WORLD OF SPORT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17263, 2 September 1916, Page 11

WORLD OF SPORT.

i THE TURF.' . , [Feom -O™ Coreestoxdent.] . - LONDON, July 14. "Which is the best two-year-old?■ It is tho question * which is usually answered. with some definiteness at this advanced part of the racing season. But, nothing is usual in these times. Whatever the cause a. close observer of events on tho racecourse finds it difficult to paint to a champion. Ouo or two have qualifications, and these wo will presently examine, but, there is no Tetrarch to push all aspirants into tho shade. As a, rule, Ascot lias brought out a two-year-old destined to take high rank, but of course there lias'been no Ascot since 1914. In quite recent years, however, ouo recalls that Bayardo,. Lemberg and Craganour made their first appearances at Ascot. la the first halt of a season opinions must necessarily bo moulded by events. Thus a champion ono day ,may bo dethroned the nextday. TJio form in April and May must only be tho form of “forward” young horses. When thoso of delayed development become fit honours must bo transferred unless tho April 1 and May champion happens to be an exceptional one. Tho Tetrarch made his qlobut early in April, and cinco a champion always a champion so far as he was concerned. In the first week of the season, at. Newmarket winning two-year-olds wer.o Fleet-wood, Half HoOp and Toni Fcol. Half Hoop, a grey fiily by the sire ot Tho Tetrarch made a big impression. Yet she has not won since aud may not do so again, for she Is small and set, and lias, therefore, her limitations. Tom Fool has not won since, but Fleetwood has done something to confirm that early good impression. Quite certain is it that she is well behind the test- At the next Newmarket meeting Mr H niton’s Margaretbal made a most favourable impression, and she is really a lovely filly, but sho has not won since. Lord Derby’s filliy hv Swynford-Mn.rclK t-ta. heat Sybil Grey and Silver Wand. We did not think so much of that form at the time. Yet all have won since. It-was at this first spring meeting that Sir W r . .J. , Totem’s Bachelors Double—Dark Dinah colt wou his first race, and until lost week lie did indeed do much to qualify as champion. Next time out. lie won the Spring Stakes, healing the Marclietta filly, an/ then the Ditch Stakes of six furlongs, giving 131 b and a .two-lengths! heating to Fleetwood, and much weight to° others. Ho went on to win the July Stakes—a. famous race for two-vear-olds—but two days later was defeated. That defeat gave him a great setback.

