TOPICAL TATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 22248, 28 January 1936, Page 4

TOPICAL TATTLE

NEWSY NOTES ON SPORT [By H.P.S.] Young Swimmer in Good Hands. A wise father is taking care that Robin Biddulph, 15-year-old Sydney swimming hope, does not go the way of so many sporting prodigies. After Biddulph, who weighs 14st and is magnificently built, had won the Eastern Districts 440yds title by a margin of 20yds from some of Sydney’s best swimmers, there were many who predicted that he would gain a place in the Australian Olympic Games team. Biddidph’s time was not exceptionally fast, but the ease with which he covered the distance indicated that he could have reduced this time greatly had he been pushed. He was expected to offer strong opposition to Noel Ryan and other stars in the New South Wales 440yds championship, but his father wisely withdrew him from the event, recognising the danger to a young athlete of the strain of competing too often against mature men at the speed of champions. Week-end Attractions. Quite a few fixtures are set down for decision during the coming week-end. The Otago country clubs’ swimming championships will be held at Milton on Saturday, and some fine competition should bo witnessed. The Oamaru Club is sending a strong contingent in quest of honours, and the Alexandra and Toko Clubs should also be strongly represented. The Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association will hold its first scratch meeting of the new year on the Caledonian Ground on Saturday, and on Sunday the Otago Centre’s annual swim for the Batt Cup harbour race will be swum at Macandrew Bay. ' Perry’s Remarkable Technique. H. W. Austin referred to the lawn tennis prowess of F. J. Perry in a lecture at the White Rock Pavilion, Hastings, England. Those who criticised Perry’s play, said Austin, showed ignorance of the finer points of tlie game. His remarkable technique made him a model for the young player. He had a splendid physique, a quick eye, and a natural instinct of the game. It was a remarkable fact that success had come to him in so short a time, for he was unheard of in 1929. Famous Sprinter Retires. Austin Robertson, the ex-world champion professional sprinter and South Melbourne League footballer, has announced his retirement from the’ track on account of business duties. Efforts are to be made to have him reconsider his decision to pack away his spikes. Gjfts to Charity. It was announced recently that the proceeds of practice matches played last August (before the League competitions started) and distributed by the Football Association of England to charitable institutions totalled £17,043 4s Id. The sums contributed by clubs ranged from £925 5s from Arsenal to 2s 6d sent by Aspull Amateurs. “ Glorious to See.” Describing the scoreless Rugby match between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, played at Twickenham a few weeks ago, an English paper says: “ The match had three phases. In the first half Oxford had most of the play, but could not score. After half-time there was a long spell during which Cambridge camped in the Oxford half, battering and thrusting at the Oxford defence. And finally there was a desperate five minutes during which the Oxford men were running for the line, only to be grandly stopped every time and to see the ball rushed or kicked away into safety. From beginning to end of the game the struggle between the two packs was glorious to see.” Referee in Flight. A Rugby referee fled from the field when a match was in progress at Swansea recently, but the teams did not follow him. Swansea were playing Blackheath. Just after half-time rain began to fall. Soon it was coming down in torrents. The referee blew a loud blast on his whistle and fled for cover. But neither the teams nor the spectators had had enough of play in heavy rain. Amid cheers from the crowd the two captains persuaded the referee to resume his duties, and the match was carried on to a very wet and muddy end.

Fewer Stoppages, There was some adverse comment in Dunedin on the frequency with which play in the match there between the New Zealand cricket eleven and the M.C.C. team was stopped so that players could be supplied with drinks (says ‘ Sporting Life ’). This was one of several matters in which there was a very great improvement in the second match between the two teams, played at the Basin Reserve; there were then only one or two stoppages for this purpose. Indeed, New Zealand’s twelfth man, R. T. Morgan, made only one appearance on the field with a jug of drink, and then he was waved off by the team’s captain before he had got very far on the field. Fight Thrown Away. A fight was simplv thrown away at Bristol, England, a” few _ weeks ago. It was between Tony Arpino, a light-heavy-weight from Bedford, and Pat Buckley, of Doncaster, and was listed for 10 rounds. Arpino was on top throughout, and Buckley absorbed heavy punishment. In the last refund Arpino put Buckley down with a right to the jaw. Buckley rose groggily. Arpino pushed him away and refused to punch him again. The referee awarded the fight to Buckley, as Arpino would not continue it. Afterwards Arpino declared that he would rather forfeit the whole of his purse money than strike his opponent again. Picks Palmer to Win. Jimmy Wilde, former fly-weight boxing champion of the world, is picking Australian champion Ambrose Palmer to beat British Empire champion Jack Petersen, when Ambrose returns to England. Says Jimmy: “Palmer is talented to the extent that I am confident he would beat Jack Petersen if they met. Palmer is much more consistent than the 'Welshman, and 1 regard him as infinitely the better boxer

of the two. Palmer’s headwork is really brilliant. So, too, are his accurate leads and clever defensive moves.” Palmer himself believes that he has the edge on Petersen, but thinks that Len Harvey would tie a tougher proposition. Harvey is to meet Petersen for the Empire title at the Wembley Stadium to-morrow. A £15,000 gate is expected. Petersen previously won the Empire title from Harvey.

