THE SPOTTING WORLD

Evening Star, Issue 15076, 7 January 1913, Page 2

THE SPOTTING WORLD

[From. Ode London Correspondent.] November 29. ATHLLTICS. Every promising athlete who is ■unearthed now is particularly welcome, as, all being well, he should be just about at his best form when the Olympic Games are held at Berlin in 1916. It is an additional matter for satisfaction when a new star happens to be a ’Varsity man. First liecause, it is to be hoped, a much bigger proportion of Oxford and Cambridge athletes will represent the country in international fray in the future. They alone have the time to properly fit themselves for the task. The rank and file of athletes may be ever so keen and worthy, but the majority find it quite impossible to get away from business for the purpose of several weeks’ serious training. These remarks are prompted by tho excellent run - ning of D. X. Gaussen in the cross-country match between the High gate Hamers and Oxford University. The race was decided over the ’Varsity Shotover course, and was about seven and a-half miles in extent. Gaussen showed capital judgment, going to the front over the last jrortion, and winning comfortably by 100 yds from H. Brooks, ouo of the Highgato Club’s best men. It is well to remember that the Highgate Club holds the Southern Counties Cross-country Championship, so that the Oxford men wore wei! tested, and yet tliev won tho team honors by 26 points to 29. The individual winner "hails from Berkha mpsted, and seeing how easilv he won the half-mile and two miles at tho Freshmen s Sports he is evidently a find, for Oxford. Ho was only just beaten by F R Ashenden in the Public Schools’ One-mile Championship last spring, and beine a sturdy runner, he is likely to come to°his best pretty early. Ashenden is a very stylish mover, but built on slender lines. Acting on ihe advice of the. writer, ho lias taken matters easily during the last six months. If Ashenden continues to save ■himselt for a couple of seasons, he may ieiy likely turn out a real champion, io rciiirn to Gaussen, his latest perforinaaicc stamps him as a fine stayer, and he is sure to run prominently against Camonage, both in the cross-country match and tne three miles at the inter-’Varsity Sports.

It does on« good to read P. J. Bakers outspoken rebuke to the poor sportsmen Trim so injured England’s prestige by traducing American athletes following the recent Olympic Games. Baker, who is the late president of the Cambridge University A.C. has contributed an article in the Cambridge ‘ Granta,’ which, is most welcome. He severely takes to task those critics who objected to American methods ns something to be avoided. Perhaps the most telling portion of his article is his remark that “the members of the' British Olympic team have not'been guilty of miiair criticism., yet they are branded as poor losers tar the fuhninations of, the journalists ’ because it was three only who set the ball rolling. Others, who were, not at Stockholm, J,ook up the slandering to the shame of England. As the winter has pointed out before. Americans must try to recognise that the slanders come from those who arc not practical athletes, and they do not echo the opinions of the Olympic team or the old athletes who were at the Games.

P. J. Baker s testimony is particularly welcome, because his name was associated with one of the slanders circulated by the representative of a London paper " The slander was that A. X. S. Jackson won the 1.590 metres because the American runners thought Baker was the best man, and they_ paid him attentions in the way of pocketing and elbowing to him.” Even, 7 judge ot athletics who saw the race knows it was fairly run, but just to show the strength of the slander referred to, something else may be. mentioned. When the Americans gave a reception on the Finland on July 4, the writer was able to make J. Paul Jones (America’s great miler) and P. J. Baker acquainted. The latter then remarked: “Let me introduce you to vour most dangerous rival,” whereupon ho presented Jackson. So much for this slander. Whenever any of my readers hear anything said against American tactics, they should remember that no athlete or athletic authority has made charges. On the other hand, some of the most prominent athletes who attended the Olympic Games have testified to the fairness of the Americans. It is to be hoped we have now heard the last of this unsatisfactory subject, which so injured England's name for true sportsmanship and fairness. BOXIXG. There was no trophy the late Jim Mace prized more than the world’s championship licit presented to him by the sportsmen- of Australia. Mace showed the belt (with others) to the writer in Cape Town some eight years ago, when ho remarked; ’•Three things I am particularly proud of arc that I can play the violin, that I could once run half a mile in 2min 2sec, and this belt.” The trophy is now 7 in the possession of Dick Burgh, once the lightweight champion, and now a promoter of contests. He intends putting up the bohfor a heavy-weight contest, open to British-born boxers, which ought to draw. The venture recalls the contest run by Madden for the purpose of discovering an opponent for J. L. Sullivan, and which ended in the success of ChaiTe Mitchell, then a middle-weight. England has not shown up well in the heavy-weight world of late years, but a country which produced Tom Sayers, Tom King, Jim ’.Mace, G. Mitchell, and Bob Fitzsimmons is sure to have another worthy champion in duo course.