Let mo give the colt his new name —Grand' Fleet. Most .owners would have been content at winning such a good; race c.s the July Stakes, especially as Grand Fleet was made to gallop to beat tho Marclietta filly and Tagamor, but Sir W illiam Tatem, acting no doubt on the advice ol his Australian trainer, sent out the colt to race again forty-eight hours later, tins time for the Exeter Stakes of six furlongs. He had to carry a penalty, and the fable of tho*fate:of the pitcher which went, too often to the well was recalled'by Grand Fleet’s signal failure. He was beaten two lengths and three lengths bv Mr Hultoii’s Knutsfofid and Mr Buchanan’s Athdara, each of’which was receiving 81b from him. but the winner certainly gave him moro than an 81b boating. Knutsford won with extreme ease, and on tlio face of it be would seem to be the best two-year-old up-to-date. On the other hand,,it was surely trying Grand Fleet unfairly to. ask him. to race twice in such circumstances within forty-eight, hours. The modern thoroughbred’ has not the constitution to stand this sort of thing, and if Grand Fleet lias not been ruined ho may reassert his excellence. , There is another, however, woHliy ot the. createst resnect. This is Lord D’Aberuon’s Diaclem, a daughter of Orby and Donetta, bred by tho owner. She* first drew attention to herself by winning the' New Coventry Stakes, ecsite beating Golden Maid (a wiiuior since); Margaretbal, the Marclietta fillv. and others. Then last week we saw a spreadeagling performance when she easily won the '.Fulbournc Stakes of £9lO, beating Sunset Glow and Pamflota (both previous winners). The winner gave 91b to each of them, which of course invests .her victory until great, merit- - Pamfleta was t'avourilo for the good reason that, the Foxhill stable thought, no two-year-old in the country could give her 910. Iu extenuation of her failure it can be said that she got badly away while the winner got a flying start, but so far at the result stands Diadcui stands out as .a grand .filly. In our view, therefore, the two-year-old championship at present, must rest between her and Kiiutsford. ~ The last meeting at Newmarket, was full of interesting, features, and the pity of it is-that the war will not allow us to study them as w.e would like. A three-year-old in Nassovian, which had been third for the Two Thousand Guineas .and the Derby, won the Princess of Wales’s Stakes, & race that has been won by . some great horses in the past. But as lie had never won a race of any description ho bad all tile allowances and none of• the penalties and so had only a light impost. Yet in spite-of that, end Abe extremely poor character of the opposition, lie cou]d only win after the exercise of much pressure on the- part of Ins jockey. Kwang Su, 'second in the classio races this year, could not run, owing to developing a cough at tho eleventh hour. Mr Mortimer Singer won a couple of races. One was tho Ellesmere Stakes, of a mile and three furlongs, which Oattistock won. and in which, by the way, Mount ’William showed iio could not stay a, longish course. The other winner was .an extremely nice filly by Earniiau. from a, marc named La Lnidc. Sho won ihe Princess Plato. On-the same afternoon Lord Derby’s good marc Hast.a won the Milton Handicap under a big weight, and one must not overlook the easv way Mr Hultoii’s sprinter TorIpisk - woii, the- duly Cup, or the second Successful appearance of Mr,Buchanan’s three-year-old Hurry On. He is undoubtedly a smart horse and some good judges even suggest, he may win tho September Stakes, the substitute, “ St Legor.” But Clarissimus and Fifinella will surely have something to say as to that- Mr Buchanan, by the way, mildly astonished all nip] sundry by giving 3000 guineas for a 'yearling at a, time when we are approaching tlio third y<mr of war. The yearling in question--Thormogene, by Polymclus from Emotion, bred by Mr James Russel —ought to bo a great one, indeed, if lie is to justify Mr Buchanan’s daring adventure. FOOTBALL UNDER- FIRE.

Two sporting trophies that have just come to London will ho treasured for all time. They arc the two footballs that wore dribbled across No Alan's Land byme.it of the East Surrey ■Regiment, in the great offensive and kicked to tho goal—tho German trenches. It is a. wonderful story. A captain of ono of • the companies provided four footballs, one for each platoon; for the r.wo to dribble across the mile and a. quarter of ground. When the order to charge came the piatoon command-ers-kicked off. as if they were playing on the peaceful fields at home, and regardless of tho German machine-gun bullets, which had already begun to shatter through the ranks, and tho match against Death commenced. Away

