THE PLAYGROUND.

Southland Times, Issue 17482, 24 July 1915, Page 10

THE PLAYGROUND.

BAST AHD FUTURE ATHX.ETICS.

B®®CsX2X3@<se®( I BOXING

| FOOTBALL

Several Australian sports - governing bodies have suspended active operations until after tlie war.

American lawn tennis players pro - mise support to a memorial in honour of Maorilandcr Anthony Wilding.

The New Zealand lave Pigeon championship will be decided this season at Timaru on Wednesday, August 4. There is a movement on foot at Harvard University to get rid of professional athletic coaches. It is considered that graduates of the University who have distinguished themselves in sport should undertake the coaching.

A defendant charged at Acton with being in the supposed unlawful possession of a number of golf balls said that he bought them. Those that were too old for use he boiled down into a pulp and used to sole his boots. A story comes from Ireland of a fox terrier which was buried seven days in a rabbit burrow. it went In after a rabbit, and the earth collapsed. A week later two men, passing with another dog, noticed her scratching the earth. Digging, they rescued the terrier, emaciated, but little the worse. An extraordinary accident has hap - pened to a Leeds motor-cyclist. la taking a sharp left-hand corner (says Motor Cycling) he was thrown violently, head first, into a ditch full of water and mud. He was rendered unconscious and would have boon suffocated had not a man, who happened to lie passing, witnessed the accident and extricated him immediately.

Tlie Vickerstown Cricket Club, whose members are mostly war workers at Messrs Vickers’s, Barrow, have decided to play Sunday cricket to allow recreation to the workers, who are given holidays on the last Sunday of each month. Since lie first won tiie Billiard Control Council’s championship on March "0, 1012. Inman has never been beaten In a level game. Besides the championshin matches he has met Stevenson, Gray and Reece in outside games, but lias always upheld his position. It is «n excellent record. The Victorian Amateur Athletic Association is providing certificates instead. of the usual trophies for the winners in its various eteuts, including boxing and wrestling, during the' season. The money saved will be devoted to patriotic purposes. At the Hawke’s Bay Kennel Clubhs show at Napier last week. Mr J. G. Parker’s rough-coated collie dog Mosgiel Perfection was offered for sale on behalf of the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund, and realised £245 15s.

