THE WORLD OF SPORT

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 38, 18 February 1929, Page 2

THE WORLD OF SPORT

NOTES AND COMMENTS FIELD AND RING. With regard to the form shown by the swimmers at the New Zealand 1 championships, a writer in the "Dominion" points to •'• Robertson , (Auckland) us the future senior champion of Now Zealand. A new competitor at championships, isho i* a, real discovery. She Ims a beautiful style and great speed, which she demonstrated by bettering by twofifths of a second the record For) the 100 yards girls' intermediate championship, while in winning a 100 yards handicap event she equalled the senior record of 65 3-ssec, held by Miss. E. Stoekley_ (Auckland). In addition; Miss Robertson captured Ihe 220 yards intermediate title. She is a pupil of Mrl I>. Anderson, who has successfully sponsored a number of Auckland juniors. xx x s Tennis may be a dangerous game, but the casualty lusts don't bear out tho theory. "American Lawn Tennis" Ims recently given a list of American championships since 1881. R. 1). Scars, who was on, top that year, is aljivq and hearty, asf are fourteen others of tho eighteen who have won the title. In addition to jOoherty, who won :in 190-S, it. i>. Wrenu (1898) and W. A, Larncd (1901) have passed over. XX X X ' Johnnie Leckie will leave New Zealand for .Sydney on March 1, that is a few days after his contest at Auckland with Matt Hatton. He is going "on his own"; in other words,

}ie) in .not under any contract! and therefore, in the. matter of matches, he. will have to depend entirely upon what is offering. Bub a lad of his reputation should not experience any anxiety, as the Stadium people will bo only too pleased at the opportunity of having on hand one who, on performances, can well he regarded as a fitting opponent for either La Barba or Willie Smith, or both, lb is to be hoped that Leckie will nob be induced bo agree to any condition calling for him to come down to any weight that he cannot make naturally. . Ho will find ring conditions in Australia vastly different from what they arc in New Zealand, and it will not take him long to discover that ho has a deal to learn vrith respect to the tricks of the gasbie, just as Billy Crime d'd. in America. Provided he is judiciously handled and properly matched the young Dnnedin feather-weight should add to his already excellent reputation, and all Dominion sportsmen will wish him the best of luck in his venture abroad.

XXX B'endigb hasn't a monopoly of vhr. conventional umpires. Port Kembtft (N.S.W.) was playing its neighbour, Albion Park, and was having a rotten spin in the second, innings. Port appealed agaiinst tho light to 'the Albion Park umpire, and ho instantly upheld it. During the barge that followed, the Port mani lifted the bails at his end and walked off, followed by the batsmen. Park stayed •on the held with their man till drawing time. The matter is to bo fought out in the erieket courts. XXX Tommy (Griffiths also! expects! to be in Australia before long. Though somewhat overshadowed by his fellow "townie,"' Tommy has had a remarkably successful career as a professional. It is said that ho can. still I make the bantam weight by natural 'process and, if so, there, should be some good matches for him, across the Tasnian. -v A A 'A ... in the opinion of the lawn tennis writer of the Auckland "Star," B. L. Baitleet, the holder of the Dominion, and Auckland singles title, is a muck improved player, and is now a, much more likely winner of firstclass championships than, he was a fo.w seasons ago. Ho has mixed bis game far more this season, and comes in. to volley for a win more often, instead of relying oh* his forehand drive throughout a whole match. In the final of the Auckland championship against A. O. Stedmau ho gave an excellent exhibition of lawn tennis, in which bo mixed his game cleverly, never allowing tho younger man to play confidently against him. This is Bartle.et's second win ,in the Auckland championship, x XX X X Naturally, every cricketer is disappointed when, he fails to score with the hat. A .story is told to Brockwell, tho old Surrey player, who wen|, in once with a new bat—a perfectly beautiful bat- and, failed to score. He returned lo (he pavilion and called to tho attendant, "Tom, bring' mo a chopper," and, under (In; eyes of several, players, many of whom would have given (.heir ears for such a hat, Brockwc.ll chopped the offending willow to pieces!

'Flunks appear to be getting terribly mixed up with respect to Tom | Heeney and the championship. Last j week we wore advised that London i promoters had matched him against | Phil Scott, the English champion, J for the world's championship, and j now we learn that Hee.uey and Jim Maloney have signed a contract, to box ten tounds at the Boston Garden on March 1, Heenoy being guaranteed iL'.odu dollars. 'Tis* only a comparatively short time ago that Maloney was regarded by tlio experts as one likely to become a serious contender for the heavy-weight crown. Ho crime along finely at first and then suddenly flopped; amongst those who defeated him being Torn Heeney, who won on a knock-out. Maloney then disappeared from the game, but came hack a few months ago, and since, then lias not lost a fight. He bails from Boston and that may be the reason why the New Boston promoters have agreed to give liiin. the opportunity to turn the fables on Heeney. The Boston Garden, it may be remarked, was brought into being by the latq Tex Rickard. acting on behalf of several Boston millionaires, who were desirous of halving in their city an institution similar to the New York Madison Square Garden. The Boston Garden was officially opened on November 17 last with a boxing show for charity, the main event being a tenround bout between Andre Routis feather-weight champion of the world., .and "Honey-boy" Finnegan The title was not at stake, as both! contestants were over-weight. Fmncgan well outpointed the title holder and gained the decision. Like Madison. Square 'Garden, thel Boston arena, is suitable for ice-hockey,' wrestling, athletics, six days bicycle racing and other sports.