the men went., with the balls at their foot, and though tlio captain himself fell early, and other men dropped cut. the mad game continued until the goal was reached. Then, when bombs and bayonets bad done their work, and the trenches had been won, a search Was made for the historic balls. Two ot, them were found in the bottom of the captured traverses, and they have just boon sent to the regiment’s headquarters, Kingston Barracks, near London, as most interesting souvenirs of the war. Tommy’s cheerfulness in the face of death has become world-fam-ous, and if you can imagine this thrilling scene of men going into the greatest battle as if 'it were all a game, you will know how the manly, courageous character of the troops that are to .win pence for Europe has been built up. The value of the sporting instinct has never, been mode amply exempli* lied. The Surrey mon. like all others, meant to conquer or to do. From another part of the front on this day, when Britain began to show her -lighting power, perhaps'for the first time comes another story which will go down in football history. It concerns a. Yorksbiremau who suddenly feiund hiimq.lt face to face with a . big Gorman standing in the door of a dugout in a captured treueli. Using perfect English, the German shouted, “Don’t shoot!’’ as t lie ‘'Tyke’’ put liis rifle to his shoulder. “ T was brought up in England, and played football for Bradford City. By jeve! I know your 1 hoc, old man. Weren't ,you 'at the Victoria, Hotel, Sheffield.’’ ' Footballer at. home arc puzzled to know who this English-speaking German could he, and it is certain that his identity is hidden behind an English name. Neither Bradford City nor any other league club, has over had a Gorman member, but ns tho centre.of the. textile trade Bradford has a large German colony. TOLL OF WAR. But though our soldier sportsmen have won glorious victories and asserted a. definite ascendancy over tlio enemy it is hard to bo cheerful. (Lao opens* the newspaper each morning with tho dread ot seeing that still' another friend ’ has fallen in the light. The casualty lists tell a very plain and tearful story of tho severity of the struggle. Hammer blows are not aimed against, the enemy without a very heavy cost. And tho toll among ’sportsmen has again bee.ii high. Of the several professional footballers and cricketers who have received commissions two Kav-i fallen —Second-Lieuten-ant" E. H. Lintott. the international hnlf-baek, and Second-Lieutenant TL TV. Booth, tho Yorkshire cricketer. Both joined the “ Leeds Pals” as privates and became officers before the battalion went to Egypt.' After a few months in Egypt, the -battalion was ordered to France, and took part iu the big’attack. Lintott is .the first association international to fall in tlio war. Originally a schoolmaster, it, was not until he" had played ns an amateur international and established liis position iu the. game that, he became a .professional. This was whilst ho was a member of tho Loudon club, Queen's Park Rangers. In addition to being “ capped ” in live amateur.: internationals he placed against- .Scotland, Ireland and Wales in 1908, and against Scotland and Ireland in 1910, and he pad the notable record of never being on tho losing side in any oi these representative games. He was, d course. a much-sought-after player, and ill 19,09 ho was' transferred from the Rangers to Bradford City, whilst.later lie became a member of Leeds L-iti. Lmtot.t’s play was marked by intelligence and resolution, and when be made, up his mind the opposing forward had a very poor show. In the; 1908 game against "V ales Meredith, the ; famous Manchester City wing .. mao. , was liis “mark.” and so successful j wr< Lintott iu his shadowing that poor.; Meredith at last protested.. “ For j Heaven's sake. Lintott. go away, he ; said. “Go away man! You’ve get seven goals. How many mole does Englaud want?” But Lintott glories in his grip, and never relaxed it,. When the' war broke out- his playing days, were coming to an end, and he j had just- taken up liis old position as j a schoolmaster before lie , enlisted. j Booth was undoubtedly an England 1 cricketer in the making, even if he j had not, quite reached that, stage, lie j became' a regular member ot Yorkshire 1 in 1910, .and improved every season. ! In 191:’ he appeared for the Players j against* tlio Gentlemen at Lords, and ! afterwards went to South Africa with j the M. 0.0. team. He first- came into j prominence as a- bowler, hut.- like many ; other Yorkshirouion lie quickly develop ; ad considerable batting skill, lm_ high- j (■;:{ innings being 210 a.;pinst M ore.estetshire. As a . medium-pace bowler ho had a high delivery with a puzzling flight, and- quick action off the pitch. In .1913 be was tho first bowler in England, to capture 100 wickets.

Booth’s death. is a big loss .to English as well-'as, to Yorkshire cricket;

Another commissioned • professional cricketer, Ernest Hayes, the,- Surrey man,, lias, had .a; very narrow escape. Whilst" ho,and two .other, officers’ were seated ,in a dug-out having tea, a shell from a big mortar blew in ‘ the front of the ‘underground shelter. ’ All three were, buried, and three-quarters of an hour elapsed beforo they ’ were rescued, hut Hayes is -unhurt. The capto.in, indeed, was the. only ono t to suffer. He had hie .arm injured. In a letter home Ilayes tells of'another adventure. After a shell had . Burst dangerously near ho found that a. part of it had passed through two pouches and landed among his ..revolver, ballots, .striking ono of them without exploding it. .... . Tho, Australian t te.st match player, Lieutenant C. Kelleway, is dying wounded in a London hospital. \\Q have a very clear recollection oi Kollews y when ho ■ cam© over with tho last team from “down under.” He used to go in first and make limise.lt a dreadful nuisance to the opposition, not because he scored so many runs, though ho occasionally, showed that ho could make them readily enough when in tho mood, but by liis defensive tactics. ■ His best performances in tlio Triangular tournament were century innings against, the South Africans at Manchester and Lords.

