SPORT IN BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 21581, 29 November 1933, Page 4

SPORT IN BRITAIN

[From Our English Correspondent.] LONDON, October 11. THE TURF. A splendid race was seen in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket this week. The event is badly named, as being a handicap it has no real resem,bailee to a championship, which, of nurse, calls for equal terms to all. however. “ a rose would smell just as weet under any other name,” so that be thrill provided by Dastour and iiatelaino was a real one. The former, arrving 1261 b, was conceding the three-year-old 101 b, and the handicapper was so right that it brought them level. The race was run over 1 \ miles, and when Scarlet Tiger dropped back beaten the other two commenced a great duel over the last quarter of a mile. Dastour just showed in front when a furlong from home, but the three-vear-old made a gallant effort when Gordon Richards called on his mount. Well Chatelaine responded and momcntarilv gained the load. Then Henry managed to get a final spurt from Dastour, and the gallant animals passed the post level. A dead heat counts as a win, so that Richards swelled his total on his first racing day of the week. It brought his success for the season to 221. Racegoers are still talking about the remarkable riding of Richards at the Chepstow Meeting, when he rode six winners one day and five the nest. With another success in his last effort before Chepstow this gave him twelve winning mounts in succession—indeed a wonderful record. It may not be properly known to the youthful element following racing that Richards has a more difficult task than Archer was confronted with. Richards is under contract to ride for Beckhampton if wanted, and after that as second claim to another Wiltshire stable. If neither stable wants his services he is free to accept other mounts. He is not one to pick and choose, but rather inclined to accept the first offer coming. Racing in the ’eighties was somewhat different. The fields were smaller, and therefore the odds against wimiing less than now. Loading jockeys were in a bettor position to pick their mounts. Had Richards been a free lance this season, and therefore able to ride more fancied animals, he would have exceeded the 250 mark before this stage. BIG BOXING. Sportsmen who have been reading these notes for some time will recall the writer’s assertion made when Don M'Corkindalo went into the professional ranks, that the South African would make a bold bid for the world's heavyweight crown. Of course the element of luck enters into boxing as in other games, and there are periods when the talent may bo better than at others. Jack Dempsey at his best probably ranks as the best heavy-weight ever .yet known. Thus Georges Carpentier and Gene Tunney were up against it, and it was only when Dempsey was on the down grade that he lost his title. With Tunney retired and botii Dempsey and Carpentier ranking as veterans of the ring, there was a chance for another. As boxing history during the past few years has shown, there is no very outstanding heavy-weight. Carnera, with his physical advantages, appeared likely to carry ail before him, hut somehow ho has not provided the fireworks anticipated. Larry Gains has a fine record, including a points decision over Camera and a win. over M’Corkindalo, also on points.

Of the three M'Corkindalo is the most likely to improve. It is true he has been in the boxing game some years, but although ho won the English cruiser championship of England for amateurs in 1926 it is only since he went over to the professional ranks that he has given his natural gifts a real chance. Hu is sure to profit by his United States experience, and perhaps develop that aggressiveness which is so vital to success.

The average British boxer may he very scientific, but often falls down badly because be is too good natured. That is the natural disposition. There arc many old n.0.0.s who could tell interesting talcs of the exploits employed to arouse the fighting spirit in many of the young civilians who joined the Army during the war. This is illuminating, and what applied in 1914-18 is an object lesson to-day. British boxers are not “ tough ” enough, and it is due to centuries of civilisation. When things are going badly the Briton is usually seen at his best. It moans that ho requires rousing up, and it is a bit unkind to suggest the clever boxer and non-slogger is timid. Bather is it that his nature is kind and not cruel enough. The contest between J. M'Avoy, of Manchester, and A. Sexton, of Lon-, don, for the middle-weight championship was decided at Manchester this week. It was a real fight from the gong, and, although Sexton was knocked out in the tenth round, ho showed himself a worthy rival for the title-holder. RUGBY. Dr Bred Held, who won both the IUU and 220yds amateur sprint champiunsnips in 1922, is taking up Rugby seriously. Ho may follow m the lootsteps ot Eric Liddell,, who also won the same running honours but after dropping out of international Rugby. When Liddell realised he had outstanding speed, he devoted all his attention to sprinting, and how he won the 4UO metres at the 1024 Olympiad will bo remembered. It is to be hoped Reid wilt meet with no mishap on the football field to stop his racing. England managed to beat Australia in the test match under Rugby League rules, the old Northern Union style. It was a line game, the outstanding ability of Sullivan, of Wigan, being a feature in the success of the home side by two goals to U. SOCCER. In the Association world, the transfer of Lambert of Arsenal to Eulham has aroused wide interest. When Arsenal can part with such a talented player it suggests the club is well served in the matter of centre forwards. It will be Fulham’s gain, and the West London Club ought to do well iu the second division this season. it was no mean performance on the part of Portsmouth, the leaders, to play Leicester City to a goal, the Midlandors being hart to beat at home. The defeat, coupled with the success of Tottenham, led to a change in the leadership. Tottenham played real championship football when at homo to Sunderland, as the 3 goals to 1 triumph suggests. There were 45,001) spectators at White Hart Lane, which snows what a following the “Spurs” have. Motherwell continues to do well in the Scottish League, and, with a lead of three points over Hangers, will take a lot of catching. CRICKET. It has given unbounded satisfaction among real sportsmen that the unfortunate friction between Australian and

English cricket authorities has ended satisfactorily. Winning a test match is pleasing, but if the methods employed are such as to create bud feeling between the two countries, then it is not worth it. From the start ot the “ bodyline ” bowling trouble the writer has taken the stand in these notes that something should be done to stop bowling which is towards the batsmen and with short-pitched balls rising head high. The assurance of the English cricket authorities that Australia can send a team to England with the knowledge that matches will be played in the best spirit of cricket, is splendid. The air is cleared, and all can now look forward to tho next series of tests in England with the knowledge that the best of feeling will prevail. ATHLETICS. A few years ago the late Tommy Connett’s record of 3miu 2 4-ssoc for six furlongs was considered about the “ best ' ’ running record on the tables. J. E. Lovelock brought it down to 3min 2 l-ssee, and now Jules Ladouiniigue, ot France, has run the distance iu 2min o 9 2-ssee. The latter put up these figures in a special attack on the record at the Stade Jean Bonin Stadium, Paris, on Monday, and it suggests that the “mile” in 4min is a stop nearer. Ladotimague is probably the best “ miler ” in the world to-day, and had ho not got into the bad books of the French authorities regarding his amateur status, lie would probably have won the 1,500 metros for France at the last Olympic Games. It is unfortunate that Ladoumugue and Beccali, of Italy, cannot meet in a race. With Lovelock and Bonthron also joining issue, something startling would result. Amateur and professional golfers and cricketers meet in competition without any apparent harm, and no real reason can be advanced against the same policy in athletics. Tommy Green, the Olympic walking champion, was not quite speedy enough for A. A. Cooper, of Woodford, in the Eimhley Charter celebration sixmile road walk last Saturday. Cooper finished in 44min Bsec, beating Green by S.sec. The distance is too short for Green, who is at bis best between, thirty and fifty miles, where his excellent staying power and judgment come into play.