TOPICAL TATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 22308, 7 April 1936, Page 4

TOPICAL TATTLE

HEWSY NOTES ON SPORT [By H.P.S.] A Good Match, Many of those who saw Pete Afehringer in action against Glenn Wade on Saturday night expressed the opinion that he would provide a colourful bout if opposed to tho New Zealander “ Lofty ’’ Blomfield. This bout has now been arranged, and will take place at Christchurch to-morrow night. Popular Win. In connection with the Otago Ladies’ Golf Club's championship tournament the final event was the mixed foursomes for the Cook Cup. and a popular win was scored by W. ,). Goughian, of the Taieri Club, and Mrs Breeze, of the Otago Club, who finished I up. Mr Goughian is the president of the Taieri Golf Club, and is also president of the Otago. Wrestling Association. “ i Rugby and the “ Reformers.” ‘‘ The. annual meeting of the New Zealand Itnghy Onion will be held shortly, and the ‘ reformers ’ hope that at least some measure of change will be effected after the meeting of delegates,” 'writes Mr .}. K. Moloney (prominent member of the Canterbury I’ugby Union) in a letter to “ H.l’.S.” He adds that Air Ongley’s amendments may or may not succeed, hut it is certain that a gallant effort will he made to clear out the ” old gang.” He also states that they hope to have the amended rules operating in Canterbury this season, and concludes with the following:—“ If so, we will have a decided advantage over you reactionary people in Otago, who cannot see the virtue in this splendid amendment. In fact, I fancy that your team will be at a disadvantage when it meets teams who have played the new rules.”

Ugly Incident at Winter Olympics. Overseas papers report that a Belgian figure-,skater, Robert Verdun, was twice knocked down by a Nazi storm trooper at the Olympic Winter Games. Verdun was to take part in the figureskating contest for pairs, and, having arrived early at the rink, he went to the cafe reserved for competitors and pressmen, where he ordered a lemonade. Suddenly he heard his name called out, so he jumped up and dashed toward the arena. The Nazi guard refused to let him pass - because ho had loft his identification card in the cafe. Verdun pointed to the Belgian Olympic colours on his skating costume, but the guard floored him twice before an Olympic, official reached lire scene.

Beaten on the Post. 1). A. H. Moloney, the Manawatn, Wellington,, and cx-Otago representative cricketer, who gained N'ow Zealand honours this .season, played liis part in the championship final in Manawatn the other day. After having led in the Manawatn cricket championships all through the season, .Y.M.C.A. was ignnininionsly defeated by Palmerston North, the latter team thereby winning the championship for the tenth year in succession. Bowling for Palmerston North, Moloney look four wickets for 13 runs.

Contests at Regular Intervals. It is tho intention of tho Otago Wrestling Association to stage professional contests at fortnightly intervals throughout the present season. Earl M/Cready is likely to be one of the principals in the next contest here.

Cricketer and Hockey Representative. Arthur Mahoney, who was a member of tho 1926, 1927, and 1929 Now Zealand hockey representative teams, will ho captain of tire Hastings representative cricket side to meet the Colts eleven from Wellington during Easter in tho annual Ganuet Gup watch (says the ‘ Sporting Life ’). Mahoney was’ a Canterbury representative in tho New Zealand hockey team which played the Indian Army team in 1926, and in the side that toured Australia tho following year. He moved to Wellington in 1925, and the next year was selected for tho Tests against the Australians. Two years later he moved to Hawke’s Bay. He has played a big part in Hastings’s Successful defence of the Nordon Cup. He was a member of the Hastings cricket team that visited Wellington last Easter. This season lie has been the most prolific run-getter in tho midweek competition in his district, his best effort being 128 not out.

Olympic Rowing. Norway is to bo represented at the Olympic rowing regatta, at BcrlinGnmau in August. The regatta is a part of the Eleventh Olympic Games, which will be hold in Berlin from August 1 to 16. The Norwegians will send a “ four,” and C. A. Christiansen, tho Norwegian sculling champion for tho last two years, is entering for tho sculls.

Selfish Tennis Players. “ Most of the leading players, nut only in Wanganui, but in other districts, are vastly selfish ; many of them think that not only is it below their dignity but bad for their play to play matches against the ‘ rabbits/ ” said tho chairman, Mr G. H. Pownall, at a meeting of the management committee of the Wanganui Lawn Tennis Association. Mr Pownall instanced a number of first-class players who had been willing to play with and against players of lower standard than themselves without any detrimental effect on their play.

Old Otago Player in Form. Tho proverbial uncertainly of cricket was demonstrated in Hamilton, when tho champion team, Hamilton, was outplayed by Claudelands, which bad not won a match for two years-(says an exchange). Hamilton, which is two points in tho lead for the championship, thought it was “ home and dry ” when it won the toss against Glandelands and decided to bat on a perfect wicket. L. F. Casey, former Otago representative, and D. .Hemi, however, struck excellent form, and the Hamilton men were all out for oS, C'lamleiamls replying with 7(i for six wickets. The result of the championship coldest now depends on the meeting of Hamilton Fast and Old Boys.

