PEOPLE AND PERFORMANCES

Evening Star, Issue 18399, 6 October 1923, Page 9

PEOPLE AND PERFORMANCES

The State Governor, Sir Waller DavidDOS, who died at Government House, was toijnya Die Sydney ‘ Referee ’), like most of Eb predecessors, a broad-minded, wholcwnlod English sportsman—-British, if you W&fer it. Now South Wales has had Governors who cut a bigger figure in sport, such as Sir Hercules Robinson, who raced hii own horses on classic I’andwick; Lord Carrington, who turned out in regal style at all big sporting events; Sir William Denison, creator of the Domain Cricket Ground; Lord Hampden, a tine cricketer in hia youth; Lord Jersey, a gentle patron of all games ; and Lord Chelmsford, himself a first-class cricketer. Sir Waller Davidson was as popular with sportsmen as any of these. As an actual participant in sport our late Governor was, perhaps, best known as an oarsman and sculler, especially in his college days at Cambridge. He not only thoroughly understood the technique of rowing, but tradition has it he pulled an exceedingly good oar. No section of.tho community will more keenly regret his death than the fraternity of the car and scull. Tommy Fairhal! lias been matched ■under tho Hutt Valley Association to box hia fellow-countryman, Jack Finney, next Monday at Belono for a purse of £l5O. and the best of fifteen rounds. The articles cal! for 9.10 at the ringside, so that the pair, fit least ns far as weight is concerned, should bo very evenly matched. Fairhall has another date with \ olairc at Greymonth on October 20. One of the nnluckiest boxers who have visited New Zealand is certainly that clever light-weight, Billy Preston, but admittedly'’ his fello .v-Australia n, Freddy Smith, runs him to a very close, decision (says the Wellington ‘Post’). After his recent short and siuhleu contest vita Tommy Fairhall, Smith made up his mind to show followers of the game that he really conkl fight, and after asking for what he called an opportunity to rehabilitate himself, ho was given a chance at New Plymouth with tho aggressive Auckland ex-amateur, Harry -May, who, by the way, has to his credit a decision over Paul Demsky. The card of the referee, Mr T. Sampson, of Auckland, showed that May took the fir?> second, fourth, and ninth rounds, Smith the fifth, sixth, seventh, eleventh, thirteenth, and louiteenth, and the remaining rounds were drawn. It would therefore appear that had Smith not fouled his opponent in the final round by striking him when he was down he must hove been awarded the decision. All the New Plymouth critics appear to bo strongly convinced that tho blow was both unfortunate and accidental, and while agreeing that Smith is certainly ttnluckv, they all agree that the referee took the only possible course. However, tho pair will most surely b© matched in a return bout in the near future, and the result will be awaited with interest. Smith has been promised another tight at New Plymouth, probably with "V olairc after the hitter’s return from Greymouth.

Clarrie Grimmett, ex-Wellington cricketer, is to leave Victoria and throw in his lot with South Australia. Grimmett had a wonderful season, capturing sixtyeight wickets at an average of 11.5 tor his club (Prahrau), which won the premiership. W. M. Woodfull’s scores last season make an imposing array. With the \ ictorian First Eleven team v. MacLaron’s English Eleven, 74 and 4 not out ; v. New South Wales, at .Melbourne, 47 and 64 not out ; v. South Australia, at Melbourne, 0 and 115; v. N'ew South Wales, at Sydney, 27 and 24; v. South Australia, at Adelaide, 123 and 94 not out; v. MacLaren’s English Eleven, 6. The interstate figures read; Eight innings, 2 not outs, 6d4 runs, average 85.65. lids average headed the list for interstate players, and is a remarkable achievement fur a player in his first season. His figures for the South Melbourne first eleven for the two seasons he has played are also remarkable : Fourteen innings, 2 not outs, 940 runs, average 78.3. Taking his figures for two years since ho has played in representative cricket, they present a wonderful record—s 3 innings, 8 not outs, 2,064 runs, average 82.5. His highest individual score was 227 not out, made on the Melbourne Cricket Ground against New .South Wales second eleven in 1921-22. The very fine partnership of Park and Wood!nil for the first wicket fur his dub against Northcote realised 515 runs.

