tho right leg as he pulled with tho left arm, and vico versa. Tho swim referred to opens up a now question, and the crawl stroko is likely to bo experimented with in real earnest by some of the English stovers.

WINTER SPORTS. Englishmen are journeying to winter resorts on tho Continent in increased numbers each season, the attraction being the opportunities for winter sports. This hj sine to lead to improvement in skating, ico hockey, and kindred sports, in which Englislir.l.ui aro handicapped through littlo opportunity to practise. -Signs of improvement lire denoted by the recent victory of an English team (four men and a lady) in tho bobsleigh raco for tho Manchester Bowl on tho famous Kloster run, tho winners doing the journey in 4min 55sec, and beating an expert Swiss team. In addition to this, the Oxford-Cana-diun Club members have been beating European rivals in ico hockey matches on the Continent. Another important event recently was tho ski raco tor the championship of tho English Public Schools Alpine Club. This was decided near Montana (Switzerland) over a course of six miles, C. Hopkinson (St. Paul's) finishing first in 61min, and so qualifying to hold the trophy presented by Lord Roberts, president of tho club. REMARKABLE HORSEMANSHIP. During the decision of the Birmingham Handicap Steepleehaso this week Golden Ray stumbled at the second fence, and unseated her jockey, W. Payne. Tho latter did not let go of the rein's, and after running by the side of the horso for a few yards he managed to scram bio back into tho saddle. Going after his rivals, he got on terms again, and finally won by three-quarters of a length—truly a remarkable performance. A FINE HURDLER. The defeat of Christmas Daisy in tho big hurdle raco at Nice on Sunday was a bad blow to the many English sportsmen present. The English horse led for a time, but was no uso at the finish. Tho winner turned up in M. C. Lienart's Prince do Magny, who only mado his debut over hurdles two days previously. Tho horse was a failure on tho flat, and was sold for Dl2O after winning a selling race. After Sunday's performance big things will bo expected of the Prince in future THE GRAND NATIONAL. Though the entrio< for this year's Grand National, run on March 24, show a- falling off in numbers compared with last year, tho class is all right. Past winners, in Jenkinstown, Eubio, and Lutteur 111., are among the entrants, and other noted candidates are. Jerry M., Cackler, Shady Girl, Caubeen, Springbok, Rorv O'Moore, and King of the Scarlets. There is plenty of material for a very interesting race, and this doings of the cracks from now on will be closely watched. BILLIARDS. Thero seems to be no limit to the recordbreaking ability of George Gray. Following his new best of 1,200, he went one be ! lter on the lust day of his match at Nottingham against Digglo by making a break of 1,318 on Saturday. Quite apart from his big breaks, his performance of scoring 8,000 points to Diggle's 3,823 clejii'ly shows how littlo chance any English crack has with the young visitor. Gray is now meeting Diggle (level) at Liverpool, and he again created a new record on Thursday by scoring 1,167 by losing hazards, the full break being 1,169.

FOOTBALL. —Rugby.— Tho troubles of tho Selection Committee ;iro ninny, and they were increased by thv) victory (17 points to 11) of the '•'Host" over England in the final Rugby trij.%l at Twickenham Tast Saturday. Naturally, this led to changes, four of tho " llest" forwards being picked for tho mulch against Wales Tho whole Harlefjuin three-quarter line and two half-backs have also been selected, which is wise, seeinc that I here was no time- for practice if strangers to each other had been chosen. Tli-.- selection of S. 11. Williams, of Newport, for the position of full-back has led to a pictest by the Welsh Union, but there is no doubt tho English authorities aie entitled Hinder the rules) to claim his services. Williams was born in Monmouthshire, considered an English county, whilst his club (Newport) is altiliated to tho English liugbv Union. In addition, his mother is English, and as he declined the invitation to play for Wales in a trial match, his inclinations are evidentlv English..

—Association.— Wales proved no match for England in the international at Tufnell Park (Loudon) yesterday between amateur football Association teams. The home forwards showed splendid combination, winning by four goals to nil, as against last season's victory of four goals to three. As Manchester United and Aston Villa both won on Saturday, there was no relative change in their positions, though Sunderland fell behind Aston Villa as a result of a beating when visiting the League champions of last season. Unfortunately the Villa v. Sunderland match did not pass oft' without trouble, Low, of Sunderland, being ordered off for unfair charging. As another visitor hurt his nrra, the beaten side was unlucky. The surprising dofeat (3 —0) of Third Lanark on visiting Hibernians, and the splendid victory (6—l) of Glasgow Rangers on entertaining Clyde, has led to further alterations in the Scottish League table, ''Rangers" now showing the way with a lead of a point over Aberdeen, the latter, however, having played one match less. Fulham, Chelsea, and Clapton Orient all failed on Saturday, so that it was not a glorious day for London's chief Second Division teams. Bolton Wanderers are leading, and Chelsea will have to show good football to dethrone tho " Trotters." IX GENERAL. In anticipation of the international polo matches between England and tho United States, the off-side rule will not be observed at Hurlingham during the 1911 season. Tho Grand Prix de Paris will be run at Longchamp on June 25 this year. Denmark, winner of the Walsall Steeplechase this week, was bought out of the shafts of a cart for £5. Devon's win over Cornwall gives the victors top place in the South-west Division of the Rugby County Championship competition, and entitles Devon to figure in the semi-Snals.