British Skating Hope. In Miss Cecilia Colledge, second in the women’s figure-skating contest at the Olympic Winter Games at Gar-inisch-Partenkrichon, England clearly has a world champion of the very near future. She was. only 6.4 points (418.1 to 424.5) behind Miss Sonjn Henie, of Norway, who has been undisputed champion for a number of years. Although only 15 years of age, this ballerina of the ice nuk is unsurpassed for the rhythmic grace of her free skating. Popularity of Polo.

There could ho no doubt in the minds of those who watched the polo at Hagley Bark on any of the three days of last week that it is a game which has definitely attracted tho public (says ‘ The Press ’). On the first two days there were, cars parked along the north side of the ground, and on the final day it was estimated that there were about 1.000 spectators present. When polo is played well it is fast and exciting to watch, and fortunes change so rapidly that nothing can bo considered a certainty. There was only one bad spill, in the final game, and the tournament throughout was played at a fast, solid pace with hard riding and powerful hitting. The win of the Pareora team in the final of fhe Rhodes Cup on Saturday was a popular and fitting ending to an excellent three days of sport.

World’s Champion Defeated. Balthazar Sangrhili, the Spanish holder_ of the world’s bantam-weight championship, met with a surprising reverse in his first fight in England at Newcastle. He was beaten on points over 10 rounds by Benny Sharkey. The referee, Mr Moss Deyong, did not stop to count up the points before lifting Sharkey’s hand to proclaim him the winner. Sharkey won practically every round. Cyclists Visit Auckland. Eour prominent professional cyclists arrived in Auckland from Australia by live Niagara on Monday (says tho Auckland ‘Herald ’). 'The team comprises A. N. Ralston, the well-known Now Zealand rider, who has been competing in Australia during the past two seasons, H. Turlill, another New Zealander, who raced with prominence overseas, and E. Thomas and H. E. V'eitch, two Australian champions. The visitors will compete at To Kuiti on Easter Saturday and at tho richest athletic meeting in the Dominion, the Otorohanga carnival, on Easter Monday. Turtill won the principal cycle race at Otorohanga in 1934 and 1935, and is keen to score a third success. The team intends to make a six weeks’ tour of tho Dominion before returning to Australia. A number of exhibitions will bo given in various places.

Sydney’s Police Eight. It is reported from Sydney that the New South Wales “ police eight ” now known as the Australian rowing crew for the Olympic Games—is training very seriously from the clubhouse, Glebe Point. Coach Mackenzie is sparing no efforts to get the men lit prior to embarking. No finality lias been reached regarding the two emergencies to accompany the crew, hut Dixon and Bromley are considered likely. They are good oarsmen and have been in the last three and four winning King's Chip crews. It was tho intention to enter tho emergencies in the pair oar championship. 'This combination would have had an excellent chance.

Canterbury Veteran’s Success, I?. J. Read, who captured over CO wickets for the Lancaster .Park Club in senior cricket in Christchurch this season, is now 56 years of age, a fact which makes his performance all tho more remarkable. Perfect physical fitnes is one of the secrets of his success. Another is the tuition and encouragement he received as a boy at the hands of a group of famous players belonging to the old Lancaster Park Club, S. Callaway, A E. Ridley, G. Ridley, and S. C. Orchard were among them. Aucklander’s Fine Record. Unusual adaptability for swimming in open water has enabled C. R. Buchanan, ot the Waitemata Club, to build up a redoubtable record in harbour races (says the Auckland ‘ Herald ’). His feat in winning the Eastern Suburbs Chib’s contest from scratch under gruelling conditions was regarded as a triumph for his speed and endurance. Buchanan, who also won tho Molloy Shield race from Chelsea to Shelly Beach in December, has registered fastest time in every harbour event swum this season, and last season as well he was responsible for the best performance in the majority of these events. Prominent in still water races, he is the present half-mile champion of Auckland, and represented the centre at the New Zealand’ championships in Dunedin. Life-saving in Fiji. The president of the Auckland branch of the Royal Life-saving Society, Air A. Macgregor, welcomed to the branch’s meeting recently Mr E. Baker, of Suva, who was returning there after having studied life-saving organisation in Victoria. While in Melbourne Air Baker qualified for the society’s award of merit. He said it was his intention to form a branch of the society in Suva, so deeply impressed was fie with tire good work being done in Australia.

WRESTLING M'CREADY AND KENT DRAW [Pek United Press Association.] AVELLINGTON, April 6. The opening bout of the Wellington season to-night, between Earl M'Cready and Harry Kent, ended in a. draw, neither securing a fall. The wrestling was fast, clean, and hard throughout.