AGE LIMIT IN SPORT.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4986, 11 June 1926, Page 1

AGE LIMIT IN SPORT.

BEST MEN ARE OYER THIRTY. Most of the champions of sport to-day are beyond the age of 30, according to W. T. Tilden, and a study of the records bears out the view of the tennis champion. College sports and golf were ex= cepted by Tilden, but while champions in the former sport average about 20, the facts on the royal and ancient game show age and experience more than holding their own against the challenge of youth. Bobby Jones, the amateur golf championship, is in the early twenties, but Willie McFarlane, Walter Hagen, Jim Barnes, and Mac Smith, holders of most of the professional or open crowns, average well beyond 30. Tilden himself gained the national tennis title six years ago, but at 32 now he is still undefeated and may hold his title unless the versatile French ace, Lacoste, relieves him of it.

Miss Helen Wills, who lifted the tennis championship at 19, and Miss Glenna Collett, young champion among women golfers, are the exception to the general rule ; but Mrs Mallory in tennis, Mrs Dorothy in golf, and Miss Mary K. Browne in tennis are able representatives of the older group of feminine stars. Baseball’s luminaries resist the onslaughts of time, perhaps, to a greater extent than any other pastime. Rogers Hornsby, champion batter of the National League, will not be 30 till a few weeks hence; but such stars as Ty Cobb, 20 years in national play, Babe Ruth and half a dozen others are all over 30. At 43, Speaker is still amongst the nation’s greatest batsmen. In boxing, Jack Dempsey is 30, and Harry Greb, middleweight champion until his recent defeat at the hands of Tiger Flowers, is 31. Rocky Kansas won the lightweight title at 38. Most of the track and field champions are comparative youths, because of the emphasis provided by college competitions, but there are many exceptions. Most of the distance runners improve with age. Stenroos, of Finland, was close to 40 when he won the Olympic Marathon. Matt McGrath and Pat McDonald have been at the top in weight-tossing events for many years. McGrath has been in four Olympic teams. Swimming affords another exception, for all the world’s champions have held their records in the twenties, but rarely afterwards.