THE WORLD OF SPORT

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2328, 23 December 1925, Page 7

THE WORLD OF SPORT

(From Our Own Correspondents) Stanley House Duck. The Liverpool Autumn Cup, for a wonder (writes our turf expert, Cen. taur) was not won by one of Lord Derby's horses, nor even onq trained In the Stanley House stable. That is a fact worthy of record. Indeed, one can go still further, and state that not a single Lieverpool Cup —and there are three each-year—has fallen to the lot of the famous establishment this season. I speak without the book, but I warrant there have been few such barren seasons in this respect since the Hon. George Lambton took over the reins of Stanley House. The truth is that, at the moment, there are no outstanding horses above the age of two years in Lord Derby's ownership. Pharos is still a great llttl- fellow, or course, but after his Duke of York Handicap victory, prohibitive weight was put on him, and his stud career is imminent. Sansovino broke down after Ascot, and he, too, is ready for the paddocks. Conquistador has been a very great disappointment, though I believe it is the intention to give him another chance to rehabilitate himself in the Manchester November Handicap. Phalaros is a first-class handicap sprinter, and Mandelleu and Spithead good handlcappera in the staying category. These are the pick of the older lot, and obviously they hardly do justice to one of the biggest breeding establishments in the country. It would not be so bad were there any prospect of classic horses coming along from among the twoyear.olcis. Colorado promised big after winning at Ascot this year, but a subsequent defeat al. most immediately afterwards caused it to be announced that the colt was suffering from some ailment ,and we have not seen him on a course since. Others of the same age in the stable look like developing into just average handicappers, and, unless there la some “darkey” to come along, the Stanley House Liverpool Cup outlook is far from bright. Unexpected Winner. I did nt intend to go into any detail about Lord Derby’s stable when I set out to write about the latest Liverpool-Cup race, hut the strange fact of his non- success this year In that particular event forced itself upon mo suddenly. The curious thing is that the fact has passed practically without comment in the papers of this country. Some day, perhaps, someone will be struck as suddenly' as I have been, and then we will be reading of nothing else for a timer Well! Warden of the Marches, Lord Lonsdale’s colt that ran third in the Leger but subsequently failed in the Duke of York Handicap, and Amethystine, the Jubilee winner, were the chief fancied in the Liverpool Autumn Cup race of 1925, while Paddy, winner of the Spring Cup at the same venue this year, the Manton pair, Cross Bow and Sparus ,and Mrs Arthur James’ Palma Bay—trained by Mr. Lambton —each had a following of sorts. If there was one horse in the field that the vast public did not expect- to win ,lt was Admiral of the Fleet Sir Hedworth Meux’s Donzelon, who had not won a race for two years. Of course, Donzelon was the horse to do the trick, getting the lead as they came into the straight—it was impossible to see the early stages of the race through the fog—and holding off a determined challenge on the part of Amethystine to pass the judge a neck to the good. Sparus was a good third, and Palma Bay ,and Mr. Sol Joel’s The Monk, were close up. Amethystine, we were told, had had her preparation seriously interrupted by a cough, but for which her thought she certainly would have Avon. They did not recall, however, that just before the Jubilee she was suffering from rheumatism. That more serious ailment did not prevent her from being cne of the easiest winners of the year on that occasion! If the general public, lacking anything in the form of encouragement from their mentors, would have nothing to do with Donzelon, it was slightly different where the stable was concerned. A Long Chance. I am not suggesting that they had considerable expectations of success, hut they certainly had hopes, and in that sense did not let this apparently outside horse run unbacked. To those familiar only with the public record of'Donzelon, the real surprise was to find that his starting price was as little as 100 to 7 against. It might just as well have been 50 to 1 for what chance he appeared to have to win any sort of race, least of all one of the importance of the Liverpool Cup. It is said now that he ran fairly well in the Cambridgeshire. He may have done, though I personally did not notice it, but one wants some, thing more concrete than that to go on in the face of a two year blank. I should say the stable itself paid more heed to the circumstance that the horse a month or two previously had been added to the list of geldings, and noted that he seemed more disposed to show his true ability round about Cambridgeshire time. He must have just been coming to himself then, and the fact would afford justification for the step which had been taken. In the meantime, he apparently con. tlnued to do well, and in backing him for the first time for a very long period, Mr. Persse, the trainer, and his friends must have believed that the old-time was dead giving place to a new entity. Donzelon certainly is not even now the horse that it was hoped he would be when made the winter favourite for the Derby of 1924. But that there is a year or two ahead of usefulness in which he can make up in part for numerous disappointments, is a consolation to his owner and his trainer. £40,000 For Raw Scots. Within the first ten weeks of the football season so much as £40,000 has been spent on the acquisition of Scottish soccer footballers by the English clubs. Scotland has always been a favourite recruiting ground, but never before in the history of the game has such* a wholesale, raid, been

