THE SPORTING WORLD

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume X, Issue 507, 9 February 1915, Page 7

THE SPORTING WORLD

" December 11, 1914. CROSS-COUNTRY MATTERS. Rather a curious situation has arisen m the cross-country world, owing to the entirely opposite views entertained by the Northern and Midland governing associations. The former has abandoned this season's championship, but the Midlanders intend going on. At first glance most sportsmen would be inclined to say that the Midland body was lacking m patriotism, but there is something to be said m favor of the step. A national championship would be entirely out of place, with so many prominent runners away, but a district race is another matter, providing there is local suppoit.. It happens that most of the Midland clubs are situated near Birmingham, now a busy centre for the manufacture of all sorts of military requirements. Thus thousands of athletes are engaged m valuable wo.'ic, I and it would serve no purpose to deprive them of their usual racing. Of course, many men are still following sports who ought'to be fighting. To meet I this situation, all the bodies governing sports and pastimes ought to pass the following resolution: — "No one of an age eligible for the Army shall take part m any competition under the government of this association, unless he be engaged m the production of armaments or serving m His Majesty's forces." If this were done sporting bodies could go ahead with their fixtures, knowing that no one could coru pete who was a shirker and non-patriot. Meanwhile, the National and Southern governing associations are doing the right thing by devoting their efforts to promoting runs and races for the benefit of I lie Say athletes m the camps scattered all er the country. The Southern body are o Z'aising a fund which will bo soont m purchasing warm gloves, mufflers, etc , for the men of the Irish Guards, Gonnaught rangers, Munster Fusiliers, the- Royal Irish Rifles, the Highland Light Infantry, the Worcestershire Regiment, and the Northants Regiment. My readers niny wonder why these particular regiments have been selected, the reason being that they are affiliated to the Southern Counties Cross-country Association. BRAVE ATHLETES. Among the well-known athletes mentioned m despatches lately are Lieutenantcolonel T. T. Pitman, of the 11th Hussavs, and Lieutenant H. W. C. Lloyd, <f the Wiltshire Regiment. They belong to a different period, the former having been m his prime 25 years ago, when Ji(j distinguished himself by winning the IGC/ds, 440 yds, 880 yds, and mile for Sandhurst against Woolwich. He has also taken high rank as a polo player, being a member of the 1909 team which won the interregimental cup for the 11th Hussars. The other officer mentioned is a keen , cross-country runner, and he was a member of the Cambridge University team which met. Oxford over the Wimbledon course m 1910, 1911, and 1912. SPLENDID BOXING. Most of the men who went to the National Sporting Club on Monday were attracted by the 10-rounds contest between Henri Demlin, welter-weight champion of Belgium, and Fred Prendy, of London. It was an evenly-contested bout, m which we saw an aggressive boxer m the visitor met with the straight left tactics of the home man. Neither any # decided advantage, the redecision being a draw. It frequently happens that minor bouts provide the most interesting contests, and this was illustrated during the match between Fred. Jones, of Bustiden, and Young ' Swift, of Plymouth. The pair fought at a ttf^fic pace from the opening Tound. Jones" scored with many beautifully-timed blows, but just when he appeared likely to establish a big lead, Swift came at him like a tiger and evened up matters. Then Jones directed attention to his opponent's body, and soon his opponent held out his hand as a signal that he had about as much as he wanted. It was a startling collapse, and an object lesson of the fact that whilst a boxer may be able to stand punches on the head he may yet have a soft spot. London has also been favored with two other important bouts since last week's notes were penned. Noel Simpson, of Newcastle, and the Dixie Kid had a great battle for 20 rounds at The Hing. The latter looked an easy winner at the onset, but Simpson gradually improved and outfought his man from the seventeenth Tound, so that he gained equal honors, the referee calling it a draw. The international element also' figured m the bout between Arthur Harman of London, and Harry Smith, of South ■^S. C i a Y c latter was about ttwo stone (.281b) heavier than, the Lambeth man. He is game, but he lacks polish and speed. Home sportsmen are feeling delighted at the excellent showing of Young Ahearn m America. The flattering things the American critics have written about the latest victory of the Lancashire < boxer • over J3uck Crouse are on a par with opinions expressed m this ' column after Ahearn beat Private Broddick. There is jio doubt the Prestonian is a real chamMV} on , and the writer fully expects to see -*)im secure the world's middle-weight title m due course. YOUTHFUL BILLIARD CRACKS. The "performances of Newman and Smith continue to create much interest m the billiard world. The former gained a fine victory over Gray, of Australia, n their second heat of the big London tournament, his lead at the close being 1,612 points ; so that deducting his start he scored 1,312 more than his rival Gray made a splendid fcrea& of 560' 0n the last day, but was outpointed m spite of it Newman returning an average of 160 tGray's 47 at the final sessijn.' Smith's latest triumph was scored at tta* expose of Tom Recce, they being the rivals m this weeks heats of the tournament. R « 6^ W J£> qm ? k off the ***&> and wiped off the 300 points he was concediii- -'u>iih before the latter could really - ge £ sow Smith .soon recovered the lead- • however' I 1 ™-. 11 £ ame wa s aaliedj h<?. had scored 3/FOO points'* 2,893 by -rLX ''&» foSn of Newman and Smith thu' season) cl.-u-v shows that they are right m. the front rank and billiard lovers are looking farward to the Wwhen they wilT challenge M. Inman for the championship. THE TURF. ~ nS! c B^}™ *° Mr Mjisier for i,ooogs (35,000dol) during the week recalls the many remarkable performances of the wonderful filly. Mr R. S.'-'Sievier paid 10,000gfc for her as- a yeaxHrig, and training her; on original' lines just failed to win the Lincoln Handicap, after which she won the One, and Two Thousand Guineas, the Oaks,' and, St. Leger,{ The filly was overworked m the early part of her three-Xg&r-old days, being stale when she Wjiished third m the Derby. In spite of this, sha wo:i the Oaks two days later, though running nearly three seconds slower than when finishing third m the Derby. Sh& next . passed into the possession of Sir W. Baas for £25,000, and next to Mr Tattersall for 7 ; 000gs. Sceptre is m foal to Swynford, a great stayer, and may yet well repay MirMusker for !his outlay.