William Cranstoun, the well known' Edendale athlete. lias been accepted for active service. Cranstoun's perform - mires in the late season are worth recalling. Of ;M races lie competed in be was placed in 28—11 firsts, nine seconds and eight thirds. In the 220 yds distance he sained six firsts, his best time being iisecs. He did the 100 yds in 10 4-osec (checked by three watches). He ran practically untrained. Kecont serious accidents have brought in r o prominence tiie perilous practice of riding on the carriers of motor cycles. In one case quoted by a writer a pillion passenger caught his boot in the spokes of the rear wheel, and his heel was completely torn off to the hone. Pillion riding is such a dangorous practice that if it is rot dropped by motor cyclists there may be a measure of compulsion. There lias been an unexpected in - crease in the congregation at a church at Burlev. in the New Forest (Eng.'), on the shelf beneath the pulpit Bible, on the inner side, reposes a robins nest t n e thick hymn-book and n New Testament serving as scaffolding to prevent the little crew from fulling out and breaking their necks. The hen bird sits out the services, both morning and evening, while its mate finds the food, which consists chiefly of dies. The robins gained access to the chapel through a broken window-pane. According to Cycling, Mayer, the well known German professional racing cyclist who has appeared on English tracks, has been shot as a spy. Mayer, who bad spent nearly twenty years of his life in France ami spoke excellent i,•>; was cantureJ by a body of cyclists' while seeking to obtain information regarding the French positions. An examination of certain papers lie carried revealed his identity. He - t\as shot at daybreak. Air K. D. Wrenn, president of the American National Lawn Tennis Association, does not expect Internaitional matches fot* the Davis Cup which still remains in New York, the Australasians, N E. Brookes and the late A. F. Wilding. who won last August, not wishing to expose it to the perils of a marine disaster for some years to come. In his comments Air Wrenn observed that the president of the German Tennis Bund has been killed in battle. England bad cancelled the entire tournament season. The International Canadian championship had been abandoned. The great flub of Paris has been turned into a hospital, and, save for Americans, new faces will he seen in future Davis Cup struggles. The American Association lias sent a sympathetic cable to the Australasian Association concerning the death, of Mr Wilding. A veteran Yorkshire cyclist put in a fine ride in connection with the Richmond meet. Air J. Dickenson, of Aliddlesborough. who is TH years old, cycled from Middlesbrough to Richmond, and afterwards continuing his journey rode to Reetii. via Arkengarthdale to Kirby Stephen, a total for the day of 64 miles. The distance alone is no mean one, says tee Yorkshire Post, oven for a man much younger but to include in it the stiff and difficult road through Arkengarthdale to Kirby Stephen, one of the hardest stretches of country in the North of England makes the performance for a man of his age really wonderful. Perhaps there never was a cricketer more universally loved than Victor Trumper. says an Australian writer. His bright, cheerful disposition made a friend of everyone who met him, and oven when be was at the pinnacle of fame there .was never the lightest sign of “side” or conceit. Be was always the most modest man. and it was with the greatest difficulty that lie was induced to speak of his own deeds in the cricket field. He would praise Isis comrades enthusiastically, but about his own doings he was dumb. There was a warm and close friendship between Trumper and Clement Hill, and each of these great players had no warmer admirer than the other. And those who have seen them together at the wicket know that the game Isolds nothing finer or more inspiring to the lover of real cricket than a partnership between them —the finest right-hand and the finest ( left-hand batsmen the world has ever seen. Australian cricket has suffered an Irreparable loss. Sergeant Louis Robertson (Auckland Battalion, killed) at the age of 20 secured the light-weight amatenra wrestling championship of Scotland. beating the then holder. P. AY. 1 Macintosh, of Glasgow, who had held the title for three years. Robertson subsequently secured the titles to the middle-weight championship of Scotland, Ireland, and America, and middle and heavy-weight championship of Africa. In January, laOa, he arrived in "Wellington. and shortly secured for himself the titles of light and middle - weight champion of New Zealand, first heating Colledge, the New Zealand champion. at Stratford in 11*00 for the light - weight championship, and afterwards L . D. Mclvor for tire middle - weight. He subsequently defeated Prechter. the f earner - wight champion of the work), at Stratford in April. 1!) 10. About five years ago Sergeant Robertson settled in ( liiiira. where lie followed the occupation of building contractor. On the outbreak of war he was among the first to volunteer. He had previously been on active service in North Africa with the French Legion, and had been through the Boer I war. As a clean sportsman, he had an unblemished reputation. He successfully conducted physical culture schools in \ acinus places. ■•(•lricket must be left as clear of all taint of shirking as Rugby football has been." These are the words and warning of no less an. authority and sporting enthusiast than K. H. D. Sewell. the well known London writer, who sees in the regular playing of cricket in England this summer a grave danger. in a letter to the London ijportsman he na.yn: "Unless the men

(EDITED EX ONLOOKER.)

GOLF |

HOCKEY ®

holding the reins lay it down firmly that elevens participating in cricket shall be closed to all men eligible by, age and absence of physical infirmity for active military or- naval service ins distinct from doing Government work), we shall have, to the degradation of cricket, repetitions of tlie exhibitions seen on professional football grounds during tlie past eight weeks. I fervently hope that cricket may he spared the regular appearance of her fields during tlie war of able-bodied and physically-lit men between the ages of 10 and r<o, while their kith and kin are being torn by shot and shell, poisoned hy criminal, and drowned by pirates only a few miles away,” Iver Lawson, the American cyclist, now a veteran, continues to show good form in tire United States. At the opening meeting- on the rrew Chicago track he won the mile scratch race from Verri. the Italian. The Australian, Gordon Walker, was placed third. A batch of Victorian champion swimmers, including Frank Beaurepaire. W. Bennett. D. Grieve. S. Crane, and -M. Griffiths, have enlisted. It is stated to be a somewhat notable fact that while the rank and file of swimmers in New South Wales have responded well to the summons to arms, the top-notchers who have gone are few. Alfred Glenda, the Tasmanian cyclist, created a great surprise in tlie first American championship of the season hy winning from a select field. Three Australians tilled the places. Goullett being second and Spears third. Frank Kramer, who has held the American championship for the last 14 years, finished fourth. Tlie distance was half a mile. Appeals have been made to tlie London authorities to license women as taxi drivers. There arc said to be a large number of taxi cabs lying idle in London owing to want of drivers, most of whom have already gone to tlie front.' It is reported that tire metropolitan howling clubs of Sydney expect to raise the sum of £SOOO as their contribution, apart from individual donations, for the Australia Day Fund.

G. Spivey, a Melbourne motor cyclist, recently put up a fine speed performance in a half mile flying test under official conditions and timing. The half mile against wind was covered In 28 4-osecs. and with wind 26 l-ssecs. This gives a mean of 28minutes, equal to a speed of just a fraction under 6S miles an hour. The machine used was a k’i h.p. Twin Precision, and the performance is claimed to be an Australian record for the power of machine used.

A novel tour has just been undertaken by an American motor cyclist named Al. E. Gale, who lias set. out for a family tour across the United States with a most uncommon equipment. Gale is riding a 6 h.p. two speed motor cycle, and has a light four-wheeled pneumatic shod van attached to the back, in which all the necessary camping outfit is carried for his wife and family. Gale anticipates that his machine will be capable of touring the van, weighing—loaded with passengers—l9oolbs. across the States, some 3734 miles, in 100 days. If Jim Padclon, champion of Australia, can be prevailed upon to row Charlie Towns for £IOO aside and the title. Towns is quite ready to fix up a match almost right away (says a Sydney writer). In any event Towns can, under the rules controlling the championship of Australian, enforce Padclon to either pull him for £IOO or relinquish the blue riband. But it is recognised by the Towns party that the superior title would be no good to their man unless there is some money in It, and, as Charlie already holds the New South Wales championship and has no challengers, his backers are not desirous of securing the Australian championship unless they have a better man than Paddon pro - fesses to be. A challenge may be sent on to Paddon within the next few days for the amount named.

The popularity of motor car track racing in America can be well gaugecl from the fact that during- the present year the large sum of £49,800 will bo distributed in cash prizes, spread over seven races. The principal meetings are Indianapolis £IO.OOO, Chicago £IO.BOO, and New York £IO,OOO. The last named two speedways are Just approaching completion, and have board tracks instead of vitrified brick, as at Indianapolis. Tiie deatii of Air F. G. Naumann, who went down with the Lusitania, is a great loss to English chess. He was not only an enthusiastic player, but was for many years, ancl up to the very last, a most generous supporter of the game. He took a very active part in the formation of tiie British Chess Federation in 1904, became the first president, donated the British championship trophy, and liberally financed the first congress of the association at Hastings in August. 190 4, as well as providing the association with tiie necessary working funds on which to commence operations. The demand for motor drivers in England for service in France still continues, and when tiie last mall left the authorities were calling for 12,000 thoroughly skilled drivers. It is difficult for anyone at this distance from the scene of operation to realise how so many motor drivers can be utilised, when the firing line is practically stationary. whilst trench warfare continues. At present many thousands of motor vehicles are being utilised in transport, etc., and whilst the wastage of machines must be fairly heavy, the losses of drivers would be comparatively nil, for they are out of the firing zone. This being so, it looks as though the English authorities are now making preparations for tlie time when a rapid continuous movement of tiie front begins, which would call for a regular army of motor vehicles and of course drivers. In this connection it is interesting to note that the Australian Motor Transport Service which left the Commonwealth many months back for England, lias now left for France. From a casualty list appearing in the London Sporting Life of Alay 21:“ Among the wounded is Lieut. W. A. Stewart (R.A.Ai.C.), the famous Scottish Rugby International three-quarters, whose achievement in scoring five tries against Ireland in 191*3 is a record for such games, and who also was a member of the London A.C., winning numerous United Hospital championships at the shorter distances.” This refers to outold friend, \V. Allan Stewart, of Latrobe, Tasmania. Let us hope the wound is not serious.

A well known English war correspondent pays a rare tribute to the value of the bicycle. He writes: "It is, 1 suppose, quite against the rules of the game to follow military operations on a bicycle. But probably the game of war correspondent can hardly ever be played again in tiie grand manner, with full credentials, a baggage train, and a team of horses. Times and conditions have changed. After my experience with the Belgium Army, T give a reliable bicycle the palm over horses or motor cars, as, an aid to getting about country in war time. It can go everywhere there is a vestige of road or a track. It is not difficult to carry over fences and through fields to get into the actual line. It asks for no food except an ounce of oil every 100 miles. It excites the least attention from friend and enemy. I have been within smell of the Uhlans repeatedly on a bicycle, and have been accepted evidently as a civilian inhabitant of the country without challenge. In the motor car 1 should have to stop for examination or face tiie chances of a volley.”

Ralph de Palma, one of the leading drivers in American, wen this year’s Indianapolis “600” in the fastest time yet recorded for a long distance contest anywhere in the world. This event is not only the richest, but is the. most popular race held in America, and it annually attracts a tremendous crowd to the Indianapolis speedway. Fine weather favoured tiie event, which saw 22 of the fastest cars in the world pitted against each other. The race resulted in a magnificent struggle between De Palma’s Mercedes and D. Resta’s Peugeot. these great drivers putting up a most strenuous battle. The result was a new record for 300 miles, which was negotiated in 3hrs HKmins f.usecs, equal to an average speed of just a fraction under 90 miles per hour, the exact figures being 89.8 m.p.ii. De Resta’s was only Smins 32secs behind the winner, and would have been closer, only for the Peugeot drivers having a bad skid,‘ resulting iu wrenching his steering gear, besides bursting tyres, towards tiie end of the race. The struggle between De

Palma’s Mercedes and Rcsta’s Peugeot was 1 a repetition of the Grand Prlx race a year ago In France, where these two cars in different drivers’ hands did battle In one of France’s greatest road races, and when the Mercedes triumphed, as it did on this occasion. From point of speed, Resta had a slight advantage on De Palma, being able to ■pass him on the istretches, but losing on the turns, which De Palma, took In a superior way. For lap after lap these two veterans circled the two and a half miles brick track not a length apart, one lap Resta leading in the' stretch, losing it in the turns, and again gaining it before crossing the tape. Lap after lap those in the grandstand rose an,d cheered as their favourites took the leadership. It was one of the grandest speed' duels ever witnessed, the pace at times approaching 100 miles an hour. Anderson on a Stilt;; was third in Dlirs 42mius 21sec. Tenth place was the closest a Sunbeam tiling.) got. This was driven by Van Raalte, and was just over an hour behind the winner, yet it recorded 75.7 ni.p.li. for the • - 500”, which conveys a good idea of the remarkable pace s<>) by the leaders. Botb De Palma and Resta made two stops each—totalling about 3V&min —for new tyres and fuel i eidcnishments, and neither had any mechanical troubles. A remarkable coincidence in connection with the winner’s performance is that in ttie third last lap one of the connecting rods in tlie Mercedes smashed, and punched two holes in the bottom of the crank case, but De Palma was able to maintain a good speed, and finish a winner on three cylinders. Three years ago when leaning in the same race a similar accident happened to De Palma, also in the third last tap, but not witli such happy results, for lie could not finish, and lost close on £IO,OOO by his had luck. Xo better illustration of the marked ad - vame made in engine and transmission efficiency during the past year is afforded than in this great race. Last year when R. Thomas won with an average id' S2 l /i m.p.h., the maximum piston displacement was Dio cubic ins. This .rear it was KOO t’.i’., yet a gain of over 7 miles an hour, equal to a distance of over .IS miles in this race was made with the smaller but more efficient and reliable engine. The race for the sculling championship of New Zealand, between Billy Webb and Paddy Hanan. is definitely fixed for September. Hannan has gone to the Wairau River to train, and judging hy the tone of a letter sent to the Sun is satisfied with his new quarters. After doing plenty of work at Wellington. Hannan decided to try a course that would give him calm water, and it looks as if the Wairau is just the place lie was looking for. He is to remain there until the end of July, and then move over to tlie Wanganui, where the race is to be rowed. Harry Floyd, who is recognised as an authority on sculling, lias decided to spend a month witli Hannan, and will then take charge of the training camp. Hannan, if lie beats Webb, will ask Dick Arnst to row him in New Zealand, but as the ex-champion is not doing any sculling at present, there does not seem to‘ be much hope of a match being arranged. Failing Arnst. Charlie Towns will be approached, and will no doubt be prepared to meet the young sculler. If Hannan is successful against Webb, he should he in a position to make a few good matches.

Charles Towns does not desire to lose any time if lie can find more matches either with or without the State sculling championship, which lie holds, and he has made an offer to R. Arnst to row for either £IOO or £2OO a side on the Parramatta River, says a Sydney writer. Towns, however, is not likely to get a race with the ex-world's champion, who has left for the South-coast district on business, and will remain away some time. Towns’ only other alternative, then, seems for him to challenge .Tames Padclon for the championship of Australia or await the result of the WebbHannan match in New Zealand in September. when he would be practically sure of a race with the winner, either on the Parramatta, or in the dominion. Unless a challenger turns up soon, it is understood that Towns intends returning to his farm on the North -Coast.