FOOTBALL. —Rugby.— “A surprising team.” This will probably be the way we shall talk of the South African Rugby footballers before much longer. Alter being beaten by Newport and London, they’ -gave us a taste of their ability by showing splendid football against Scotland in tho first of the internationals. The visitors had set their hearts on winning, so as to avenge the defeat of tho ISO 6 Springboks at Glasgow. Last Saturday’s match at Edinburgh attracted a splendid crowd, but it was curious to note that the hopes of the home players were not high. To make a- good struggle appeared to bo the limit of their hopes. Tire Springboks had one mission—to win—and if ever mind played a part in a win it was on Saturday. There was not much in it for half an hour, but once tho visitors discovered that the Scotch forwards were not to bo dreaded in their loose rushes, it was all over. From that stage tho South Africans overwhelmed their rivals, save for about 10 minutes near the end, when the Scots rallied. The South African forwards easilycarried the scrums, and the "halves” and “threes” did what they conk! to open up the game. Tire home “ threes " were (with the one exception of Sutherland) like carthorses in comparison to the. speedy visitors, of whom Stegmann showed up particularly well. He was too much for the Scottish left wing, two of the four tries being due to I:is great sprinting ability. M'Hardy and W. H. Morkel were other try-scorers, two of which were converted. The critics agree that the Scots failed to show their usual dash and file. It is also clear than an exceptional pack will have to be picked to beat the visitors in the scrums. The “little lot” on Saturday averaged 1961b each, and they are fast with it. The side selected to meet Glasgow on Wednesday only contained four of the men who opposd Scotland. In spite of this, the Springboks proved equal to running up a score o: 38 poirts to 3, their biggest win to date.. The brilliancy of Wentmore was the talk of the critics, and if he fails to get -ecognition in some of the remaining internationals it will be surprising. Another feature of the game was the kicking of Cr. Morkel, wfic converted four tries otli of five attempts, [Morkel was mainly responsible for the defeat of England last Saturday, when the Springboks w-on their fourth international.—Ed. E.S ] , —Association.— Considering the poor form of London teams in the First Division championship this season, it was strange indeed to find two of the despised metropolitan clubs accomplishing the iv-Mtorious performances on Saturday VTstyn had not come

the way of Tottenham Hotspur as the result of the first dozen matches of the season, so that few thought a visit from the powerful Newcastle United team would yield 2 points. The home side played really well, however and Cantrell scored the only goal of the match, so crediting the “ Spurs ” with their first win of the season. The petformance of Chelsea in drawing at Blackburn was quite equal to the win of the Spurs. The champions are very heard to beat on their own ground, but when Chelsea opened the scoring it looked as though the Rovers would fail. A fine effort near tho end led to Simpson equalising, however, and so partly saving the home side. Another match deserving of mention was the trial between England' and the South. The victory of the latter 12 goals to 1) came as a big surprise, particularly as the winning team included five amateurs. Aivian Woodward (forward), the Rev. R. Hunt (half-back), and E. C. Brebner (goal) have made their mark before, but no one ex r such form from A. E. Knight and p. Burn. They were the backs, and their display was not overshadowed by Compton and Pennington on tho opposing side. THE TURF. Another flat-racing season has run its course. The year 1912 will be remembered lor the manner cracks have failed in important events, and the form of several has been very uncertain. This was not confined to the classic events, fo; after Palatine nad gained the distinction of being termed the best horse in training no was most unexpectedly beaten, '.hough giving away a lot of weight. 1 hanks to Prince Palatine, top place in the winning owners’ list is hold by Mr T. Pilkington, the stakes won amounting to £20,822, or over 100,000dol. The Hon. G. Lampton shows the wav to all the trainers, horses in his care bavin*' won 5o races, worth £22.887. 3 . tlnce again, tho fourth time in succespride of place among jockeys is held by Fiank Wootton, with a reend of 118. just nine more than D. Maher has gained, wootton also gains the distinction of having beaten Maher (for the first time) as regards percentage of wins to mounts. IN GENERAL. Tho intei national lawn tennis matches between representatives of Bremen and the Dulwich Club were played in the Dulwich covered courts. B. N. Doust, of Australia, figured among the home plavers. and ms good form had a lot to do with the defeat of the Germans by 8 matches to 4. , T l * Aiken had an easy task against Higgle in their heat of the BuiToughesWatts tournament.

Tu all probability we shall see another taco for the worlds sculling championship next July, E. Barry having agreed to allow rl. learce £IOO towards his expenses and to scull a match for £SOO a side. The French balloon Picardie won the Crordnn-Bennett Cun race with the rcc id distance of 1,358 miles. The Cambridge ’Varsity players showed excellent form ir. their hockey match against the strong Blackhcath team, winning by 4 goals to 1. Some tall scoring was seen in the bra lacrosse fixtures oi Saturday, West Loiu don b-sating Cambridge University bv 13 goals to 2, whilst Lancashire defeated Oxlord by 19 goals to 5. M Inman is now meeting Higgle in the their series of billiard matches of 18.000 up, the latter with 1,250 points Start. Inman has also agreed to concede to " L - in a game of 18.000 up. Inman is certainly 'lavir.-v we 1, a break of his on Wednesday only facing short of 400 bv a matter of "2 points.