made on the resources of tho clubs. It is curious that, almost from the beginning of the game, Scots have crossed the Border. They used to come with a carpet bag and borrowed money in tho early seventies, and, whilst some would work, the real rea. son for the visit was to play. For even In those days surreptitious pay. meats were made. Indeed, It was largely due to these wandering Scots that professionalism was recognised and adopted. That was In 1885. and three years later the League wus formed. Then tho Scots literally flocked across the Border, the number registered during the Second season of the League being 230. Scotland’s resources were then drained, and the men who deserted their clubs were known as “outlaws.” So the migration of the Scots has gone on, and they are to be found in almost every team to-day. But tho circumstances are greatly different. They can Identify themselves with English clubs only with permission, and at a price. For the English and Scottish Leagues have a working agreement about transfers. Result of the New Rules. It is just as impossible for a man to go from one Scottish club to another us it is from a Scottish club to and English one. The recruiting of Scotsmen during the past few weeks has been due to two circumstancesIn the first place, it has been found that the alteration of ’ tho off.sidtlaw has seriously affected some of the teams ,and at all cost they need, t.d fresh talent. And the demand was so g.dbat that it could not be satisfied at home. In the second place, the financial position in Scotland is far from satisfactory, owing to the great amount of unemployment. Except the chief. Glasgow clubs, most of them have been hard hit. But the Scotsman,, realising the need of the English clubs, has proved a terrible fellow to bargain with, and prices have gone up and up. For instance Cardiff City, floundering at the bottom of the English League, were compelled to go out into the market and secure three forwards. For these they had to pay £IO,OOO. Preston North End have paid a similar amount and there have been other instances in which as much as £4,000 has been paid for a player. And the position in English football is not so good as it might, be. It has so happened that the weather at the weekend has been most unfavourable, and there is not a. club In the country whose receipts are as high as for the corresponding period of last season. The enemies of professionalism have pointed to the trafficking which has been going on with scorn, and It is undoubtedly true that the game is being more commercialised than ever. But a halt must be called. Even Scotland cannot afford to transfer many more players, without seriously impoverishing its stock# and the English clubs will soon bo in the bankrutcy court. Amateur Billiards Championship. The entry for the amateur billiards championship is a complete justifies, tion for the adoption of composition balls instead of ivories. As many as 170 players are to compete, and last year the number was only fifty.one. It is most unfortunate that the fou 1 semi-finalists Including the winner, Sidney Fry. have not seen fit to enter, but the event starts on a new era, and and it promises to win greater success than ever before. It is expected that the size of the breaks will be higher all round, and this may not be due to composition balls being easier to score off than ivory. It is known that amongst the new players who have not entered before, are some most accomplished performers. Having been accustomed to use composition balls In the past, they have not thought it worth while to compete. There Is one J. Barlam, tho champion of Liverpool, who recently made a break of two hundred, and at the next visit to the table but one, ran into the fifth century. I believe that Earlam has even topped this break, and, of course, nothing like It has been compiled by amateurs with ivories. There are two formidable competitors from Sheffield. Charles Simpson some time ago played the professional Davis, and gave a very good account of himself. And Law. ronce Staples won the boy’s cham. pionship two years ago, and In the meantime, has improved in a remarkable way. Staples is a red-ball expert, and he has many hundred breaks to his credit. But none of these three men is likely to be favourite. This position will be held by W. P. McLeod, who has twice won the championship with Ivories. His status was questioned last year, and, though on inquiry not even a suspicion remained, he did not play. He is probably the best amateur billiard player the game has known. He comes from Middlesbrough, and it is significant, as showing that Pry and the other players who have not entered might have done well enough that when McLeod first played in the event he had little experience of com. position balls. Another well-known player is G. A. Heginbottom. Though he has not gained the title he has been runner-up on four occasions, and his break of 188 stood as the highest for seven years. Britain’s Greatest Golfer. After having carried all before him this year, Archibald Compston, the Manchester golf' professional, rather generously submitted himself to a thorough test over seventy-two holes against Abe Mitchell. He had beaten the latter twice .and he might at any rate have waited until next season, before giving his rival the opportunity for his revenge. But Compston was prepared to play as soon as the match was suggested ,and, as showing his supremo confidence, he put down £IOO of his own money as a side stake. It Is the first time I have known a professional golfer do this. But if Compston was ever under any delusion as to the ability of Mitchell, it was removed in this game. He was beaten by the hollow margin of nine up and eight to play, and the result was to lift Mitchell still higher ar- Britain’s greatest golfer. Mitchell gave a wonderful display over the St. George’s Hill and Wentworth courses For the sixty .four holes played, his