The possibility of an English professional cricketer ot high repute being engaged to come to Auckland as a coach to the clubs in the city was mentioned at the animal meeting of the Auckland Cricket Association by the president (Mr F. Earl, K.C.). The committee, said Mr Earl, had been for a long time considering the engagement of a coach, and still thought it desirable to import one. Many friends, supporters, and old cricketers were very keen on having a coach, remembering the highly tonic effect on local cricket of A. E. Rolf. But it had to be remembered that there were not many A. E. Keifs about; they were very scare and very expensive. The crack Australian sprinter (E. W. “ Slip ” Carr), in a letter to the Sydney * Referee,’ mentions that the progress of the Germans towards sport has astonished him. He reports that the Charloltenburg Club alone has a membership of over 6,000. In another letter he says; “ I am now in Copenhagen. I leave to-morrow for Berlin, compete there on August 5, and then in turn go to Dusseldorf, Prague, Budapest, and Vienna. To dale have competed in thirty-one races (apart from relay events), winning thirty times and losing once. The thirty-one races are made up thusly: Fourteen heats, fourteen finals, two serni-finals, and the run-off. In the finals I managed to secure thirteen firsts.” A fine record truly. Carr has since won many other races, and Bohemian papers acclaim him as the greatest sprinter ever seen.

“ I understand that over £I.OOO was left in New Plymouth as a result of hotting on the Moascar Cup match between the local high school and the Palmerston school,” said Mr L. A. Nolan (chairman), when condemning the wholesale gambling on school Rugby fixtures at the meeting of the Board of Governors (says the ‘Taranaki Herald’). The boys played the game for the game’s sake, he continued; but the fault lay with (he adults. One member agreed with the suggestion that it would be a good thing if all football trophies were burnt. The opinion was general that the New Zealand Rugby Union’s policy had been most unfortunate, and several speakers favored homo-and-home matches.

H. E. Hunter, an eighteen-year-old Queenslander, recently covered a quartermils in 50 2-sscc. 'Ho is expected to develop into an Australasian champion. Amateur cycling is booming in Victoria. For the B.S.A. “ Fifty,” held at Footscray, a record nomination of IS7 was received, which lowers the previous best111—for the recent Barnet Glass Shield. Jack Gregory, the famous cricketer, plays many parts in sport. Tennis, with all its Davis Cup prospects, was not at re minus enough for him, so he turned to golf, and the other day at Parramatta helped to win n foursome. “ Young Butcher,” the "West Australian boxer, who recently knocked out the American Herman in two minutes at the Sydney Stadium, is a product of (he W.A. goldfields. He enlisted in the A.I.F. when only fourteen years of age, but was so well developed that he easily passed for the regulation age, eighteen years. Ho was invalided home with a memento of the war, in the form of a right hand with only two fingers.

Golfers who attended the Wanganui tournament were not unanimous in respect to the Belmont course (says tho ‘ Dominion ’). Some of tho visitors were inclined to complain about it on account of its hilly nature; but authorities, whoso views are entitled to respect, have nothing but praise to bestow on the links. “ They are just like Glenoagles, only on a small, r scale," said J. 11. Galloway, the Mauawatu professional, who lias only liven out from Scotland for about nine months. “ When I saw the fourth hole I thought it must surely have been designed by Dr Mackenzie, (bo famous golf architect. If von had courses like this all over Now /jealaiul yon would have better golf, because they compel you to think all the time. Tho holes on the flat remind me verv much of the old St. Andrews course.”

Edwin W. Carr, the Australian champion amateur runner, who has made history on European tracks, writing to a Sydney friend, says inter alia:— 1 I saw Arno Borg, the Swedish champion swimmer, in action. Ho is wonderful over 500 metres. At Gothenburg ho broke Norman Ross’s record with comparative ease, winning by the length of tho baths. He is only just a boy." In New Zealand more is done for the amateur boxer than anywhere else, in the world (says Dm Sydney ‘ Refer, o '). Several boxing associations there hold frequent meetings, whereat not only members of the promoting bodies hut those of widely separated like, institutions figure. Thus is a snirit of strong district rivalry imparled info the gatherings, and each contestant is moved to putting forth, every ell’ort he is capable of towards achieving success. Is it, therefore, to be wondered at that tho New Zealanders are so consistently successful as bidders for like continent's honors? If amateur boxers arc to get back to where they used to bo in the years that arc gone, they must he given at least a. fair amount, of work—the more the better—where work will have the desired effect—in the ring.

The cablegrams tell us that there will be nn Australian cricket team sent to New Zealand this season. This will bo a disTinct disappointment, as New Zealand placers were lookino- forward to tho team to conlinno the stimulus given to the game by the English tour of last season (says the Wellington 'Dominion'). Prom tho point of view of Wellington, however, tho disappointment will not be felt keenly, if an Australian team can bo guaranteed for the following season, na by then there will bo additional accommodation in the fine new grand stand which is to be erected. Wellington generally has to accommodate crowds for two test matches, and it has been felt that with better facilities for comfort for visitors the financial aspect of tho tour would benefit considerably with ampler accommodation at the Basin Reserve. From tho Australian point of vFw, one can understand the decision. Australia is preparing to receive another English team in October next year, and to go Homo the year following. Last season disclosed so much new cricket talent amor'g the colts that the selectors will have plenty to do this season to pick and choose. In such circumstances a tour of New Zealand might disturb their arrangements in regard to the Sheffield Shield end trial matches.

Firpo is said to have the biggest hands of any present-day heavy-weight. They must bo some hands if they arc bigger than Willard’s. Willard can take a cricket hall in one hand and so completely cover it that the bell cannot be seen at all. Put wonder what size feet Firpo has? The biggest feet of all the heavy-weights probably are those, of Jack Johnson. His feet are regular canal-boats. Gunboat Smith is another who'has big feet. Most persons have always thought he was called

“Gunboat” because he was in the navy. He acquired the nickname in the navy all ritr'ht, but because of his feet, which look like a pair of gunboats. A cable message from London states that 11. Smith, tho Gloucestershire wicketkeeper, got rid of six of the first coven batsmen, stumping two and catching four, in a county match. While this is a fine performance, it has been equalled in England many times. The record number of wickets taken by a wicketkeeper in a first Mass match is twelve (eight caught and four stumped), by Edward Pooley, for Surrey v. Sussex, away back in 1868. 'Ten yem-.s later Pooley took ten wickets ('two eaiiolit and eight stumped). Jim Kelly caught eicht bat men for Australia v. England in the first test match in Sydney in 1902. four in each innings. In 1909-10 E. J. Long secured eight out of the ten wickets in the first innings of Bur wood against Middle Harbor, all off •T. Randall, tho slow bowler. Eddie Long then made a world’s record. He has played for New South Wales, and was also a member of the A.T.F. team.

Mr C. G. (“Gillie”) Wilson, the oxOtago representative cricketer, has been elected chairman of tho Wellington Cricket Association’s Management Committee.

Joe Welling won the decision over Hugh Dwyer, light-weight champion boxer of Australia, after a listless ten rounds before- 5.C09 spectators in America last week. Welling in the fourth round opened a cut over the Australian’s eve, Dwyer thereafter weakening appreciably until he was barely able to stand upright in the sixth round. Welling, however, was unable to produce the knock-out punch. Neither man afterwards displayed strategy, spirit, or technique, tho bout ultimately degenerating into a weak exhibition of clinching and holding. The Australian Jockey Club’s Derby was decided at Rand wick last Saturday, and victory was once again with a horse carrying tho colors of a New Zealand owner. Mr 11. A, Knight, of Canterbury, furnished the winner with Ballymena, and as the horse, was privately bred by his owner the win is tho move complete. This marks tire fifth occasion in the last seven years that New Zealand owners have captured the A.J.C. Derby. In 1916 Messrs Stead and I-uttrell won with Kilbnv, and in 1917, 1018, and 1921 Mr G. D. Greenwood furnished lire respective winners with Biplane, Gloaming, and Cupidnn. “ The price of cricket to-day is prohibitive,” said Mr 11. J. Buck when the Management Committee of the Wellington Cricket Association was considering ways anil means of making flic game a little less expensive for the. younger players. “ Bowls and tennis are cheaper. If wo are going to make, a reduction wc should make it to the young players coming on.” Mr C. G. Wilson (chairman) also had something to say on the matter.

“ Wo don’t want io make a profit out ol these players—the junior players,” ho said, and added that everyone was in favor of making cricket cheaper if possible. Ho was favorable to the proposal to lessen the fees paid by the third and fourth grade players.