TOPICS AND PEOPLE IN THE WORLD OF SPORT

Northern Advocate, 14 January 1939, Page 11

TOPICS AND PEOPLE IN THE WORLD OF SPORT

Unable to Compete. What a pity A. L, Fitch is unable to compete in New Zealand! At Waimate, a few days ago, popular American athletics coach, who has not had much training to fit himself for sprinting—he needs racing -for that —competed against a cyclist over a measured course of 100 yards. Fitch’s time was 9gsec., equalling the New Zealand amateur record. Under the rules of the I.A.A.F. it is not permissible to stage professional events at an amateur meeting - and this prevents Fitch from being .used for competitive purposes against other athletes.

Krleger Refuses to Sign for Title Match. Fred Apostoli was named the middleweight champion of the world at a recent meeting of the New York State Athletic Commission. The title, it previously had been ruled, hinged on the outcome of the Apostoli-Corbett 11. bout, which the former won. with Solly Krieger given a specified time'to sign for a meeting with Apostoli to decide the undisputed rights to the championship. Neither Krieger or his manager, Hymie Caplin, appeared at the meeting, and as Krieger had failed to sign he was ruled out from the title. Krieger, whose claim to the championship came from a victory over A 1 Hostak, dropped a decision in a 12round non-title fight recently to Young Billy Conn, of Pittsburgh, in his first contest since taking the title from A 1 Hostak in Seattle. Conn, who weighed 165,1 outpunched the New Yorker, who weighed in at 163. The 21-ycar-old victor met three former middleweight champions. Vince Dundee, Babe Risko and Teddy Yarosz, and a former welterweight king. Young Corbett 11., before he was 20, He beat Yarosz twice and lost one decision to him, lost to the other ex- champions and also was beaten once before by Krieger. • • * • Horace Lindrum, the young Australian. and Melbourne Inman are to leave England in February to tour South Africa and New Zealand. This means that neither will take part in the United Kingdom snooker and billiards championships,

Gilbert ami Harrison Prominent in English League.

Most prominent of New Zealand footballers in England this season is “Mike" Gilbert, the ex-West Coast All Black, who is distinguishing himself as a centre-threequarier for Bradford Northern, The former full-back has developed into a penetrating runner and his play has attracted widespread commendation. George Harrison, the Maori forward from Taranaki, is also one of Bradford’s regulars. Charlie Smith, of Hawke's Bay, is proving a tower of strength to Halifax, and his club has discovered that this dashing winger is also a serviceable inside back. The former Canterbury Rugby Union centre. Gordon lanes, has transferred from Wigan to Castleford, and is there-

fore, associated with that strong running international, Arthur Atkinson, who has'made two trips to New Zealand. « « « « Ex-Springbok Star Babrow is in Fine Foritu Louis Babrow, three-quarter, who will be remembered by New Zealanders as a member of the last South African Rugby side to tour this country, is revealing great form in England, according to latest reports. For a long time Babrow. who is now a student at Guy’s Hospital in London, suffered a reversal of form and an injury sustained on the football field put him out of the game for a while. Recently Babrow helped London Hospitals beat Dublin Hospitals, his long raking strides carrying him through the centre and repeatedly making copybook openings for the winger.

Kid Berg is Promised Shot at Welter-weight Title. Kid Berg, the British ex-lightweight champion, revealing his smashing, whirlwind form of 1928. beat Frank Cavanna on points in an eight-round contest at New York recently, and was promised a welterweight title fight with the winner of the ArmstrongGarcia bout, which was won by Armstrong. Cavanna was regarded as Berg’s most dangerous assignment since the latter started his come-back. Cavanna is rated No. 4 welter by the National Boxing Association.

Vines Back in U.S.A. Ellsworth Vines, back in U.S.A. after a barnstorming tennis tour of Caribbean countries with Fred Perry, says the United States has a good chance to keep the Davis Cup another year. The fact: that Don Budge has turned professional “won’t hurt too much,” Vines said when he arrived with Perry on the Cuban Clipper last month. “I figure it will be just about a toss-up between the United States and Australia next time.” Vines said Gene Mako had improved and should give Bobby Riggs a battle for No. 1 spot on the cup team. Wayne Sabin possibly will play in the doubles, he said.

Famed Swimmer Dies, Ray Ruddy, 27, famed swimmer who .competed for the United States in three Olympics, died in a hospital last month from effects of a falh 24 hours earlier at the home of a relative. He tripped on a rug and *eil nearly an entire flight of stairs. %mm 1 m A Good Model. In the near future, New Zealand batsmen will have the privilege of watching, in C. S. Dempster, the Leicestershire County captain, a batsman who never misses a chance of scoring a run. When playing in Wellington six years ago. Dempster was inclined to be ultra-cautious at the start of an innings and lost many runs thereby. Two tours to England and Australia and a six-years’ sojourn in England have ripened his experience and to-day he is a master batsman.

The big crowd which assembled at Ktlburn Park on Saturday was delighted with the case and fluency with which ho scored 127 in 95 minutes for Institute against Wellington. He attacked the bowling right away, and drove home to J. H. Rabone, M. Meech, R. Morgan and J. Ell a salutary lesson that bowlers must keep a length. He hit 15 of! the first over sent down by Morgan, and 15 of!' his second over. He had every stroke at his command, and hooked and pulled as easily and gracefully as he drove and.cut. Though he scored at hurricane pace, there was no rash slogging about his play. Every stroke was made with the very centre of the bat, and the ball travelled fast from his cuts and cover drives, only

two balls were lifted in his bfilUant innings. When /66 he flew one from Morgan high over the heads of 6ie slips ,ahd the ball just tipped Raboflje’s fingers. The other shot was lifted hjgh over cover-point’s head to the bpuxtdaiy. It wa? the innings of a master, batsman.

It was not only as a batsman that Dempster served as a model at Kelburn Park on Saturday. He was very -alfert in the field, and his ground work was clean and smart Tt .was a dazzling piece of work when he fielded a', hard cut by Morgan at deep point and threw Henley out with only one wicket .as a target. . - i»j • ?