score averaged four for each hole. Four up at the half-way stage, he had increased his lead to seven when only eighteen hols remained to bo played, and he went on to win by tho margn stated. The golf of the men differed just as much as the score suggests. Mitchell refused to make It a slogging match, but, though his opponent is three or foqr inches taller and also stronger, he was generally a dozen yards aheqA from the tee. This put Compston in the position of having to play tho odd, and it was a big handicap. It was, however, in the shots up to tho flag that Mitchell showed his mastery With full Iron shots, ' ho attained superb accuracy, and, just as through the green, Compston had usually to play first on the green . The latter could complain that ho had no luck with his putts, especially on the second day, but he did not strike the ball so truly as his rival, and hence the ball did not go Into tho hole so regularly. At the finish Compston was very frank. He declared that he was well beaten. As he had played against him, Mitchell would have beaten any golfer in the world. I think this is true. One of the spectators was J. H. Taylor, who was once beaten by Yardon at Portmarnock by thirteen up and eleven to play, and he declared that Mitchell’s golf re. minded him of Vardon’s when the latter was at tho zenith of his fame. The contract which Mitchell and Duncan had to visit America three times in five years is up, and they have boon asked ro renew It. Mitchell is tired of American tours, however, and does not wish to do so. In the circumstances, there Is a possibility that Duncan, for the purpose of a tour, may join up with Compston. County Cricket Qualifications.

No county cricket club has more warmly welcomed outside players than Lancashire. Any wandering batsman or bowler, so long as he was good enough, has been able to find a place in the eleven. Even men from the neighbouring county of Yorkshire have been accepted. Indeed, players have been spclally invited to go and live in the county for two years, in order to secure the necessary residential qualifications. The last player to be poached was Mac. donald, the Australian fast bowler. In tho first place, he was engaged as a professional by a League cliib, but, as soon as he came to this country to take up the appointment, there was little doubt that, when he had the qualification he would be pressed into tho county team. But an attempt is now to be made to put a stop to the selection of outside cricketers by Lancashire. At tho annual meeting of the club next month,, the question is to be raised, and a proposal made that in future only Lancashire-born men shall be eligible for the county eleven. This would not, of course, affect present members of the side who were born outside tho country. It is a startling suggestion, and it is doubtful whether it will be well received. But a very strong case can be made out for the home player. Yorkshire end Notts are the only counties who insist that their repro, sentativos shall be natives, and, unless the other clubs fall into line, Lancashire may hesitate to cut themselves off from outside help. The? question of qualification in cricket has always been most complex, be. cause it is necessary to provide for players who were born in counties where first-class cricket is not played. They must have an outlet for their talent which has been fostered at school or University, and so they have been admitted on a residential qualification. For instance, A. P. F. Chapman, who was a member of the last M. C. G. team to visit Aus. tralia, was born in Berkshire, and when ho left tho ’Varsity, he was kept out of county cricket. In tho circumstances, he went to live in Kent, and last year he became entitled to play for this county and is now recognised as a Kent cricketer for the purpose of (he championship.