THE SPORTING WORLD.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 348, 9 January 1912, Page 7

THE SPORTING WORLD.

November 10. ATHLETICS.

It has ben perfectly plain to followers of athletics for some- time that, whilst other nations are making great improvement, England virtually stand? still. The ■writer' 6 experience of Canadian, South African, and American athletics, coupled ■with his observations at Home, induced him to think that the main explanation lies m the want of proper coaches t/» inetruct our athletes. Unfortunately, there are no rich clubs m England whirjh can afford to engage a highly-salar.ied athletic coach, so he conceived the idea of enrolling experienced old amateurs under the title of the "Athletes' Advisory Glub." The scheme has already been referred to m this column, and readers will be intevehted to know that the club are now an accomplished fact. The inaugural meeting m London was a great success, upwards of 40 keen enthusiasts supporting the instigator of the idea. The chair was taken by P. F. Fi.sher, hon. secretary oi the Amateur Athletic Association, and among those present were the Rev. De Courcy Laffan, hon. secretary of the British Olympic Council, whilst at least a dozen ex-champions were among the 40 or 50 present. Enthusiasm was the keynote, and on all sides the scheme received .support. It seemed to be the opinion that the material m England is all right, but that it wants developing. We shall now sec what progress can be made with the assistance of experienced amateur coaches, and high hopes are entertained that English athletes will soon make a better showing m the more scientific branches — jumping, weightthrowing, hurdling, etc. — than they do at present. Of course, the time between now and the next Olympiad is rather short, and a great deal may not be accomplished by then, but plenty of spade work ought eventually to lead to the discovery and development of some real champions. — Science and Athletics. —

Some of the discussions at the meeting were very interesting, particularly those touching on tho scientific tide, of athletics. The Rev. De C. Laffan said he had been much impressed" with the study French authorities are giving matter. One of their methods is to make use of photography to reveal faults m various branches of athletics — high jumping, for example. These are then pointed out, and efforts made to correct. Dr Abrahams was another speaker who testified to the good which might arise from the use of the camera. He also, made the suggestion that if famous athletes were medically examined it might be possible to find certain characteristics which would explain their ability. Granted this, then other athletes should be examined for corresl>onding characteristics, and when they were found, induced to take to the particular sport they appeared suited to. Many other speakers offered excellant suggestions, and at last it seems as though England is waking \ip athletically. — A Great Throw. —

The retirement of John. Flanagan is not going to weaken the United States m regard to hammer-throwing, apparently. A worthy successor appears to have been found m Matt M'Grath, whose lecent throw of 187 ft 4in from a 7ft circle constitutes a world's record. The history of

the hammer-throwing recoi'd is an interesting one, and clearly shows what a scientific • study of a sport can do. A throw of 130 ft considered great 20 years ago, and minted that the improvements m the construction of the hammer are partly responsible, the advance made has been wonderful. Few will claim that the individual performers of the present are better constituted to throw the hammer than some of the cracks of the past — Dr Daly, W. J. M. Barry, J. S. Mitchell. 0. J. Queckverner, for instance, being splendid specimens of old-timers. No ; the advance is due to the more scientific study I of the game, and what is true m weightthrowing and hurdling is also so iv many other branches of athletics — 'Varsity Cracks. —

This is the season when anxious eyes are turned on. the freshmen at Oxford and Gambiidge to see if the new batch of athletes includes any stars to compare with H. C. L. Tindall, F. J. K. Cross, F. S. Horan, C. B. Fry, and others who might be named. Oxford appears to have found a good half-miler m F. A. H. Pitman, from Eton, who has also done well ;n the rowing world. He showed rare pluck w hen winning the freshman's " half " iii 2min 3§.?e'c, and more will be heard of him.

Pitman rowed m the New College four, which proved successful at the recent eoxswainless fours, so he is a versatile performer. Another excellent bit of running, although not by a freshman, was seen m the open mile handicap at Oxford on Tuesday. W. C. Moore was at scratch, and lie* was only 12yds behind the winner at the finish, with the watch showing 4min 26sec, bo that he is moving well 101 so early m the 'Varsity season. A Rhodes .Scholar m J. J. Savage, front Perth, West Australia, also displayed promising ioim m the weight-putting and quarLsr-mile race.

One of the beet .things at the Cambridge freshmen's sports was the high jumping cf A. C. Straker, from Harrow. He is a young giant of 6ft 3jin m height, and cleared "the bar at sft B£in. BOXING.

At last we are to have the question of the light to box tested m the law couits. Owen Moran and Jem Driscoll are matched to contest a boxing match at Birmingham, and the police have taken out a summons to prevent their doing so. The boxers are going to fight the case, and sportsmen are i allying to the aid. The result will be awaited with much interest, as much depends on it. Should the Magistrate decide that the match, _if held, constitutes a breach of the peace, it will be " goodbye " to many other big matches. ' The advance of G. Carpentier, of France, has been rapid, and m thiee years he has gained the right to be considered the topuotcher among the welter-weights of Europe.

