A SPORTSMAN’S NOTEBOOK

Evening Star, Issue 20671, 19 December 1930, Page 16

A SPORTSMAN’S NOTEBOOK

GLEANINGS FROM SPORT [By H.B.S.] In these days of almost time-limitless test cricket matches suggestions arc frequently being made as to means by which the giand old game ol cricket may be brightened up. The adoption of the larger wickets had that end in view, and one ingenious enthusiast m England Ims come to light with a suggestion which, while it will probably never bo even considered, is certainly entertaining, lie declares that a remedy for dull cricket, to be effective, must provide an incentive at the wicket for each ball bowled. He suggests that an extra be added to the total for every ball scored off, and one deducted for every ball not scored oft, the extras to be added or deducted at the end of each over to avoid the complication ol including them in the individual bats men’s scores. By holding out 100 pm cent, premium on singles as against 25 per cent, on fours the rule would apply a remedy where most it is needed, ho asserts —i.e., it would oiler the highest inducement to batsmen to score off balls which convention and an indifferent system of apportioning championship points have hitherto taught them merely to stop. The scoring of a single or a two more often than not engages half the side in an attempt to field the ball or back up the throw-in, to the obvious advantage of players and spectators alike, whereas a loose ball, hit for 4 on a present-day ground surface, frequently gives the field no time even to move, and its whereabouts only becomes apparent to spectators at ground level when one of their number, throws it in from the ropes. One can imagine tho task of the scorers under such a scheme, but one can also hazard a guess that the adoption of such a scheme would take cricket to the other ex-treme-back to the village green stage 1 Cricket reformers are likely to be ever with us. •»» « . Tho increasing need , for improved swimming facilities is being stressed at every meeting of tho Otago Swimming Centre, but* the strongest arguments advanced so far were put up by Mr D. Forsyth, of the Schools’ Sports Association, last week, when he put forward the claims of the school children for better facilities in which they might learn to swim. Mr Forsyth has a good, backing behind him, for his association represents something like 1,000 children, and it was a strong point ho made when ho stated that the experience at the ; schools’ swimming carnivals was that the successful swimmers usually hailed from those schools within easy access of the municipal tepid baths. No definite scheme has yet been drawn up by those agitating for more facilities, but once tho attitude of. tho City Council has been gauged it should not take long to draw up definite proposals. The Swimming Centro and the Schools’ Sports Association aro to send representatives in a deputation to the City Council when the schools resume in February, and it is pleasing to sec that tho swimming people realise that they have their part to play in the movement. Their willingness to make a big effort to raise funds to assist in improving the present swjmming accommodation will ensure for them much practical sympathy from tho public, and even if it takes some years to bring about the desired improvement there is no doubt that the scheme should; be launched as soon as possible. »*. * * An amusing incident concerning two well-known meal athletes took place daring the week. They were busily discussing running in the office one afternoon when another member of the staff, casting tho bait, told -them to cease as they knew nothing about it. That was a challenge that no selfrespeeting athlete could let pass, and when the intefjector (whose athletic days were Jong past) told them that ho had once run a mile and a tenth in Cmin in his clothes- they laughed at him, and immediately a match was made. Conditions were drawn up. and the two aforesaid athletes agreed to pay their companion a penny for every second that he cut off 7min in running a mile that night, They proceeded to tho Caledonian Ground, and in a high wind tho non-athlete prepared to make good Ins boast. Two well-known local niilers assisted him over the last couple of laps, and the time was returned at 6min. The athletes aro now bemoaning the loss of live good shillings each.

Only recently, an American writer pointed out that very rarely was a fighter heard of making another great fighter. Jeffries, Corbett, Johnson, Fitzsimmons, and Dsinpsey have all tried to develop a world boater, hut each and every one of them proved a blow-out. Coming nearer home, however, there is the instance of Davo Smith, an Otago-born boxer, who played a big part in tlio development of several reallv great fighters. He it was who helped Les Darcy on the road to fame by his tutoring, and later there was,afforded the spectacle of that peerless Australian fighter meeting his teacher in the ring to score an elevenround knock-out against him. And no one will ever doubt that Darcy was a fighter of the world’s best class. In recent years in New Zealand there has been another instance. Archie Leckio, one-time piofessional middle-weight champion of New Zealand, brought Johnny Leckie on frony novice ranks to make him feather-weight champion of New Zealand, and there are not likely to be many who will gainsay the fact that Johnny Leckio at his very best has shown himself to bo a groat fighfer. And tl>o Leckie influence on Otago boxing, great as it has been, dates back to the influence of one of the world’s greatest gloveinen, Jem M ace. When Mace was in Dunedin the late Billy Parker learnt much from the Englishman, and it was from Parker that the first of the Leckies gleaned the rudiments of tire game.

The Otago track and field athletic championships are to bo held three weeks before the big New Zealand fixture at which the Americans will appear, and the president of the Otago Centre (Mr 10. L. Macassey) has tlve intention of bringing before the centre a proposal that the team should bo selected as soon as possible after the provincial meeting, and given a special final preparation for the big meet. Mr Macassey is on sound lines, and there is every hope of his scheme being adopted He lias put forward a further suggestion tlvat is wot thy of every consideration. It is to the effect that an effort should bo made to get Billy Trembath, former world’s quarter-mile professional champion, to come, to Dunedin some time before the _ New Zealand championship meeting in order to guide the Otago representatives qver the final stages of their preparation. No man could be bolter suited lor the task. Trembath was not only a great, quarter and half-miler, but a wonderlnl .runner over all distances from 100yds to the half-mile. He won an Australian title as an amateur at seventeen years of age, and then as a professional at

thirty-six years of age ho came out, after an absence of eight- years from the track, to win New Zealand titles from 220vds to 880yds. Trembath was a beautifully graceful runner in action, and this writer has seen instances of his ability as a' coach. He twice bettered limn udscc for the half-mile, and when he won his world’s championship, it was A. B. Bostic that he beat, Trembath, since retiring from active participation in athletics, has not been out of athletics altogether, and for a couple of seasons he acted as starter to the Invercargill Amateur Athletic Club, the Olympic champion, Jackson Scliolz. classing nun as one of the best he encountered on his tour of the dominion. Suggestions such as those to be put forward by Mr Maeassey are worthy of very serious < onsidcration.