j INTERNATIONAL RACING. ' The racing at Kempton Park on Satur- i | day was of quite an international charI aeter. We had a Belgian victory m the ' j Staines Handicap Hurdle Race, m which J Mr P. Mathiea's Fil D'Ecosse beat 13 , rivals. France was to the fore m the Richmond Steeplechase, wherein Lutteur 111. showed what a wonderful fencer he is by cantering homo fully 15 lengths m froiit of his nearest rival. In addition, G. Parfrement won a couple of races, the famous French jockey getting a flattering cheer •r.s he returned to scale. He also rode two winners at the Leicester Meeting, and he is not likely to go shoit of mounts m England. FOOTBALL. The big match m the Aldershot / dis ttict oa Saturday was between the Officers and Other Ranks. The former contained four prominent Oxford University players, and also a well-known casual, so that the front lino was on a par with many Corinthian sides. The Other Ranks looked the strongest on paper, with co many players from leading professional clubs. The brilliancy of the Officers' front . line carried them through, however, the centre and two inside men being responsible m the main for the three goals, ail scored by G. B. F. Rudd, of Oxford University. Other Ranks scored once, the goal being due to good combination between Private Williams (Bury) and Private Cunningham (St. Mirren). Turning to the Rugby game, the Intercompany League among the Officers' Training Corps at Oxford was carried another stage on Saturday. D Company beat C Company by no fewer than 47 points to 7, and virtually made sure of final honors. The- winners owed much to J. R. C. Lewis, the Welsh international being m rare good form. The other match resulted m A Convoany beating B Company by 10 points to 5.' An American m C. L. Batchelder was responsible for the try by B Company, and he shaped like a promising Rugger man. IN GENERAL. Jim Driscoll, the- retired feather-weight bcxing champion, has joined the Welsh Horse, and hopes toon to be m the fighting same once more, but this time with the gloves off. It is announced that C. V. Fox, winner of the Diamond Sculls at Henley, has been awarded the D.S.O. Further news of him is that he is wounded and a prisoner. The Belgian relief fund is over £27 licher as the result of a charity golf match at Cringford, m which W. Reid, J. Kinnell, P. Wynne, and A. Cattin, all well-knowri professionals, took part. The death is announced of Harry Kelly, the v&LPFan sculler. He won the professional championship of England as far back as 1854, finally losing the title to R. Cinmhers m 1859. He subsequently regained the honor m 1865, losing it to J. Renfoith m 1868. Kelly was one of the (lew which defeated the New Brunswick four at Lachine, Canada, m 1870.