ENGLISH SPORTS LETTER

Evening Star, Issue 17368, 2 June 1920, Page 7

ENGLISH SPORTS LETTER

[By Ex-Champion.] j L©NDON, April 7. I THE TURF. ! The enormous crowds which supported the Easter meetings at 'Manchester, Kempton Park, and elsewhere indicate still fur- j Iher that matters connected with the turf are to " hum " this season. With j such unmistakable evidence of the sporting instincts of the people, it is more than surprising that the Government still follow what may he termed a non-sporting policy, or, more correctly speaking, a anti-sport-ing policy, by refusing to legalise betting, by _ putting a ban on sweepstakes, by refusing to introduce premium bonds, and so on. _ This pandering to the email bnfr noisy section which 13 opposed to sports offends the large-hearted individual and does the Government much harm. Unfortunately two of the events at Manchester on Bank Holiday were declared void', and there were only three races. The Lancashire Steeplechase atoned for much, however this'event of 2,ooosovs in value being only second in importance to the Grand National, so far as British races over jumps aro concerned. On the strength of having run second to Poethlyn last year, The Knocks was made favorite, but failed the public, a second fancy in Dunadry scoring nicely in a good field. The Queen's Prize at Kempton is one of the most interesting races to the workers of London, as, being decided on Bank Holiday, it gives them a. chance of seeing the race. A fine field'took part, and as the winner was a favorite the success of Sir W. Qilbey's Bridgewater was naturally popular with the'public. - Splendid fields were tho order of the meeting, and the_ Londoner certainly supports gced class racing. Wo shall soon have the popular City and Suburban at Epsom, followed by the groat Derby on the sa-mo course, and everything points to a. memorable year. BOXING. Reverting to the recent T>ewU v. Doyle bout, Lewis had his work cut out-'to win. as during- tho seventh and ninth rounds it looked as though Doyle might score a knock-out. In the 11th round, however, Lowis got in a, right upper-cut which floored Doyle, who never properly recovered, and was well beaten in the* 11th round. Considerable interest was shown in the reappearance of Frank Moran in London this week, when he met the bi» Cumberland boxer Tom Cowler, who lias lately returned after a lengthy stay in the United States. A dramatic finish looked likelv in the very first round, when stiff punches bv Moran made Cowler appear groggy. This led supporters of the American to urge him to go in and finish matters, but Cowler rather took "the wind out of their sails by leaning over the ropes when in a clinch* and' asking M'Goorty what was the matter. After this the bout resolved itself into a rough contest, in which there was much holding and far leas speed and science than the prestige of the men warranted. Moran was a bit more aggressive than Cowler, however, and this gained him the decision on points at the end of the 15 rounds. BILLIARDS. Inman was recently beaten by Newman and Falkiner in matches wherein he tried to give 1.500, points in 15,000 up, but he managed to defeat Smith in a like encounter. He rose to the occasion at the very last session, and prevailed by a nifis.gin* of 447 points. This will make* him more confident for another match with Falkiner, now in course of decision. The NevraaJi and Falkiner match was a splendid ■ struggle. After being 2. f1 00 in arrears, Falkiner got on terms aarain. and it was only at the final session that Newman managed to get away to win by 478 points. INTERNATIONAL ATHLETICS. After the brilliant win of J. Guillemot, of France, in tho recent National Cross Country ClfampTonshfp of England, he was fully expected to score in the international at Belfast last Saturday, whilst ' a success for the French team would not have surprised anyone. The visitors failed badly, however, and possibly the very heavy going was net to their likin?. The Irish runners showed prominently for three parts of the journey, but in the closing stages the English st avers came to the fore, and they scored Mill another : victory. The scoring six finished 2. 3, 4, 6, 9, 14. a total 01 38 points, and then came Ireland with 70, followed by Scotland and France with 114. This is the 11th race to date, and in each the English team has proved successful. Guillemot gave up at the half distance, and J. Wilson, of Scotland, who led from the start, won handsomely, finishing the nine miles in 55min 6sec, with C. Voce, 55min 35sec, and W. Freeman, 55min 52sec, next. This is the first individual success for Scotland, the previous races bavins been won on seven occasions by Englishmen, whilst the late J. Benin scored three wins for France. A .GREAT tFALK. There is something about walking races from London to Brighton which, -nves them a classic flavor." Another of These events was decided 011 Saturday, when the old brigade again scored. The chief competitors were three past winners ove» the course—viz.. H. V." L. Ross (1809>, T. Payne (1911), arid E. C. Horton (1915). and they were soon" prominent, Pavne forced the pace and created new reco'rds until well over the halfway mark. He overdid it, however, and going up Dak Hill (about 40 miles) he was passed by Ross, and was so dona that he retired. Ross went on to gain a fine win in time only beaten by himself over the course (52i miles), bus record being Bhr llmin 4sec, in 1909. The leaders and times were: hj. m. s. H. V. L, R033, Heme Hill Harriers „ ... 8 35 SE E. C. Horton, Surrev. W.C. ... 8 55 c E. Parciow, Surrey, "W.C, ... 8 53 ] Ross 13 a real veteran, and it sneaks we) for his stamina that hs is walking Beam as well as ever. """' FOOTBALL. New football history was created ai Dubun on Saturday, when Frence gaine< the first win over "Ireland in an interna tional Rugby fixture. Thero vra-s nothing fluky about "the win, as the visitors wert much the better at every department, o the game save in the latter stages, wher the Irish forwards were more in tie nictun with their rushes and excellent dribbling I Great pace was a feature of the French j halves, threes, and back, and it may b< counted on that Fiance will tako an" im portant place in the Rugby world befon Very long. Tho first win in an interna. tional Rugger match was over Scotland ai sPara in 1911, and this second success wil certainly inspire our near neighbors. Tin Irishmen got a dropped goal and one tri at Dublin, whilst the visitors crossed th< home line five times, though none of tin tries were converted. IN GENERAL. TJiere k no doubt that Eton has a ro niarkable all-round athlete in the persor of I. J. Pitman. He won all the senioi events at the college .sports last Saturday. whilst he had previously secured the mile! the steeplechase, and one of tho boxiiis events. r E. Barry had a fine send-o'ft' when start ing for Australia last Saturday. Ho is hopeful that he will turn the'tables 01 F&lton, who beat him for the world's sculling championship on the Thames Apropos of his visit to Australia, a Liverpool sportsman gave £2OO towards tin expenses, and is- also putting rip a gok cup (value £300) as a trophy. One of the most interesting Easter gol events "vas the North Foreland competitioi for tho Victory Cup. This ended in favo: , of Owen Hares, a well-known actor, wh< j had a handicap of seven, A party oi Oxford and Cambridge ath letes, which includes Colonel Arnold Jack son, D.5.0., the Olympic 1,500 metre; champion of 1912, has left for Amelia for tlw purpose of competing at the Uni vereity of Pennsylvania relay meeting. Although the English amateur Soccoj team touring on the Continent lost agains' Belgium, they easily defeated France bi 5 goals io nil. Shtmr<x.k is to go to the Unitec i States for the purpose of trying out Sii

Thomas Lipton's new challenger, which will make another effort to win the America Cup. A generous sportsman, who landed a double over tho Lincoln and Grand National, instructed' the bookmaker concerned to send £IOO of the winnings to the St. Dunstan's Home for blinded soldiers and sailors. This good action should commend itself to other fortunate specula- 1 tors.