Sports Commentary

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26704, 25 February 1948, Page 3

Sports Commentary

■ By The Sports Editor m.

Cycling Championships

The Otago cycling championships will be held on Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, there being a record entry of 42 riders. Among Invercargill riders who should be prominent are K. McDonald,, who recently returned from Japan, ‘and was second in the New Zealand 1000metre time trial at Wanganui in 1946; R. Harris, a strong rider who was fourth in the New Zealand 10 miles championship; R. McDougall, the present holder of the Otago time trial and sprint championships; A. Drury, runner-up in Otago title events; and H. Hubber, well-known throughout New Zealand and runner-up in sprint championships. Hubber is the holder of the Christchurch to Dunedin and Christchurch to Invercargill record. Among the Otago wheelmen taking part are E. Knox, holder of the Dun r edin Club’s 500 metre sprint and five miles championships; C. S. Schmelz, Dunedin Club’s time trial champion and runner-up in sprint championship; C. Flowers, veteran of Otago cycling, holder of many titles and still capable of showing first class form; W. Hawkins, the most aggressive rider seen in Otago for a long time; and F. Paterson, a brilliant junior. K. Little. A. Larkins and J. Anderson are other juniors showing good form. Women’s Relay Team

Supporters of women’s athletics in Otago are hoping that a team will be sent to Auckland to represent the province in the relay race at the New Zealand championship meeting on March 13. With Miss Shirley Hardman, Miss Yvette Williams and Miss Noelene Gourley as certainties for selection to compete at this meeting, it must be conceded that there is sound basis for the hope, and if Miss R. Pierson (Gore) were added to this trio, the province would have a team which could be expected to perform well in the national championship. A club team which included Misses Hardman and Williams returned me splendid time of 52sec at the Otago Championship meeting on Saturday and as both Miss Pierson and Miss Gourley beat Miss Williams in the provincial 100 yards championship, it is possible that a team comprising these four women would give the title holders, Auckland, a run for championship honours. Otago has no. won this race since 1931.

Test Cricket Prospects Australia had a fifty-fifty chance of holding the Ashes against England on the tour this year, Don Bradman said in a broadcast recently. He considered that England would have a stronger side than she had in Australia last season and that the result would be In doubt up to the fifth test. He said he would play in as many matches as he reasonably could during the tour. It was essential to play in a certain number of county matches to get into form for the tests. Reviewing his 20 years of first-class cricket, Bradman’s opinions were: Best of all bowlers he had met, O’Reilly; best fast, Larwood; best medium-pace, Tate England’s best captain, Chapman; Bradman’s greatest batting thrill, 100th century in first-class cricket this season. Speed Boat Purchased

Well known among yachting followers for his performances with Elfin, a 14-foot Jellicoe class yacht, Eric Grindley has now become the owner of the former New Brighton Club speed boat Zipper. He intends to give Zipper a thorough overhaul before racing her again. Grindley t<?ld the Daily Times that he does not intend to sever Jjis connection with yachting in the meantime, and will retain his interest in Elfin.

Cricket Club’s 85th Jubilee This year marks the eighty-fifth anniversary of the Albion Cricket Club, and the committee of the AlbionY.M.C.A. Club considered it desirable that something should be done to commemorate such an auspicious occasion in the life of one of the Dominion’s most famous clubs. A full programme of events has been arranged fob Anniversary Day, March 23, at the University Oval, Logan Park. It is as follows:—2 p.m., Old Timers v. Seniors and Intermediates v. Juniors; 3.45-4.15, afternoon tea; 4.15, centennial handicap (over 40); 4.25, junior handicap (under 20); 4.30, continuation of the cricket matches. Prizes will be given for the running events and for the best batting and bowling performances among the old-timers. A dinner and smoke concert will be held at the Crawford Lounge in the evening. Australia’s Vice-captain Lindsay Hassett, the Victorian captain, who has been appointed vicecaptain of the Australian cricket team to tour England, made his first trip to England in 1938. He was captain of the Australian Services team in England, India and Australia in 1945-46, and knows English conditions. He was passed over by the Australian Board of Control when it appointed a captain of the Australian team to tour New Zealand in 1946, S W. A. Brown being made captain with W. O’Reilly vice-captain. Hassett was named as a selector with these players. Last season, when Brown did not play in any tests against England because of a thumb injury, Hassett was appointed vice-captain to Bradman. This season,' however, in the first test against India in Brisbane, Brown played and was vice-captain. This was generally interpreted as a sign that he would be vice-captain in England this year. When Don Bradman was injured and did not field during part of the fifth test against India in Melbourne, Brown led Australia. Being vice-captain of Australia on this tour of England is likely to be a more important job than usual, as Bradman may rest as much as possible to .save himself for the test matches. A good all-round sportsman, Hassett’s first love has always been cricket. He was captain of Geelong College cricket, football and lawn tennis teams, but decided to concentrate on cricket. He' first played with South Melbourne at the age of 17 and with Victoria at 20. He is now 33.