THE SPORTING WORLD.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 395, 3 December 1912, Page 7

THE SPORTING WORLD.

r _ October 18. IMPORTANT ATHLETIC MATTERS. The meeting of the Amateur Athletic Association at Birmingham last Saturday was of particular importance, many matters claiming attention. To the general atheletic public the business in connection with the Olympic Games — past and future — was of chief moment. Ihe committee's report on the Stockholm games was accepted, and a new committee has been appointed to map out a scheme of preparation for the 1916 festival at Berlin. This is as it should be, and it is good to see the ruliug body looking well ahead. All lovers of athletics will trust that the association will take a broad-minded view of matters and allow the progressive element a free hand — always, however, paying due regard to the true amateur spirit. The writer is inclined to think the A.A.A. will display far more enterprise in the future, recent happenings having led to good. Already the association announce that they propose to ask the parks committees in various towns to grant facilities for athletic training. It is also the intention to ask the educational authorities to include track and field athletics in the curriculum of schools as an organised game. Both these steps are admirable, and ought to lead to good. They are actually " planks in the platform " of the Athletes' Advisory Club, but as imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, no doubt the officials of the young organisation named will be pleased to see their ideas approved of. The Athletes' Advisory Club obtained per mission horn the London County Council to cany on certain forms of "athletic training in two of the public parks as far back as last spring, and there will be further development in this direction. It can be taken for granted that we are going to see a decided " boom " in at l, letics during the next few years. There are many real workers anxious to help the cause, and providing they are not discouraged by petty jealousy, much good must result from the various schemes 'and ideas brought forward. What is wanted is a conference among the workers and some clear . understanding. Then, if all pull together, it should be possible to look forward to the future with some confidence. The Amateur Athletic Association is the body which ought to take the lead in this matter of getting ready for 1916, and though it must be confessed our legislators have not shown much enterprise or originality in recent years, this will be forgiven if real spadework is shown in future. — Records.-^ The A.A.A. have considered and. passed the 19|sec for 200yds which W. R. Applegarth was credited with at Kennington Oval recently. Although the time has thus been " hall marked," many will en tertain some doubts about the performance. The grass course was not strictly level, and it really looks as though the fall at the finish must have been of great value, and more than compensated for the rise at the start. This seems to be the only explanation of the remarkable speed shown, by all the runners, for it must not be, forgotten that Applegarth was not far in front of D'Arcy, Rice, and Jacobs. G. H. Patching's 9|sec at the English championship has also been, accepted. He Avas in wonderful form that day, and had he shown the same and dash at Stockholm it is quite possible South Africa would again have scored in the 100 metres, in spite of the splendid ability of K. Craig. All these matters are part of the' game, however, and the credit must go to the athlete who rises to the occasion on the all-important dav. - _ SWIMMING. P v^ We owe a great deal of the popularity oi swimming in this country to the visits of famous champions from the United States, Belgium, Canada, and Australasia, --^tlie public take notice of record-breakers, and the young idea profits by their example. This is recognised by the general public, yet the swimming authorities seem to think there is no need for us to return some of the visits. Time and again the Australian legislators have failed in their efforts to get an English swimmer to visit them, and now, it is said, they are waiting fov us to return the compliment before any other Australian takes part in our championships. The question is a wide one, but it really is not flattering to England that we are apparently unable to find the money to send a team of athletes or swimmers to the United States, Canada, Australia, or South Africa in return for the visits we have had from representatives of these countries. The Home authorities are very keen to maintain a high standard of amateurism, and this is one reason swimmers are frequently forbidden to accept invitations to tour outside England. If, however, visitors can pay their own expenses to this country, thereby helping swimming and athletics here, it seems our obvious duty to find ways and means to follow the example. Whilst touching on swimming matters, no fewer than 35,935 children were taught to swim in the London county schools during 1912. This is indeed satisfactory, and if the authorities will only look with favor on general athletics, and give scholars opportunities to jump, put the shot, throw the discus, etc., we shall eventually be able to regain some athletic prestige. J. G. Hatfield still continues to show fine form, and though he failed in his attempt to beat Beaurepaire's 300yds record of 3min 30sec this week, he got within 3sec of the Australian's figures. Hatfield ~^]s capable of making further improvement, and his friends confidently anticipate that he will displace many records during the outdoor season of 1913. BILLIARDS. It is oly a week ago that reference was made to M. Inman's offer to concede 1,000 points in 18,000 to any English billiard player. The bold challenge looks a bit out of place at the moment, for the allimportant reason that H. W. Stevenson has been showing that brilliancy which took him. to the top a few seasons ago. His health during the greater portion of last season prevented his showing his proper form, but now that he has obliged with a four-figure break, he easily stands first. The talk of a 1,000 break under the present rules, and by all-round methods, has long been going on, but few expected to see it accomplished. Stevenson, however, believed it possible, and when he found himself in such great form during the course of his match with W. Cook ne ventured the opinion that a 1,000 break might be made before the week was out. The public managed to keep quiet whilst he beat his own record of 802, as well as the 821 and 823 by J. Roberts and C. Dawson respectively. When, however, Stevenson had reached 1,000 there was a great burst of enthusiasm. This must have affected Stevenson, and he failed at . 1,016. The break occupied 62min, and „ whilst it is inferior to G. Gray's best under ''"present rules, it really comes under another head, being an all-round effort, whilst the young Australian owes his success almost, entirely to his specialty — going in the middle pockets off the red ball.

