SPORTS BUDGET

Southland Times, Issue 24764, 8 June 1942, Page 3

SPORTS BUDGET

GEORGE MUIR BEATS A GIANT By ONLOOKER George Muir, the former Southland, New Zealand and Australasian amateur light-heavyweight boxing champion, met and defeated two national champions during his recent run of successes in England. After accounting for Al Marson, the Irish heavyweight, he defeated Arnold Hayes, champion of the Canadian Imperial Forces. Hayes, who was beaten on points, is a giant of 6ft 7in and weighs 19st 51b. Muir took the ring at 13st 61b. Women’s Hockey Women’s hockey in Southland has not shown many signs of life this season, but according to reports the game is far from being dead. The Collegiate Club is fairly strong in membership and the club is keen to arrange and play semi-official games. With that end in view, a practice game was arranged for Saturday afternoon at Queen’s Park. Southland-Otago Game ''The arrangements about dates for the-Otago-Southland Rugby matches at Invercargill and Dunedin have not yet been completed. The Southland Union submitted July 25 to the Otago Union as the date of the Invercargill game, but no reply has been received from Dunedin. It is thought that the Otago Union will be awaiting the nomination of dates for its fixtures with Canterbury before completing the Southland dates. If July 25 is accepted it may be taken for granted that the return game at Dunedin will be played within two weeks of that date. The Donald Stuart Memorial Shield will be at stake in the Dunedin game. A.T.C. Cadets Swim

Although short of coaches the Southland Swimming Centre put in much good work on A.T.C. Cadets and infantry units during the season just closed. The centre undertook the teaching and coaching of 100 Air Force cadets. The cadets had to qualify for a 440 yards distance test, which included breaststroke swimming, and although the season was well advanced when they were taken in hand they made good progress .The Southland flights put up a creditable showing in the intersquadron competitions at Dunedin. The centre also undertook the daily tuition of 40 non-swimmers from one of the infantry camps and at the end of the period more than 90 per cent, of the beginners could swim or dog-paddle over a short distance.

Noted Athlete Commander K. R. Johnston, of the Lockheed plane missing on the passenger route from Wellington to Nelson, was a noted Canterbury athlete 15 years ago. An old boy of Ashburton High School, he distinguished himself there as a sprinter. Tall and long striding, he later ran well in open company at meetings in Christchurch, and at the provincial championships in 1927 he defeated in the furlong none other than Malcolm Leadbetter, the outstanding sprinter of that period. At the national sports held at Auckland the same year Johnston qualified for the finals of the 100yds and 220yds, both of which were won by Leadbetter, who broke ten seconds for the sprint. Only three other New Zealanders have returned 9 4-ssec for 100yds—Alan Elliot (twice), at Auckland, 1932 and 1933; J. H. Hempton (Hawke’s Bay), at Christchurch, 1892; R. Opie (Canterbury), at Wellington, 1911; and George Davidson, at Wellington, 1920.

Basketball By winning the first grade competition at the King’s Birthday basketball tournament on Monday Rata added another success to a long list of wins in this competition. The team played well throughout and is now, with Collegiate, at the head of the first grade competition with five points. Then come Kew Nurses, St. Mary’s and Makarewa with four, S.G.H.S. with two and Stuarts with none.

Table Tennis So far only eight entries have been received for the A grade table tennis competition and four in the B grade. A start will probably be made on Tuesday and Wednesday with the competition matches. Entries will be taken up till Monday night, when the draw will be announced. It is hoped that the usual home and home games will be played with Otago as in previous years. As the Otago football match will be played at Invercargill first the decision will probably rest with the Otago Association.