SPORT IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 20685, 7 January 1931, Page 9

SPORT IN BRITAIN

[Faoit Oub English Correspondent.] LONDON', November 27. THE TURF. Perhaps never in its history has the Manchester November Handicap aroused such wide interest as the last one to be decided. This was due to the Irish Free State Hospital Sweepstake on the race, an event which is going to play a very important part in events of the future. There may come a time, when the English people, as a whole, will feel very grateful to tho Irish Free State and its Parliament for its action in recognising the love of most people for a little mild gamble,' particularly when it also means helping a deserving cause. As the Manchester November Handicap was being run there was a noticeable thrill of unusual character. Nor did the folks in a position to witness the incident take it as very extraordinary whou two men were seen to practically fall on each other’s necks and shed tears of joy or emotion, when Glorious Devon was ridden to victory by Gordon Richards. It was, of course, presumed that the men so deeply concerned were the fortunate owners of a ticket, which meant something big in sweepstake winnings. The Irish Free State is to sanction other sweeps, and the Grand National next March will bo made all the more interesting in a direct result. One certain thing about these big sweeps is that they will cheek gambling on horse racing, dog racing, football matches, etc., far more effectively than all the sermons preached against it. This because thousands of people will prefer to take their chance by supporting a big sweep, particularly as charities benefit.

—Exciting Jockey’s Championsfup.—

Another feature which made the last day of the fiat racing season particularly thrilling was the great, struggle between Fox and Richards. _ The for mer had a run of bad luck, just when lie had apparently gained a winning lead. .Richards came with a rush at the end, and by gaining a win in the first event last Saturday drew level with his rival. Then came victory on Glorious Devon, so depriving Fox of his lead. Matters now looked black for Fox, but once more his hopes were raised, when -lie again evened up matters by riding the winner in the next event. Two more races remained for decision, and Fox scored again in tho first of these, once more gaining a load over his rival. Then came the Final Plate, in which Richards had a mount, though Fox was a spectator. The former’s mount was not much fancied, and all his skill failed to bring success, so that Fox gained the honour and pleasure of _ entertaining his fellow jockeys at dinner, a custom which marks the winning of the jockeys’ chainpionship. Fox is forty-three years of age, nearly twice as old as Richards, so that the success of the elder man was generally pleasing. Richards lias already enjoyed the distinction, and will (probably) have other chances. It is said of the two rivals that Richards forces his mounts to victory, whilst Fox just cajoles his mounts. He is also something of a notable in Wantage, the Berkshire town near the,stable to which he is attached. Ho can make a speech worth listening to, and as a spokesman on behalf of tho ‘ Knights of the Pigskin ” ho well fills the post. •—Success of tli© Totalisator.— Another notable feature of the fiat racing season has been the increased support given the totalisator. Figures well illustrate this, the turnover in 1930 being over £3,000,000, whjlst tho previous returns were about £330,000. The increase is so big that the future of tho “ tote ” may be considered assured. The Aga Khan has spent a large fortune on facing, so that it is perhaps fitting that he lias headed tho list of winning owners for the second season in succession. His 1930 winnings amount to over £46,000, and in nine seasons ho has won over a quarter of a million. Great supporters of racing in Lord Glanely and Lord Derby finished second and third, and all three of tho loading owners had the satisfaction of securing victories in classic events, Blenheim, Rose of England, Singapore, and Fair Isle being tho animals concerned.

It remains to say that a now name has been added to the list of trainers who have headed the list. H. >S. Persse gaining the distinction, his charges winning a total of £49,487. It is unusual not to find one of the big Wiltshire stables first or second, bub