Ono of tho first officers to he given tlio Military Cross, Captain. J. R. Somers Smith, is reported killed. I/ike his brother, R. W. Somers Smith, who fell some months ago, ho was a find oarsman. Ho stroked tbo Magdalen Four, which won the Stewards' Oup at Henley Regatta in 1908, ,and tho fouroared race at the Olympic Regatta of that' year.'

Second-Lieutenant M. H. Blackwood, of tho Seaforth Highlanders, was a promising light-weight boxer and rep resented Harrow in the Public .Schools Championship. .Second-Lieutenant Box Shenve.il,. a brother of tho South . African cricket captain, captained tho Tonbridge School eleven last year. He was also a member of tlio Rugby foothill! fifteen.

Another amateur boxer killed was Major L. A. Hind, of the Sherwood Foresters. As a middle-weight he represented Cn in bridge some years ago. Ho had twice ’ . u mentioned in dispatches and awr * 1 the Military Cross. Two north county Rugby players have been wounded. Lieutenant L. Myers is the Hcadingley half-back. who won liis Yorkshire county cap before he was eighteen years of ago, and was chosen as reserve for England in tbo season before tho war. .This is tho second time lid has been .wounded. Lieutenant T. H. Hodgkinson was considered one of tb.e best three-quarters' Cumberland .has ever produced. Ho is a vice-president of the County Union. GOLF. The war is bringing a new race ,of golfers into existence—*-a race which,will give added significance -to tho classic term “ Royal and Ancient game.” F6r the majority, of these new players .are hardly veterans, who have cither passed or a,re approaching very near to tho allotted i span of three score years and ton Some of.them have been attracted to the game by the deserted aspect .it the London links. , In these times they can jog comfortably ronnd tho course, occupying sonic throe hours in the process, without being harassed by imperious erics of “Foro!” from exasperated youngsters coming on behind. But tho greatest number of these golfing tyros are war workers who deserve well of tho State. They lmd retired on their money bags or on comfortable pensions, and never thought to take up business life again. Now they hare been dragged back to the officestool to take (lie place .of younger mon, and feel the need of exercise to keep them fit: They have taken up the game with enthusiasm, a.hd are full of. regrets and rqpinmgs over their wasted youth. They read tho golfing text-books voraciously, and take lessons from the professional two or three times a week. They spend every minute of leisure they can get on t)ie links, and one may. venture the suspicion that- if the Germans were marching through London you would sti'J find' a substantial number of those gentlemen entrenched in tlio bunkers playing golf after tlio best manner of Sit Francis Drake. INMAN'S TRIUMPH. Inman is laughing at his critics. It was said to be iuipertinenco- on bis part to attempt to concede the muchimpfoved Falkinor 2500 start iu a match-of 18,000 tip, but. by superb bil- | Hards he achieved a brilliant, victory hv the overwhelming margin of 1608. To appreciate the great, merit of this performance it is necessary to kubw tlio run of tlio. play. Suffice it- to say that when only four sessions remained tho champion had still arrears of 946 to clear off. At the first ho scored 1002 to 572, averaging eighty-three for each visit to tho table, and at tho second 900 to 435. with an average of ninety. On the afternoon of tho last dav he compiled 1299. to 259. (average 100'). a-nd. a.t the final session 749 to 130* '(average 187). . To further mark this extraordinary play it may be mentioned that lie was responsible for 3950 points in under nine .-hours] play. This total included breaks of-548 and <3B, whilst his last half dozen innings yielded 307. 0, 738< 179, 146 .and 166 unfinished —a total of 1229 at - tho rate 0 f 205 per cue. Inman, as lio was entitled- to be, was mighty pleased with his success. Recently critics, have hammered at-wlia-t they described as his false position and openly declared that he was - not'worthy of Ins title. There was, therefore. some excuse for him when he turned round and faced tlm crowded hall, after making the tinning stroke against Falkinor, with an expression which scorned' to say, “ Now are vou satisfied that I am champion. - Falkinor was powerless to check the champion and oit his rare visits to thft tahlo he suffered from that -deadly “ cnidness ” which ’comes With long \nact'vitv. lilnmii was pleased to say that lie had given tho best dmoloy of his career, and one may add that Jt is doubtful -whether any champion Ms ever given a - bettor. That is the highest justification for Ins claim to wear the billiard crown.