The value or merit of a break cannot be measured by the size of it, otherwise the 499,135 break which J. Reece made by the aid of the " anchor " cannon stroke would rank first. Good judges, however, award the palm to Stevenson, considering his latest effort to be the finest break ever yet made. I SCULLING. | E. Durnau (of Canada) proved no match for E. Barry (of London) in the sculling match for the English and world's championship. The Toronto man showed plopty of pluck, and never ceased to put in all he knew throughout the trying course from Putney to Mortlake. He was pulling .about three more strokes per minute than the Englishman, but (here was more power behind Barry's strokes. Durran only led for a few minutes, the champion going past and .away without a serious effort, lie is a real sportsman, however, and after passing Barnes with a 10-lengths' lead he eased up, and was content to win Ly a couple of lengths rather than " rub it in" to hi? plucky rival. The friends of Durnan made a big mistake somewhere, for he was really outclassed by a man who had natural advantages in years and weight. Barry occupied 22min 31sec in covering the 4m 240yds, as against 23min Bsec when he beat Arnst, but the conditions were very much more ' favorable for the race under notice. ' Barry will now take a rest, and it is difficult to think of an opponent for him, unless Arnst desires another race I to decide th-3 rubber. The men have met j in South Africa and England, so that j Arnst would have sound justification for I asking for a match on his own course j next time. j FOOTBALL. I The success of the Southern League | team over the representatives of the Scot- | lish League at New Cross will help foot- i ball in the South, aiid the victory comes . at a time when matters are not going very ! well with several Southern teams. The j visitors were without two famous players, i and the enly goal of the match was scored j by M'Nair, who deflected a shot from Shea J into the goal he was defending. In spite | of this, however, the Southern Leaguers ! more than held their own, and well de- j served to win. The big event of Saturday was the first i reverse of Manchester City, which came about when the hitherto unbeaten club i entertained Newcastle. It was a fine j match, and only one goal was scored, > which speaks well for the defence. The i beaten side has done remarkably well to > fulfil seven «mgagements and yet only liermit three goals to pass their defence, whilst scoring eight goals against rivals. Another big attraction on Saturday was the final of tbe Glasgow Cup, which attracted 75,000 spectators. Celtic and Glasgow Rangers are old rivals, but they have seldom vaken part in a keener game. When Quinn opened the scoring for Celtic, and the Rangers shortly afterwards lost a man through injury, the result appeared settled. Rangers, however, rose to the occasion, and with Hogg, Smith, and Bennett each scoring, gained a wonderful victory. — il'he Rugby Game. — Our South African visitors showed marked improvement in their match against Monmouth County at Pontypool. Welsh teams take a lot of beating on their own ground, but the South African forwards gave the best exhibition to date, and were easily masters of the situation. The critics agree that the work in the scrums shows marked improvement to what we saw against Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall, and the opinion is generally growing that the greatest asset of the Springboks iies in the forwards. This was further strengthened by the display against Glamorganshire yesterdaj r . The lighter ' Welsh pack did fairly well for half an hour, but after the injury and retirement (for a time) of a player the Springboks

had a very easy task. It looked as though their rivals lost heart, for during the final 15 minutes the South Africans were really brilliant. Some famous Welsh players express the opinion that the present team is not so good as the 1906 combination, as it was only after Glamorganshire became disorganised that the visitors were so extremely brilliant. A victory by 35 points to 3 on Welsh soil takes some beating, however, and the writer fancies the visitors will require a lot of stopping, now that thev are finding their form. THE TURF. The famous steeplechasers in John M.l?. and Drumcrec have died recently, the latter being a Grand National winner. The former was something of a traveller, having made a trip to the United States, and it ie understood that his bones will find a resting place in the museum at Durban, Natal. This year's Cesare witch was an awful blow to backers, as following the scratch - ings of such favorites as Tara and Irish Marine, the victory went to an outsider in Warlingham. In a measure the public ought to have done better, as Hr R. Sievier was quite candid in his statements {hat he expected the son of Wargrave to follow in his sire's footsteps. The one-time owner of Sceptre has not been one of fortune's favorites in recent years, so that the sue- j cess at Newmarket was welcome. The I French jockey Clout Mas lucky enough to j get the chance mount on the winner. Ho | had to declare 21b overweight to do so, and rode a capital roce. IN GENERAL. The winners on Osarewitch Day showed how international racing is in England. A Frenchman rode the winner of the big race, two other winners were bred in the United States, and another in France . * J. Duffy seems to have developed into a fine stayer since he left Scotland for Canada. Following his fifth place in the Olympic Marathon race, he has now won a. 19-mile road race at Toronto in lh 54min | Usee, which is very fine running. The English players beat Austria. (10-0), Germany 8-3), and the Combined Reserves (5-3) in the recent hockey tournament at Hamburg. The Paris Polo Cup final served to show Lord Ashby St. Ledger's Quidnuncs to advantage, the Cavaliers being beaten 5 goals to 3. Driving a 30 h.p. Sunbeam car at Brooklands this week, D. Resta created new world's records of 92 miles 797yds in the hour, and 64min 51sec for 100 miles. Five clubs are neck and neck in the , North of England Lacrosse League tourna- j ment.