Bradman’s Influence. Don Bradman’s influence on the Sheffield Shield gates has been remarkable this season, and the States should be very glad that he could not go to South Africa (says the ‘ Sporting Globe ’). At Brisbane on Saturday the official estimate of tho attendance was 15,716, with gate receipts of £1,307. This made a new record for a day’s play in a Shield match at Brisbane. Friday’s attendance was 3,892, worth £286, compared with £B4 for the Friday of the New South Wales match, and £l5O for the M.C.C. game. The highest receipts for a Shield match in Brisbane were £1,809, in February, 1927, when Ponsford was the Australian and the world record breaker. The revenue was for four days on that occasion. Ponsford disappointed by being out for 12 in the first innings, but in the second innings he got 116. Mathieson’s Misfortune. The New Zealand pair attracted attention on Saturday (says the ‘ Sporting Globe,’ in referring to Mathieson’s great back-stroke swim over 220yds in Sydney recently). Peter Mathieson was particularly unfortunate. In a handicap, starting from scratch, he covered 220yds back stroke in 2min 38 l-ssec, reducing the Australian and New South Wales record of 2.41 1-5 of M. Kiyakawa by 3sec, He, like the other competitors, started when their handicaps were announced, taking Jiis departure from the platform at “ 17.” Had “ Go ” been called conditions governing records would have been satisfied, and the youth from Otago would have had his name among the elect. Even if the starter’s cry were “ Seventeen, Go ” it would have been satisfactory. Jarvis divided fourth place in the sprint championship with Reg. Clark, the time being 63 4-sscc, or 3 l-ssec slower than Kendall. The visitor has not done himself justice in Sydney. Though off the boat for nearly a fortnight he had such a rough spin crossing the Tasman that he has not fully picked'up. “ I expect he will beat all the Victorian swimmers,” says Mr Hellmrich. Unpleasant Incident. An unpleasant incident spoiled the day’s play in the match between the Australian touring team and the Yuvraj of, Patiala’s XL, which the Australians won by nine wickets (says an English paper). Araar Singh, the Indian test player, played forward to a ball and missed it. His wicket was broken, but whether by the ball or by tho wicketkeeper, J. E. Ellis, was not quite clear. There was also a doubt whether Amar Singh had left his crease. Ellis, supported by his captain, Jack Ryder, maintained that Amar Singh was bowled. Others appeared to think he was stumped or caught at the wicket. Amar Snigh twice went away and came back. Eventually the umpire settled the question by declaring him not out. Ellis was thereafter subjected to some unreasonable barracking by tbo crowd, but he had his revenge by 7 stumping Amar Singh when he had made 33.

Like Bradman. As Don Bradman is the hero of the moment in the cricket world, a story concerning him is appropriate. Visiting a Victorian seaside resort a few years ago he stopped to watch a crickec match that was in progress. Presently one of the batsmen hit the ball over the boundary just where Bradman was standing, and, naturally enoujgh, he caught it. There was a burst of applause, and someone called out, “ Well done, lad; you took it like Don Bradman.” Little did the crowd know that it really was Bradman. D. H. Symes’s New Record. The outstanding performance of D. H. Symes in clipping two and threelifth seconds off the previous 220yds free-style swimming record for Canterbury at the Tepid Baths on Monday evening was a fitting reward for one of Canterbury’s most popular and best swimmers (says the Christchurch ! Press ’). The merit of his swim needs no praise, beyond stating that the previous record of 2min 29sec was held jointly by D. P. Lindsay and A. T. Stokes, recognised, at their best, as two of the finest swimmers produced in this country. Symes has for several seasons been looked upon as Canterbury’s best all-round male swimmer, and this new record makes him a triple title-holder. Besides the 220yds, he has to his credit the best times over distances of 50 and 100 yards. Exhibition Golf Tour Proposed. Australian firms dealing in golf goods are still trying to persuade Joyce Wethered to visit their country for an exhibition tour. How good the lady’s game is still is shown by her match with Bobby Jones, who got home 2 and 1 merely/though it was Joyce’s first round on the course (says an exchange). Playing from the men’s tees wherever she went, the ex-champion held her own with the best of the men. The young woman’s job consists not only in selling golf gear, but in advising and selecting fitting costumes for her customers. Some of the big department stores might feel interested in this end of her activities, and help the golfers pure and simple. TOMAHAWK BOATING CLUB The weekly model yacht races were held in perfect- weather conditions, with a light southerly blowing. Mr J. Megget acted as handicapper and starter. Results: — 3ft Gin One-design Class.—Wings (A. Reeves) 1, Rowdy (J. Thomson) 2, Imp (A. Biggs) 3. Five starters. 4ft Restricted Class.—Rival (A. Reeves) 1, Te Kiri (A. Phillips) 2. Racona (A. Biggs) 3. Seven starters. Davies Cup (Open Class). —Val (C. Hewitt) 1, Te Kiri (A. Phillips) 2, Vagabond (J. Thomson) 3. Eight starters. The committee held a meeting after the races and appointed Mr J. Rapson acting secretary.