Sports Commentary

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26691, 10 February 1948, Page 9

Sports Commentary

> By The Sports Editor .

Sanders Cup Series . Although there will be some disappointment that Otago did not win the Sanders Cup in the centenary year of the province when the prospects seemed ;to be excellent, there is no doubt that Bettina was the outstanding 14-footer seen in the contest last week C. Pettit did well in Nancy to score a win, a second, two thirds, and a fourth in the five races. Pettit sailed consistently, though at times it appeared as if he would have been better to sail his own course rather than endeavour to try to catch up on leading boats, particularly Auckland, by following them more or less board for board. It appeared at times as if Pettit was trying to do too much in some races—to try to catch the leading boat and keep other close challengers under his lee at the same time. Pettit’s performance was better than many pessimistic aquatic followers were prepared to concede before the contest. He made mistakes, but they were to be expected from a skipper meeting heavy weather conditions in a boat of which he had had little experience up to the time of the actual traces, and in which he had not previously encountered anything really approaching a fresh breeze. On some of his weather work he gave the appearance of “ pinching ” Nancy up too high into the wind, but with a speedy boat of the calibre of Bettina drastic measures were necessary to try to outweigh her advantage in this respect. The team work of the crew was not up to that of some of the others, but much of this difficulty could arise from the strangeness of a new boat. Certainly Nancy left nothing to be desired in her performance off the wind, and Pettit and his crew emerged with credit from their 1948 Sanders Cup efforts. Had no Bettina been forthcoming, the result would have been particularly interesting. Defence Rifle Shooting The West Taieri Defence Rifle Club has gained in membership since the Pelichet Bay range has been closed to the Dunedin riflemen. This club intends to enlarge its range, and the keenness shown augurs well for the future of rifle shooting in the district. Seven of the members are making the trip to compete at the national meeting, which will be held at Trentham during the first week in March. Some of them are regular competitors at. Trentham, but among those competing for the first time is E. Adams, who has shown particularly good form this season. Fit for Championships New Zealand mile and three-mile champion, W. H. Nelson (Civil Service),'recorded a brilliant performance at the Otago Amateur Athletic Centre’s evening meeting last week, when be won the Three Miles Handicap in 14min 51 2-ssec, time which has been beaten on the Caledonian Ground only on rare occasions. The meeting had been postponed because of wet weather, and Nelson’s run was accomplished on a rain-soaked track. Although Nelson did not show his best form until a week or two ago, it is becoming obvious that he has timed his training for the provincial and national championships well. He is rapidiy striking his best form, and will be the hardest man to beat when the numbers go up for the Otago Three Miles Championship on' Saturday and for the Six Miles Championship a week later, and he will not lack supporters when he faces the starter at the national championship meeting in March.

Rising Olympic Stocks Australia’s Olympic stocks soared as a result of some remarkable individual performances in the national track championships—the official test series—which were witnessed ny record crowds at Melbourne at the end of last month. The magnificent quarter-mile of the Victorian, J. Bartram, who elipsed the world record holder, H. McKenley, over his favourite distance, and the phenomenal sprinting of J. Treloar (New South Wales) were of great significance. Treloar clocked 9 4-ssec on a lifeless track for the 100 Yards, and then broke the Australian record with a brilliant 20 9-10 sec for 220 yards. Allowing for the disadvantages of wind and tracks, the times recorded by Bartram and Treloar are comparable with the world’s best. McKenley said before his departure that Australia should send two relay teams to the Olympic Games. He said America had only two quarter-milers who tould run 440 yards in 48£sec on the Melbourne track, whereas Australia had four men capable of that time, and he thought that the Commonwealth’s four best sprinters, all of whom would run “ inside even time,” should be sent for the 4 x 100 Metres Relay. Indian Cricket Team Before the start of the fifth test match in Melbourne last week, the Indian cricket team still required £6OOO to break even on the expenses on the Australian tour which ends next month. It is stated that this position is occasioning the authorities considerable concern and that they were looking for big attendances for the match at present in progress. Figures released in Adelaide by the manager of the Indian team, Mr Jankap Gupta, showed that the Indians’ share of the proceeds to date had been £19,313 8s 7d. The Indians require altogether at least £25,000 to finish on the right side. The manager said that the team might see the end of all its financial worries in Melbourne, but in any case there did not appear to be the slightest hope of any profit from the tour. The Australian Board of Control has guaranteed the Indians £SOOO in case of toss, but this money would have to come from the State associations which have also had, a very lean season owing to the continuance of rain.