Fred Darling is only fourth, whilst Alec Taylor has retired. The natural advantages of Beckhampton and Manton are so great, however, that they will come back to their own again. CRICKET REFORM. No season passes without some change in the laws of cricket, or method of deciding the county championship. The latest scheme for the latter means 15 points for a win and a less number for various other results. One thing in favour of the latest suggestion is that had it been in use this summer Gloucestershire would have won the championship. As perhaps every follower of cricket knows, Gloucestershire really had a bettor record than Lancashire, and with a more perfect system of scoring would not have been deprived of well-earned honours. No system of deciding the county championship will ever bo fully satisfactory until it is possible to ensure the counties concerned fulfilling a full and equal programme of matches. Then, with two points for a win and one tor a load on the first innings, we should arrive at something like justice. On the other hand, a very large section of the "sporting world will never feel enthusiastic about cricket until the conditions permit of a game being started and finished in a few hours, as most of our other great pastimes. It is quite possible, though, of course, it would entail drastic alterations and the exchange for leisurely methods for speedy action. Naturally such changes would displease many, but the gain would bo great and there would then bo much wider support from* the general public. SOCCER. As Wales managed to draw against Scotland in the Soccer international, it was believed that the team would, perhape, do equally as well against kingland, when the sides met at Wrexham on Saturday. In spite of being at home the Welshmen had to accept defeat and the four goals to nil success of the visitors did not represent their superiority. It appears certain that England has hit on a line combination of players this season, and with two wins already gained and only the one remaining with Scotland, the prospects are bright. The field of the Welsh selectors was narrowed because they could not command the services of several notable players doing duty for League clubs in England. Still, when able to select players everywhere a year ago the defeat was even a bigger one. Hampson got two goals for England and Hodgson and Bradford one each, hut the whole side combined well and the credit of the win reflected on all the players. With Arsenal and Portsmouth filling the first and second places in the first division table (at the moment) there is sound reason for the claim that the South has arrived in a football sense. The rise of Portsmouth of late has been remarkable, and the success when entertaining Liverpool- last Saturday, was gained by sound football. Whilst Sheffield Wednesday claim as many points, the superior goal average of Portsmouth, enables the Hampshire club to rank next the Arsenal. The leaders displayed form worthy of prospective champions when having Middleshorough as visitors. Lambert again showed what a groat player ho is. Although specially marked and shadowed by Middlesborongh men, ho managed to score three goals, nnd with Bastin notching two, the visitors wore defeated by a margin of two. Everton continues to dominate the second division, whilst the Scottish table once more has the old look, with Celtic and Glasgow Rangers filling first and second positions. RUGBY. Tlio meeting of Harlequins and Blackhcath, at Twickenham, on Saturday, provided a remarkable struggle. The “ Heathen ” forwards were splendid, and gained possession in five out of six scrums, yet Harlequins won. This was because the players behind the serum were much faster, and C. C. M'Creight (who ought to prove his worth for Ireland) and J. C. Gibb seized openings for individual runs, which turned the scale. Gibb got tlio ball at the halfway lino, and simply outpaced his rivals in one great try, and finally Harlequins won by l(i points to fj. ATHLETICS. An unusual number of overseas athletes figure in tlio Oxford team, which will meet Cambridge in the annual relays. South Africa supplies five, the United States three, Now Zealand one (in H. C. Kahiugher), whilst C. A. Loasteere, one of tlio reserves, comes from Adelaide. 7’he American members of the team are E. W. Goodwillie, of Cornell, F. L. Hovde, from Minnesota, and J. W. Fellows, from Wisconsin. Most of them will also probably do duty for Oxford at tho intervarsity meeting next March, so that tho sports will bo of quite an international character. Tho Army runners hold a strong place in athletics to-day. Although some of tho leading cracks are still short of training, the Army team easily

beat Cambridge University in a five miles’ cross-country race at Colchester last Saturday. Sergeant 11. A. Sutherland, who was a member of the Scottish team for the Empire Games, was first man home, and he seems destined to take high rank over country. BOXING. Friends of Reggie Meeu, of Leicester, have never lost faith in his ability to eventually rank as Britain’s best heavy-weight. He has advanced his claims by avenging a previous defeat at the hands of ,Don Shortland by knocking out the Sheffield man in nine rounds. Hard hitting is believed to bo Meen’s long suit, and he certainly showed he could hand out a stiff punch in his latest engagement at Leicester. GOLF. Abe Mitchell and Henry Cotton met in a thirty-six holes match at Brockenhurst last Saturday, the former taking the place of Charles Whitcombe, who had been ordered a rest. Very unpleasant conditions prevailed, but Cotton seemed the least upset, his putting being excellent _on the wot greens. The players tried the larger and lighter hall, which the United States authorities have introduced, and it certainly suited Cotton, ,He led Mitchell by six holes at the end of the first round, and finally won. by, 9 and 8. Mitchell expressed the belief that the lighter ball made putting more difficult, whilst the winner “ thought it a very good ball.” BILLIARDS. Walter Lindrum found his real form towards the end of his heat against M'Cohachy in the imperial tournament. Ho scored 17,121 during the second week, us against 12,43.3 in the first week, his full aggregate of 29,554 being excellent. Even then the figures were short of the aggregate of Davis in his heat against Newman, the former scoring 23,395, which, with his, start of 7,000, gave him 30,395. Lindrum had the satisfaction of making thousand breaks, or over, at five consecutive sessions during his match against M'Conachy, which is u record of its kind. With three wins and one defeat, Lindrum and Davis headed the table when they commenced their heat at Leicester this week, which is likely to be the decisive one of the tournament. Lindrum made a break of 1,234 at the sixth session, which just about put him on handicap terms with the English champion. Newman opened his heat against M'Conachy with a break of 1,012, and he made another of 1,323 at the, sixth session.

As Willie Smith made a break of just 1,000, when playing S. Smith in London this week, four-figure breaks may now bo said to bo quite tho fashion.