TOPICS AND PEOPLE IN THE WORLD OF SPORT

Northern Advocate, 18 February 1939, Page 1 (Supplement)

TOPICS AND PEOPLE IN THE WORLD OF SPORT

FAST TIME IN REVERSE. » In 1897 in Massachusetts, Bill Robinson, a negro tap-dancer, who had never before appeared in any competitive athletics, caused a minor sensation in athletic circles by running 50 yards backwards in 6 seconds. He followed this up by running the hundred yards in 13£ seconds, which is just over four seconds more than the time taken for a hundred by Jesse Owens. This is extracted from a book written by Sir Malcolm Campbell. s Robinson is well known to hundreds of New Zealanders per medium of the motion pictures. He has frequently appeared with the child star, Shirley Temple, * • • • HOLIDAY SPIRIT IN BRITAIN. The New Year spirit affected Soccer in Great Britain on December 31. Especially was this the case in Scotland, where players were apparently infused by the holiday spirit pervading the spectators, and play in several matches was particularly robust, with free fights among the spectators marking several games. At Dumbarton two players, Murray, of Dumbarton, .and Kinnear, of Leith, were ordered off the field just before half-time when they came to blows in midfield. A minor riot which followed among the spectators was straightened out by the police with no arrests.

DEATH OF RUGBY STAR VIC HARRIS.

Former New South Wales Rugby Union representative half-back, Henry Victor (“Vic”) Harris, passed away recently in Sydney at the age of GO years, writes Ted Turner.

He toured New Zealand in 1901 with the New South Wales Union side of that year, 'and represented the State against Queensland in 1900 and 1903. He also played for Past and Present Combined Great Public Schools team against England in 1899 in Sydney. Harris \yas regarded as one of the best half-backs and deadliest tacklers the Australian Union code has produced. * * ♦ « WORLD’S TITLE BOUT FOR HARVEY? Len Harvey has accepted a London syndicate’s offer of three fights against American heavy-weights at Earl’s Court this year, states an overseas paper. It is hoped that his first opponent will be James Braddock. If he wins, efforts will be made to match Harvey against Joe Louis. * J? • • IrICHARDS WELL RATED. No doubt due to his magnificent wins over Gus Lesnevich and “Alabama Kid,” Ron Richards, dual Australian champion, has jumped up in the latest lists of American lightheavyweight ratings. He now occupies fourth position behind champion John Henry Lewis. Tiger Fox, Melio Bettina and A 1 Gainor.

CECILIA COLLEGE RETAINS BRITISH SKATE TITLE. Cecilia Colledge retained the British women’s amateur figure skating title in England recently. Megan Taylor, women’s amateur champion of the world, was second, and 15-year-old Daphne Walker, third. After her victory, 18-year-old Miss Colledge said: "I was not at all nervous, although I had to skate immediately after Megan. I knew I would win, as I had a good reading of my stars on my birthday recently.” Miss Taylor, who is the same age,

warmly applauded her rival’s performance. She told me: “I enjoyed the skating, and I still have two chances of defeating Ceceilia 'in the European and world championships. There is no truth in the rumour that I shall turn professional.”

In our cable news this week it was reported that Miss Taylor had retained her world’s title. Miss Hedi Stenuf, of America, was second, and Daphne Walker, third. A bruised tendon prevented) (Cecilia .Colledge from com-; peting. It is also reported that Miss Taylor may visit New Zealand.

ENGLISH LEAGUE SIDE COULD BEAT SPRINGBOKS RUGBY Jim Brough, the famous English Rugby League captain, who fairly recently paid a visit to Johannesburg, is very concerned about a statement attributed to him in the English Press to the effect that the Springbok Rugby Union back division was “poverty of the Rugby Union in England; and second, that the forward play of the Springboks is the equal of anything I have ever seen, but that the backs are not as good, in comparison, as the forwards. “In my previous interview—a report of which reached me recently—l did

not state that the Union is povertystricken as far as backs are concerned. stricken.”

Brough has now written to the effect that this statement is misleading. He says: “My opinion about South African Rugby is still the same as when I was in Johannesburg-First, that the Rugby Union in South Africa is streets ahead It isn’t that the backs are bad. It is that the forwards are brilliant—every one of them. Any one of them would walk into any professional team.

“I maintain that an English professional team would beat a South African side. But, as I have stated before, if the South African team trained as the professional teams do, it would be a very interesting game.

“I have often been asked since my return home if there were any good players in South Africa fit for Rugby ..eague standard.

“ ‘Plenty of forwards and such backs as Tony Harris and Dai Williams,’ I have replied. Craven and Brand have both retired, and they were the only two I liked as far as professional football was concerned.

“I hope I have not caused any illfeeling through praising your forwards so highly, but it was their brilliance that caused the backs to look an ordinary lot in my eyes.”

He concluded with the words: “I still think Harris and Williams are good enough for any Rugby League team.”

LO&DOS TAKES WORLD WRESTLING TITLE FROM NAGURSKI. A Christchurch resident now in > America forwards the following account from The Philadelphia Daily Ndws of the match for the world’s - wrestling championship between Jim Londos and the holder, Bronko Nagurski (states The Christchurch Star-Sun). Jim Londos ripped the crown from the head of Bronko Nagurski last night before 10,000 fans at Convention Hall, and almost tore an arm from the champion's shoulder in the process. Ittook the stocky Greek 47 minutes 11 seconds to reduce Nagurski into a quivering, beaten former champion, and it was wrestling all the way; hard, fierce wrestling, mixed with an over-, tone of blows and butts, but for the most part hold and counter. Nagurski’s fall began when Londos fastened both hands on his wrist and twisted his arm over so that it seemed ready to come out by the roots from its fleshy anchorage at the shoulder. It was limp when Nagurski was counted out by Willie Clark.

Four times the Greek ripped at that arm and it was limp and useless when Jim picked Nagurski up: in the body slams that brought the formal end. All he had to pin was one shoulder; the other was useless to Nagurski. He cpuld not use it to squirm or pull free.