— Matt Wells Home Again. —

Matt Wells, the English light-weight champion, is back m London, and full of the good time he had m the United States. He says : " I have had the time of my life, and put m the pleasantest and most profitable six months I ever dreamed of. Nothing was too , good for me. They treated me like a prince, and if I am only half as well received m my native land I will be a happy lad." This will please the Americans, and, coming on top of what the English polo players and H. H. Hilton 'say, demonstrate that visitors to the United States may count on a good reception. Wells has issued a challenge to the world, and is prepared to box anyone at the light-weight limit for £500 a side. His rise to fame since leaving the amateur ranks has been rapid, and he may yet go further. Naturally the Englishman feels sorry he did not get a chance of meeting Wolgast or M'Farland when m V*. America, but as he hopes to pay another ~ visit he may yet attain his wish.

BILLIARDS. Stevenson, Dawson, Gray, Lindrum, Inman, Diggle, and Recce are some of the billiard cracks now before the English public, consequently stirring events may be looked for. Stevenson and Gray will meet m the first of their three level matches of 13,000 points up at Holborn Hall, London, from December 4 to 16. All three are to be placed out, even should one man win the first two, and so make sure of the £500 a side m stakes. As Stevenson has agreed to play with bonzoline balls, it is difficult, to see where his chance comes m, unless he has quietly mastered the hazard stroke, which made Gray so famous. Recce is also very much to the fore with a challenge to Stevenson, and offers to play the champion 16,000 up level witli ivory "balls for £100 a side, the winner to take all the gate. There is a genuine ring about the latter clause, and the conditions are the' same as will govern the Recce v. Inman match, scheduled to start on December 4 The Oldham man is certainly m rare form, and m his heat of the big' London tournament with Diggle last week lie scored 7,500 points whilst Diggle made 5,933. FOOTBALL. How sports once only followed m tho British Empire have become popular all over the world is again illustrated by Association football.- Its growth has been rapid, and its popularity is by no means confined to the white race. Some of the native teams m the ramparts of Empire are capable of showing really good football, all of which is satisfactory. How other nations have taken to " soccer " rather comes home to one through Fulham having tried Hussein Hegarzi as centre fovward on Saturday against Stockport. He is an Egyptian, who showed capital form against English teams at Cairo before coming to England a few months ago. His play on Saturday was closely watched, and he shaped very well for a first appearance m an, important game. We look for changes m the leadership of the league each week, so evenly matched are the top group of clubs. A very great authority recently expressed the opinion that Bolton Wanderers were about the best team m the league, consequently Blackburn Rovers must be considered to have accomplished a fine performance m beating (2-0) Bolton last Saturday. Another excellent win was that of Tottenham Hotspur (2-0) on entertaining Liverpool, and the London team stands well m the table.

At last the proud record of Queen's Park Rangers m the Southern League has been marred. When the Rangers stepped on to the field to meet Swindon on Saturday they could look back on a record of 8 wins and 2 draws, a total of 18 out of a possible 20 points. Swindon rose to the occasion, however, and on Saturday's form would trouble the best. Fleming played splendidly for the southern champions, and had a lot to do with their win. The result leaves Glasgow Rangers as the only team m the English, Southern, or Scottish Leagues with an unbeaten record. Turning to the carrying" cede, the Australian Northern Union players experienced the second defeat of their tour when visiting Oldham on Saturday, when the home side prevailed by 14 points to 8. There is some excuse, however, the visitors being so delayed by fog en route that they had to take the field without proper luncheon, so that they were hardly feeling fit for the fray. They got another shock at Leigh on Wednesday, when they only scrambled home by 13 points to 12, so that they have had reason to respect some of the Lancashire teams.

IN GENERAL

Therq was a big demonstration of favor when Dcrando carried the King's colors to victory m the last race at Windsor on Saturday.

Jack Hall, of Vancouver, beat J. Stephens m a six-round boxing contest at Marylebone on Saturday, the Canadian creating a very favorable impression. Newcastle United may send a" touring team to Brazil during the off eeason at home.

It only took Oudony, of France, 90sec to beat P. 0. Roche, of Ireland, m their boxing* contest at Paris on Saturday. J. R. Harwell put up some remarkable records on a 3£ h.p. Triumph motor cycle at Brooklands on Tuesday. In four hours he rode 209 miles 420 yards, and covered 300 miles m 5h 38min 56fi-ec. Lacrosse will receive a further fillip m Europe shotdd the projected visits of the Young Torontas. Vancouver Athletics, and possibly St. Catherine's of Canada all materialise-.