SPORT IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 20634, 6 November 1930, Page 15

SPORT IN BRITAIN

[From Oua English Cokresponpent.] LONDON, September 24. THE TURF. The recent case of doping a horse in Scotland lias aroused interest in a matter which became a danger to the wellbeing of thoroughbreds twenty years ago. The Hon. G. Lampton has given his experience of the matter, which must satisfy every good sportsman that the strongest steps to stop doping were justified. From what the expert gentleman says it seems clear that some badtempered animals could be made to give a good display in a race when given a dope. It is also assorted that whilst a mild dose might do all desired the first time increased doses were necessary for future races. This is just the same as the experience of humans who take drugs, say, for the purpose of inducing sleep. What was soon proved about doping was that the horse was harmed for stud purposes. There are examples of mares being so injured through doping that they were practically useless at the stud, and dropped dead foals for several seasons. Thus the Jockey Club of England showed sound judgment in trying to put down doping with an iron hand. . * Mention of this subject is a reminder of rather a clever move on the part of the racing authorities at a certain meeting in Spain some years ago. Having inside information that most of the animals in a certain important race had been given stimulants the stewards delayed the start by fully an hour. _ By that time the doped animals were in a sorry state, and the race was easily won by one of the few which bad not been “ stimulated. 1 ' The authorities are well aware that it is possible to give _ a horse a mild dope (calculated to stimulate the animal to a big effort) without any evidence to show it, providing it is only done once. Knowing this, it would certainly seem advisable that certain precautions were taken as a _ matter of course. For example, it might be the rule to examine the saliva of the winner of all classic races and of the winner or placed animals in any race at the request of the owner of any animal competing in the event concerned. If it were understood that any winner might be so examined it would he a great check on trainers inclined to take a chance. The success of Lord Glanely’s horses recently have led to this well-known owner passing H.H. Aga Khan in the race for leadership. It is a near thing, however, and the end is not yet, a matter of only a few hundreds being between them. F. Fox mid Gordon Richards are almost neck and neck for the jockeys’ championship, the latter having closed the gap recently so that he was only three behind when racing ended at the close of tlio week. CRICKET. The test match b'Tween England and Australia at Kennington Oval, which ended in the visitors regaining the “ ashes,” was so drawn out that much interest was lost. As a result many keen followers of cricket in England said': ‘‘Never again; wo must have a time limit in future.” What prominent Australians say on the_ matter naturally attracts much attention, and it can be taken for granted _ that the authorities in England will be influenced by what is said “ down under.” The English plan of allotting four days for tcs‘ with the understanding that the last shall be played to a finish if the result of the series depends on it, has much to recommend-it. Playing all tests to a finish is an idea which will not command much support in England, largely owing to the fact that it would upset the county championship matches. One of the strongest reasons for playing a test to a finish is that it really docs seem futile to bring men eight thousand miles for a test and then leave it undecided for the sake of perhaps a few more hours. Pour days may seem ample time for a match, providing the players get on with it, but rain might stop play for hours, and so reduce the actual playing time to less than throe normal days. Thus the difficulties are many, but as undecided matches are very unsatisfactory playing to a finish seems reasonable, even if it be necessary to reduce the tests from five to three. SOCCER. Paying thousands of pounds for the service of star players does not always command instant success. Chelsea is in the happy position of being able to buy famous players who have made their name in Soccer. Alex. Jackson, from Huddersfield, is a recent case in point, but ho has not brought much success to his new dub yet. That is not his fault, for history has shown that real understanding and co-opera-tion can only come after many weeks together. The accident to a pivot, player sometimes leads to a successful team going all to_ pieces. Occasionally, however, it is the other way about, an accident letting in a reserve man who just fits in and blends with others, with highly satisfactory results. In these matters the experienced coach or manager plays a ’’cry important part, and it has been shown that it pays to make experiments and try players in different positions. Chelsea received Bolton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge last Saturday, and .on form should have won comfortably, the visitors being well down the table. To the surprise and disappointment of the Chelsea supporters, Bolton scored the only goal of the match, this being the first away success of the chib this season, and also the first homo reverse for Chelsea. The duel between Arsenal and ,':ston Villa continues to he very close and exciting. Both gained homo victories on Saturday, that of Arsenal being slightly more convincing, and the London club has a slight advantage through a superior goal average. Villa had Liverpool as visitors, and four homo players each registered a goal, whilst Liverpool got two. Arsenal also scored four times against Leicester to once by the visitors. Both Arsenal and Villa have won six out ol seven engagements, the slight advantage of the former being that twentyfour goals have bceen scored and nine conceded, whilst the Villa have scored twentv-ono goals to eight by rivals. Roth the Manchester clubs are concerned at the other end of the table, the United not having yet gained even one point. Seven defeats in succession is indeed a had ptnrt, and the City team is little better off, w;ith but a single victory bo far this season. Manchester is a hotbed of football fans, and there is plenty of support for the home clubs, so that want of encouragement cannot be advanced as a reason for this very black outlook. Surprises in the second division have shown that even the mighty sometimes fall. The lowly-placed Port Vale had to visit Everton, and yet gained the distinction of being the first club to defeat this team so far. Form is sometimes mixed in football, and it was indeed a surprise to see Everton beaten at homo by the odd goal in five. This has given new colour to the struggle in the second division, Everton and West Bromwich Albion having an equal number of points as a result.

