THE FIELD OF SPORT

Evening Star, Issue 23831, 11 March 1941, Page 11

THE FIELD OF SPORT

TOPICAL NOTES AND COMMENTS N,Z. WOMEN’S BASEBALL TOURNAMENT [By Hookeu.] Tunney Serves Again. Gene Tunney, who used his fists to lift himself from the obscurity of a United Slates marine to the prominence ot world heavy-weight boxing champion, is serving his country again. This time it is as athletic supervisor of a naval district. Tunney has been given commissioned rank. Popular Pastime. The advance made by archcry in Dunedin is a tribute to Ihe enthusiasm and energy of the officials of the Dunedin Archeiy Club, and the growth in popularity of this old pastime during the short lime the club has been in existence has been rather remarkable, to say the least. The opportunity afforded the large crowd nt the Caledonian sports last Saturday of seeing leading members of the chib displaying their skill with bow and arrows was greatly appreciated, and should further increase interest in a pastime which is claiming the attention of so many members of each sex. The men’s championship of the club was won by F. A. Wheeler, who has been a foremost exponent from the inception of the club. Wheeler is well known in other branches of sport, and a few years ago enjoyed a good deal of success in field events as a. member of the Civil Service Harrier and Amateur Athletic Club. Ho was'also a member of the Alhambra Football Club. For Fleet Air Arm. From the lyd mark at the Caledonian sports bn Saturday Alan Duff ran a good (bird in the 220yds handicap, which It. W<?ir won in 22 l-ssec from the 17yds mark. With the wind against him Duff would have had to move to edge Weir out up the straight, but be finished strongly all the same his effort auguring well tor his running at the Otago war-time championships next Saturday. Duff, who is now a member of the Civil Service Club, is a former New Zealand University 220yds champion, has held Otago titles for 300yds and 220yds, and two years ago ran a third in the New Zealand 100yds championship at Napier, although suffering from influenza and competing against medical advice. Duff has been accepted for service with the Fleet Air Arm, and will carry with him the good wishes of Otago athletes and football enthusiasts. For the last couple of seasons he has figured on the wing for the Pirates Football Club’s senior lifteen. While he was at Otago Boys’ High School be also showed much promise as a free style swimmer. Former Light-weight Champion. Now living in Dunedin is Alex. Dcy, who a few years ago was well known in amateur boxing circles in Soutiilaud and later on the West Coast. Boxing under the name of Jones, he won Southland light-weight honours, and subsequently also represented the West Coast at the Now Zealand championships. Dey played in the front rew of the Star Football Club's senior fifteen in Invercargill. He is a son of Billy Dey, who, was a clever half-back in the Alhambra Club’s senior team some 40 years ago and was later a well-known referee in Invercargill, To Train as Airman Pilot. Pi S, (“ Joey ”) . 'Sadler, one-time New Zealand representative Rugby half-back, expects to,bo called for training as an airman pilot towards the end of the month (says a Wellington writer). Sadler, who suffered a severe knee injury just before the' arrival of the 1937 Springboks, is still compelled to wear a leg support, but be is very active, and his capacity in the air will; in no way be affected. He has played tennis and cricket since his injury, and even turned out for light training with a Wellington College Old Boys side which ho coached last year. At one time Sadler anticipated' being able to return to competitive football, but unfortunately his leg did not react sufficiently to operative treatment. N. Women's Baseball Tournament. The Otago Women’s Baseball Association, although in its first year of existence, is now firmly established, and at present the clubs aro engaging in a three-day tournament for a trophy which will be competed for every year. On March 28 an Otago team leaves for Christchurch to participate in an all-day tournament on March 29, when the New Zealand championship will be decided. Canterbury and Otago are the only South Island provinces represented, but there will bo a large representation from ■the North Island. Over the week-end a New Zealand conference will bo held, and there will also be a conference of the New Zealand Umpires’ Association. The Otago team will comprise: V. Fleury, U. Treweek, and I. F.ckhoff (Y.W.C.A.), J. Cameron, M. Irving, and D. Scrivener (H. 8.), O. Kerr (Technical), 6. Lucas and A. M’Gregor (Taieri), and U. Hampstead (Regent). Reserves: R. Wilson (Training College), J. Anderson (Regent), M. Williamson (Taieri), and T. Peterson (Sargoods). The manager and chaperon of the Otago team is Miss Mary Martin, president of the local association. All Ten Wickets. Outstanding bowling performance recorded in New Zealand club cricket on a recent Saturday was that of J. Hall, of Nelson, who, playing for Waimea against the College first eleven, captured all 10 wickets in an innings for the extraordinarily low total of 41 runs. Hall had only 12 overs. He clean-bowled seven of the batsmen, had two caught, and one stumped. More will be heard of Hall; be may yet prove to be the right man to take over

where Jack Newman left off m Nelson cricket. Since Newman was at Ins peak, Nelson’s attack generally has been on the toboggan. With Troops in Fiji. Mention of a well-known Otago sportsman with the New Zealand Forces in Fiji is made by Sergeant A. W. Bowman (the Hawke’s Bay and All Black Rugby forward) in an article in the ‘ Sports Post last week. The man referred to is Charlie Eckhold, a leading member of the Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club some years ago. Eckhold rated in the first (light as a diver a few years ago, being winner of the New Zealand intermediate boys’ diving championship on throe occasions. Jle is a son ol the late A. 'E. Eckhold, All Black Rugby player and famous referee. Sergeant Bowman mentions that Lieutenant Pat Boob (the Empire champion runner) was in hospital at the time of . writing, having had an operation for appendicitis. He was doing well. Dickinson Showing Form. The former Otago and New Zealand representative cricketer, George Dickinson, has been showing glimpses of ilis old form for Karori in Wellington cricket in recent games, both with bat and ball. In one game he took six wickets for 25 rims, and last Saturday hit up a quick 39, which included three 6’s and five 4’s. Now on the Ark Royal. The fact that Darcy Heeney, of Gisborne, three times winner of the New Zealand amateur welter-weight boxing title, and runnerup in tho welter-weight division at the British Empire Games in Sydney in 1938, is a petty officer on H.M.S. Ark Royal, invests that," ship with a new interest for New Zealanders. Both the Italians and the Germans have at pretty regular intervals claimed to have sunk the Ark Royal, an aircraft carrier, but the ship and Darcy Heeney arc still in operation. A Wellington exchange mentions that on the trip to England some time ago Heeney won the middle-weight championship of his ship, but in a letter to Jackie Parker, ex-Wellington and New Zealand champion, and also a member of the New Zealand team at the Empire Games in 1938, he states that he is now back to his best fighting weight—below tlie welter limit. Heeney was on two ships before his transfer to the Ark Royal. In Gisborne, Darcy Heeney had a fine record as an all-round sportsman, being a half-back of considerable ability in senior Rugby, and also a useful cyclist. He is a son of Jack Heeney, former New Zealand professional champion boxer, Tom Heeney (who fought Gene Tnnney for the world heavy-weight title more than a decade ago) being an uncle. Horace Lindrum’s Plans. Horace Lindrum, Australia's snooker champion, is keen on paying another visit to New Zealand, ibis lime in Hie interests of tiie big cause. He wauls to play for patriotic purposes. For some time Lindrum

lias, been Helping- patriotic funds in Australia. According to Mr H. L. Cameron, of Wellington, who has been carrying out negotiations, the Australian snooker champion’s wishes in the matter of a New Zealand tcur are likely • to be gratified. The snooker champion had been eager to enlist, but, in view of his assistance in earning war funds, he is not required by the Army. Now in United States Army. i According to the American ‘ Knockout ’ cf February 8, Pete Sarron, former world's feather-weight boxing champion, who is remembered in Dunedin for his battles with Tommy Donovan and Sammy Shack, recently enlisted in the United States Army. Seventy-ninth Caledonian Games. , Variety was the keynote of the seventyninth annual Caledonian games last Saturday, and net for many years has the society undertaken such a comprehensive programme of events. That it had a wide i appeal was shown by the attendance of some 4,000 spectators, and there is no doubt that the Caledonian Society is on the way to regaining much of its old-time pouu--1 larily. The society is fortunate in having the loyal support and co-operation of most of Dunedin’s sporting organisalins, whose officials worked hard to assure the success of last week’s gathering. If one may offer • a little constructive criticism it is that the society's own officials might endeavour to secure more co-ordination in the running of the programme, and, while the importance of the march-past is realised, this event ,cut rather deeply into Saturday’s programme, which did not conclude until nearly 6 o’clock. If so much time is to he devoted to this event in future, it might he advisable tc consider beginning the judging of the event earlier. Another thing which must have caused annoyance to many of the spectators was the number of persons who were allowed to congregate on the ground, often obscuring the view of those whose right it was to see all that was going on. After the children’s events on Saturday, some difficulty was experienced in clearing the ground, but they were not the only offenders. Once competitors have finished their event they should be expected to retire, at least from the middle of the ground. The Caledonian games are assuming worthwhile proportions once more, and their success will he assured if such points as those mentioned are attended to in the future. Time Marches On. Tommy Loughran. former world’s light-heavy-weight boxing champion and one of the cleverest men of his time, is now 38 years of age (says an American writer). Since he gave up boxing he has lost his money in the cafe business, tried managing fighters and promoting lights, worked as a swimming instructor, and has finally landed a £lO a week jcb as a Philadelphia traffic inspector.

Port Chalmers Regatta, The final aquatic event of the season will be held at Port Chalmers on Saturday next, when the Otago annual regatta fixture will be decided. Excellent entries have been received, and the first race is timed to begin at 1.20 p.m., the final event being listed for 4.45 p.m. Twelve rowing events are included in the programme, four sailing, and two motor boat races. The 14footer X class yacht race should provide a great tussle, six of the competitors having represented various provinces from time to time in -the Sanders Cup. A large fleet of motor craft will also be in action, and should present a fine sight. Harriers Forgather in Egypt. Writing to a friend in Dunedin, Bill Duncan (a former Morniugton Harrier and Amateur Club representative and later a member of the Baptist Club), who is with the N.E.E.E. in Egypt, mentions a reunion that took place with former club mates of the Morniugton Club ho had the pleasure of meeting in Egypt. They were Ciarrie Moore, Ray Thompson, Ivan Temple- , lon, Eraser Graveson, and Lex Hall. Other ex-Otago athletes he met were the Rev. Dodds, who is a chaplain with the forces, and A. Martin, of Milton.