REFUSED £20,000 OFFER

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

REFUSED £20,000 OFFER

Henry Cotton, British open golf champion, has received a cabled invitation to play a series of matches at Miami. Florida, and to compete In the Bobby Jones “Masters ’ tournament at Augusta, Georgia. Cotton has replied that he will not go to the United States unless a concrete offer of a substantial character is forthcoming. It is possible that Cotton would require a guarantee of at least £IOOO, plus expanses. before embarking on a trip lo the United States. A player can w'in £2CDO or more in a season in Engl-uul. w here prize money totals £15,000.

Sir Pelham Warner revealed racently that if eight balls were bowled in an over instead of six a saving of 1 hour 40 minutes a match could be effected. These figures are the result of a stop-watch test made during the England v. New Zealand matches.

Negotiations between C. V. Grimmett and the Lancashire League authorities, who are endeavouring to induce the great Australian * slow bowler to accept an engagement in England, are still in progress. The original offer made to Grimmett was turned down.

HEAVY-WEIGHT BOXER TO RE MAIN IN RETIREMENT

Jack Petersen, former British and Empire heavy-weight champion, recently refused an offer of £20,000 to emerge from his retirement and fight a series of big contests. It was suggested that the series should culminate during the English summer with a bout to be staged at the forthcoming Glasgow Exhibition. The offer, made through his father, and former manager, “Pa" Petersen, was immediately turned down. Jack retired from the ring last. April at the age of 25, owing to eye trouble and loss of iorm.

“My eyesight has shown some improvement, but it is not so much better that I can afford to take risks,’ said Petersen.

Petersen earned a lot of money during his five years’ professional boxing, and it is believed that when he refused an offer from Mr. Sydney Hulls last April, after consul/ting an eye specialist, he had amassed between £30,000 and £40,000.