OUR SPORTING KING.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 189, 26 July 1913, Page 4 (Supplement)

OUR SPORTING KING.

The King is a fine all-round sportsman, but slimes most perhaps as a game shot. Here ho need not fear comparison with very few of hrs subjects. Some years ago a well-known sporting magazine held a plebiscite to determine the twelve best shots in the country. In the result His Alajesty, then i’rince of Wales, was bracketed for fourth place with Prince Y ictor Dhuleep Singh, Air. F. E. R. Fryer, Mr. W. Stonor, and Lord Falconer. First place fell to Lord de Grey, the second and third positions being respectively occupied by Mr. R. llimingtonvVilson and Lord Walsingham.

The King ;s one of a small band of marksmen who have performed the remarkable feat of firing both barrels of two guns (the second, of course, handed by a “loader”) with such quickness and aeciitacy as to have four dead pheasants falling through the air at the same moment.

Hi's Majesty has helped materially to swell some big “ bags.” When in Canada in 1901 the Duke of

York as he then was. fairly astomdmd the “ natives” by his skill at mid om’K shooting. Ou one day ho bagged fitly bead out of 290 brought down b, die whole partv. Shooting nt Didlingran Hall Norfolk, the seat of Lord and Ladv Amherst, the King on one occasion secured 147 head of game out ot <3l. GOOD AT ANGLING AND TENNIS. His Majesty, however, shines also at other snorts than shooting. . He is a first-rate and enthusiastic anand a Rood tennis player more esuemlly on a covered court. Indeed, a taw vears ago the King, on a covered couit, w anted a lot of boating. The late Kiner Edward once said m iegjd to billiards that “ no should Im able a bioak of mo.e lh lf 1 tlm s b“'so then, treasonable though it mav sound,’his Majesty is “no gentleman,” for he plays an excellent game of billiards .and can easily exceed t.rn wnty-fire break marl.,. In this connection a good story is told. While Prince of Wales his Majesty dined at a nobleman’s house, and afterwards the party adjourned to the billiard-room and indulged in a game of pool. To those who do not understand pool, it mav be explained that the balls are or different colours, each player having line. When it is a player’s turn to play, Ihe marker warns him by calling out the colour of his ball, and also the colour ot Ihe ball on which ho has to play, thus: “ Red on White,” “ Brown on Green.

" SPOT YELLOW” BY” REQUEST. The “ Spot Yellow ” ball fell to the Prince, and, as his turn to play approached, the marker was obviously perturbed. , . At last, going up to his master ana indicating the Prince, he said : “ Beg pardon, m’lord, but shall I call him Your Roval Highness’ or ‘Spot Yellow’? The Prince overheard, and, at his own request, was “ Spot Yellow. ’ His Majesty has always been very.keen on football, and especially the Rugby game, and played it whenever he was allowed to. which was not often. But he has remained an enthusiastic follower of “Rugger,” and always, when possible, attends tho annual Navy v. Army match, or any other big game where the play is sure to be strenuous and clean. The BLing is, of course. polished horseman, and always an early riser has revived tho fashion of the early morning gallop in tho llotr. People will tell you that the King does not. care much for horse-racing, but this is incorrect. Certainly the Turf is not the passion with him that it was with his father, but his Majesty takes a real personal interest in his horses and often see.o them “ at work ” when most of his subjects are still abed

Cricket has claimed his favourable attention, while at one time he was an ardent cyclist, and is, of course, an expert yachtsman In short, the Ruler of the British Eaijrire is a thorough -and accomplished sportsman, a fact which goes a long way towards endearing him to sporting people.