INFLUENCE OF KINSHIP

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 August 1927, Page 6

INFLUENCE OF KINSHIP

HEREDITY IN SPORT. FAMILIES WHICH EXCELLED. The arrival in English, first-class cricket of another Jessop, the son of the famous “Croucher, ” whose daring deeds with the bat will always live in memory, recalls many instances of families who have taken a prominent part in almost every branch of athletics, writes C. W. Paekford in “Sporting Life.” It is hardly possible to single out one truly British pastime that has not witnessed the active association .of those connected by the closest ties of kinsmanship. The six brothers—H. K., W. L., R. E., B. C., G. N., and M K.—have all played first-class cricket Between them they collected sohie 20 Blues at Oxford. It. E. (“Tip”), who died in 1914, was a double international, having played for England at cricket and Association football, and they have all obtained honours at these two games, in addition to golf, rackets, and athletics. The Farnfield family, also consisting of five or six brothers, ali played Association football together for the New Crusaders, one of the most successful pre-war amateur combinations, and two or three of them played for Cambridge University. Cricket has, of course, given us . the Grace family. E. M., W. G., and G.F., the three ‘brothers, all played for England against Australia in the Oval match of 1880, w'hile W. G., jun., son of the “G.0.M.,” obtained a Blue at Cambridge. There have been several instances of twins excelling at the same sport. C. M. and W. G. Chavasse, sons of the Bishop of Liverpool, ran in the same “440” for Oxford against Cambridge, while C. G. and E. R. Allen, also twins, represented Cambridge against Oxford at lawn tennis, and once appeared in the final of the doubles at Wimbledon, in addition to winning scores of open tournaments.

OXFORD HURDLERS. Then of other brothers, although not twins, there were the Garniers, the hurdlers of Oxford; the Lagdens—R. B. and R. O. —who played against one another in a ’Varsity match at Lords; and the Gilligans —A. E. R. and F. W. —who had the same experience. There is a third brother —A. H. H.—who plays for Sussex, while W. A. Gilligan, the father, is a member of the Surrey County committee. Golf also has its romance in this connection. There are the Kyles, of St. Andrews, the father of whom coached his whole family in the rudiments of the game. The two sons, D. H. and E. P., and the three daughters, Audrey, Elsie and Ida, now Mrs Provis, between them have won many championships and important competitions. An even greater record is that of the Hezlets, of Ireland. These are Major Charles Hezlet, the Irish open champion of 1926, and the three sisters — Florence (Mrs Cramsie), May (Mrs Ross) and Violet (Mrs Hulton). Miss May, as she then was, won the British women’s championship on three occasions—in 18S9, 1902, and 190 y—and that of Ireland five times, while the other sisters appeared in the final more than once. The three brothers Bryan—G. J., J. L., and R. T.—have played cricket for Kent, and G. J. is the Army Rugby wing three-quarter. The Ashtons, also three in number, have excelled at cricket, football, hockey, rackets, fives,, the youngest, Claude, being an inter-: national for Association football. On the river, Dr Warre, the late beloved headmaster of Eton, and his two sons, rowed for Oxford in the ’Varsity boat race, while Guy and Vivian Nichalls, two brothers, appeared in the same boat, also for Oxford, and in later years the son of Guy also obtained his Blue. RUGBY EXPONENTS. Rugby football has given us other instances. Of the famous McVieker family of Ireland, the father and three sons represented their country; two brothers, Hewitt and Stephenson MeVieker, have appeared in the same team, while old internationals in G. C. Hubbard, Frank Mitchell, and J. C. Jenkins have sons who are rapidly making a name for themselves. From New Zealand, where the name of Lowry is revered in sx>orting circles, have come three brothers, who represented their ’Varsity at Rugby, cricket and lawn tennis. America sent us D. and J. G. Millburn, two brothers, who rowed and played polo together for Oxford. Three Gunns —William, John and George; a father and son—Fred and Maurice Tate; an uncle and nephew— J. T. and J. W. Hearne; two brothers — C. T. and G. B. Studd; two cousins— J. T. and It. Tyldesley—have all played for England against Australia in Test matches The Crawford family, the Rev. J. C. and his three sons, V. F. S., R. T., and J. N., provide a classic example of the hereditary love of cricket, for all played with distinction, while one has only to think of such names as Day, Knox, Pelairct, Gifiin, Freeman, Hill-Wood, Hands, Hornby, Kilner and Ford, among many others, to realise how a particular sport runs in a whole family.