First defeats of the season were quite general for prominent clubs on Saturday, Glasgow Rangers going under when called on to visit Celtic. The home side, gave the best display of the season, and scored twice, without response. This put Partick Thistle on top, with the same number of points as the Rangers, but with a match in hand. ATHLETICS. The most important event in the athletic world on Saturday was the annual Liverpool Marathon. H. Wood, of Makerfield, who had twice before won the event, ran splendidly, and by gaining a third triumph made the gold cup his own property. His time for the 26m 385yds was 2h 41inin 28sec, very excellent indeed considering the conditions, which were by no means favourable for fast running. BOXING. It has given much satisfaction to hear that Major Arnold Wilson contemplates a return to the fight promotion business. He suffered a big loss over the Gibbons v. Bloomfield fight at Wembley some years ago, and this disappointment, .with illness, put him out of tho game. If ho succeeds in staging a fight between Kid Berg and A 1 Foreman, as is mooted, it ought to prove a paying proposition. Naturally the winner would be assured another attractive contest, so that both ought to bo glad to box for Major Wilson. That it ought to bo possible to make real protectors for the use of boxers, and so stop men being badly hurt by a low punch, has been stated by the writer on several occasions. It is therefore of interest to note that J oil Dickson, the American promoter, has brought back some abdominal shields which are said to meet the situation. If a promoter insisted on both boxers using proper protectors wq should see less squirming and contortions when a man was hit low, often by accident and without real harm. Harry Crossley, the cruiser champion of England, gained a points verdict against F. Fowler in their fifteen-round bout at Newcastle this week. That it went all the way suggests that neither is a very heavy puncher, and that means they are not likely to far in international bouts, where fighting aggressively is a feature. BILLIARDS. Walter Lindrum played sound billiards during the first half of his match against Claud Falkiner, and not only wiped out ■ tho 8,000 points conceded, but set up a lead of 2,488. The Australian was in play with a break of 660 when the match was resumed this week, but to wide disappointment ho broke down at 710. Curiously enough, his rival came along with a four-figure effort, tho break reaching 1,130. This is the first time Falkiner has made a thousand break in England, though he did so when playing Lindrum in Sydney some years ago. Ho overcame difficulties twice during the break, showing real brilliancy, his display gaining him hearty congratulations from his rival and also from Clark M'Conachy, who had just arrived from New Zealand in time to see the break. A matter of interest to followers of English billiards is that Tom Reece is again on the warpath. He issued a challenge to any English player bar Davis and Newman, and this brought forth an answer from H. W. Stevenson, who is willing to meet tho Oldham man. Stevenson used to be one of the most attractive players to watch, and should he and Reece be able to come to terms it will be of interest to note how their play compares with the more modern, cracks. CYCLING. Bill Bayley, one time amateur champion cyclist of England, is now a real veteran, with a grown-up son who races. In spite of his years ho can still hold his own in good company, as ho showed at Herne Hill on Saturday, when ho met Willy Falk Hansen, a young Dane who won the world’s championship honours in his amateur days. They met in a series of three sprint matches, Hansen winning the first by a brilliant spurt in the home straight. Bailey managed to ‘‘hang” on his rival’s wheel in both the other races, and timing his efforts nicely, ho jumped past to gain a winning lead. It was a near thing in the third race, a matter of inches separating tho rivals at tho finishing lino. English riders have also been gaining more laurels in the French motor cycle trials. There were four classes, and as English riders and English machines were first in each there is reason to feel satisfaction over happenings in this particular branch of sport.