WORLD RANKING IN SPORT

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 60, 12 March 1938, Page 12

WORLD RANKING IN SPORT

LISTING FOR YEAR 1937

POLO, BOXING, TENNIS, GOLF, AND ATHLETICS

NO NEW ZEALANDERS INCLUDED No New Zealanders and only one Australian is included in a listing by the American Sports Illustrated, of the world’s best for 1937 in various branches of sport.

The Australian is R. Skene, member of the Ashton Bros.’ polo team, whose play in the British open earned him fifth place. On the tennis list Donald Budge (U.S.A. has the place of honour, ahead of all the highly-salaried professionals. Budge gets there because of his triple win at Wimbledon, his United States singles and mixed doubles

titles, and the fact that almost singlehanded he brought the Davis Cup back to America.

Number two on the list is Fred Perry (England), then come Vines, von Cramm, Nusslein and Austin, with Tilden down in eighth place.

Among the women tennis stars No. 1 is Anita Lizana, of Chile.

The boxing list is interesting, principally because heavy-weight champion Joe Louis is uown in fourth place. Heading the list is dynamic Henry Armstrong, world feather - weight champion, who last year had 24 wins in as many fights, 23 of them on knock-outs.

W. O. Inglis, who is responsible for the ranking, says:—

“If they want lo beat Armstrong, someone will have to invent a machine lo do it. “Pound for pound, he is so far ahead of the rest, that it is hard to place anyone second." Second is Max Schmeling, 33-year-old Germany heavy-weight, who Inglis regards as a hot tip to upset Louis when they meet again. Welter champion Barney Ross, named last year as a possible opponent for Australia’s Jack Carroll, is third, and Tommy Farr, English heavyweight, just sneaks in as No. 10. Among the golf professionals, first place goes to Henry Cotton, British open champion. A grim, taciturn fellow, Cotton earns his ranking by sheer skill; certainly not by personal popularity. Just as Unpopular is Ralph Guldah (U.S.A.), whose win in the American open gives him second place. “Lighthorse” Harry Cooper and P.G.A. champion, Denndy Shute are graded third and fifth respectively.

Apart from Cotton, the only Britishers in the first ten are David Rees (seven), and Percy Alliss (nine). Track athletes are not listed, but a few of the records they established last year are.

Prominent among these is the mile clocking of 4.6 3-5 to the credit of Stan. Wooderson (England).

Others include: Mel Walker (U.S.A.) high jump. 6ft. 10 l-sin; Bill Sefton and Earle Meadows (both of U.S.A.); pole vault, 14ft. 11m; and Archie San Romani (U.S.A.), 2000 metres, 5.16 4-5.