GENERAL SPORTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20259, 29 May 1940, Page 3

GENERAL SPORTS

EXHIBITION RUN NEW TENNIS CHAMPION CLOSE GOLF MATCH A brown snake four feet long interrupted two golfers on the third tee at the Moss Vale links, New South Wales. One of the players killed it with a No. 7 iron. Then he lobbed his tee shot with the same club a few inches from the hole and secured a “birdie.” $ * * n* Taislo Maeki, of Finland, recently scored an easy victory over Tommy Deckard, former American steeplechase champion, in an exhibition three-mile run for the benefit of the Finnish relief fund. His time of 14min. I.9sec. brought him across the finishing line almost three-quarters of a lap ahead of Deckard, and was hailed as a world indoor record for dirt trade racing. Maeki’s time was six seconds slower than Rice’s new world record for three miles. At no time, however, was Maeki pressed. * * * * Canada lias produced a nine-year-old boy tennis champion in Lome Main, who won the Marpole Public Courts event for boys under 15 at Vancouver. Lome, a wisp of a lad who grasps his racquet with both hands, like John Bromwich, of Australia. won the titles by defeating 15-year-old Hughie Johnson, 6—3. 5 —7. 7—5. The new champion weighs 3st 81b, and is 3ft 11 in tall. it O * it L. Hutton. Yorkshire and England opening batsman and holder of the world's record test score of 3G4, now a physical training instructor in the army, lias been invited to captain Pudsey St. Lawrence, a Bradford League club, in the coming season, if he is available. St. Lawrence lias already signed on B. J. Tobin, the South Australian, and, as an amateur, N. W. D. Yardley, the Yorkshire allrounder. # $ * <t After a close match Henry Cotton defeated Alfred Padgham at the thirty-seventh hole in the final of the News of the World golf tournament early this month. Botli players are former British open champions. Cotton had a lead of one hole after the first 18 holes, in which was included an eagle three at the lentil. The match was.square after 27 holes, but from that point Padgham nutted badly. Cotton had cards of 71—72 and Padgham 72—71. Cotton played brilliantly throughout the event and in the third round had an amazing 31 out against Martin ft * * A New Plymouth golfer recently had an unusual experience when playing the tenth hole at Ngamotu. As his drive came lo rest a seagull swooped and picked up the ball. The thought of losing a good expensive ball was rather too much for the player, who set off in pursuit. Much to his delight the bird duly dropped the “ball some 150 to 200 yards nearer the green. Accepting this as a stroke of good fortune he pjayed out the hole in good style. Back at the pavilion telling of his feat, he was asked why he did not replace the ball from where the gull had lifted it in accordance with the rules. *v s * Leading amateur golfers have been asked by the Victorian Golf Association if they will be available on five consecutive Saturdays, beginning July 6, for a series of eight-a-side amateur v. professional foursomes matches for the Victorian Golf Association war relief fund. The professionals are to be selected by the Professional Golfers’ Association. It is proposed to play the first and fifth of these matches on metropolitan courses, and the others at Bendigo, July 13, Ballarat, July 20, and Geelong, July 27.