HARRY SIEDEBERG DEAD

Evening Star, Issue 25489, 21 May 1945, Page 4

HARRY SIEDEBERG DEAD

.REMARKABLE RECORD IN SPORT CHAMPION IN MANY GAMES Mr Henry George Siedeberg, whose death occurred suddenly this morning at the age of 67 years, had a remarkably fine record in sport—a record of versatility and prowess in games which had probably not been surpassed by any other sportsman in New Zealand. Cricket, Rugby, soccer, hockey, billiards, gymnastics, and bowling were among the games which he played, and in most of them he was in the first flight of performers. It is probably in cricket that he is best remembered. A fine batsman, he was a member of the Carisbrook Club, and represented Otago for many years, and in 1905 and 1910 was a member, of'New Zealand elevens that played Australia. He was no mean bowler on the cricket pitch, too, and a very smart fieldsman. For a season he played Rugby with the first fifteen of the Dunedin Football Club and gave promise of achieving distinction in that game. However, he turned to soccer and hockey, and in both of those games gained representative honours. He was also a very fine billiards player, and on two occasions won the New Zealand amateur billiards championship. When he had finished with the mora strenuous sports Harry Siedeberg took up bowling, and here again his.thoroughness and patience in mastering the technique of games brought him to the forefront, for in 1926 lie was a member of the New Zealand champion four, along with J. D. Best, B\ McCullough, and E. Harraway. In his younger days he was a champion gymnast, being considered the best performer in the old Dunedin Gymcastm Club next to the late W. Matthews.

Harry Siedeberg was educated at tha Normal School and the Otago Boys' High School, attending the latter during 1891-93. While at the High School lie gave promise of athletic prowess, .•ing a fh'as champion and creating a record for the long jump, besides being prominent in football. Of recent years, despite bad health, he was a regular attender at sporting events, and even as recently as January of this year he went to Auckland to see the play in the New Zealand bowling championships. Thoroughness and ability to concentrate on the task in hand had a good deal to do with Siedeberg's success in games. He practised assiduously in any sport he was playing. Deceased is survived by his wife and one daughter, Mrs Buxton, who is at iresent on her way. to South Afica: