Mixing . Golf And Gunfire

Southland Times, Issue 24056, 21 February 1940, Page 10

Mixing . Golf And Gunfire

Anti-aircraft guns were barking and bursts of shrapnel were punctuating the air around a raiding Nazi plane as a golf match in aid of Red Cross funds was about to start at Barn ton, Scotland. , Henry Cotton paused in the act of addressing his ball and glanced skywards with the expression of one who had had to speak to spectators about this sort of thing before, and then proceeded to hit a perfect drive down the middle of the fairway, as the noise of firing faded down the breeze. Cotton has been somewhat disappointed by his own lack of form in these encounters.

But he must realize, states an English critic, that a player who matches himself against a series of opponents of his own class inevitably makes himself I something of a coco-nut shy, because each successive opponent is keyed up to beat the maestro, while the maestro himself is apt to be stale and overgolfed. As a matter of fact, it was not until Cotton’s fifth singles match (all for Red Cross funds) that he succeeded in registering his first victory. Boon In World Class In December 1938 Eric Boon won a place among the boxing champions by knocking out Dave Crowley in the thirteenth round at a moment when, he was clearly behind on points, with a right-hander that stamped him as one of the heaviest-hitting lightweights of any country. It was by the power of

his punch, that he stopped Arthur Danahar in a fight which will ever be remembered by the many thousands who saw it, states- 'an English writer. A few weeks ago he/beat Crowley again. At his poundage and his age—he is short of 20—Booh is near to a world-beater, as makes little matter. A classical boxer he is not; it is apparently enough for him that-he has hammered a way to the front. And he remains much the same boy who hitchhiked from Chatteris to take his chances at the Devonshire Sporting Club in Hackney against any lad willing to toe the mark.

Valentin Campolo James Joy Johnston did not unveil his new South American heavyweight boxing importation, Valentin Campolo, officially until recently at a dinner for. boxing writers. Yet, with his customary quiet and secrecy in such matters he had already been shouting challenges at Joe Louis, comments an American critic. But that is not the most unusual factor about the latest of the Argentines to follow Luis Angel Firpo tb these golden shores. It seems this Campolo, brother of Vittorio Campolo, who campaigned hereabouts some dozen years ago, really thinks—which is a highlyprized commodity among heavyweights. Valentin displayed that little knack almost as soon as he got off the boat. Through an interpreter (he speaks only Spanish and Italian) he explained how

he decided, all by himself, that James Joy was the man to manage him. “Five or six fight managers up here,” he related, “they all wrote letters wanting brother was here he fought a fellow to bring me to New York and manage named Phil Scott. Scott was managed me; But I remembered when my by Mr Johnston. Now fhy brother, he’s sure he beat this Scott—but Scott got the decision. Well, if being managed by Mr. Johnston could do that, he’s the man for me.” Lindrum’s Records

While billiards experts are devoting themselves exclusively to snooker, the great Walter Lindrum diligently pursues the three-ball game, says an English writer. Recently in exhibition knocks he made breaks of 1028 and 1214, the first on a poorly-lit table and on a cloth which, according to Walter, “should have been pensioned off years ago.” Australians who have been watching this phenomenal artist since he was a shade higher than the cushion rail declare he is playing better than ever. Can it be possible? It is 10 years since he first appeared in England and we all decided that never before, had such billiards been seen. He set. a new standard in break building. In that season he made 67 breaks of more than 1000, including a new world record of 3262. In fact, Walter Lindrum was too good, if you. know what I mean. He weakened interest in billiards by making the efforts of others seem puny. And a real recovery is not in sight yet.