FROM FIELD, FLOOD, AND RING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17773, 8 October 1927, Page 16

FROM FIELD, FLOOD, AND RING

There was a £-1,000 gate at Melbourne 'when Thye beat Clapham lor the light-heavy-weight championship of the world.

L. C. Eastman, the Essex County all-rounder, who has been engaged by the Otago Cricket Association as player-coach, left England by the Corinthic on September IG, and is due at Wellington on October 24.

Three persons, a greensman, a member of the club committee, and a child have each lost the sight of an eye on a Sydney Golf Club’s links through being hit by a,hard-driven ball.

J. C. W. Macßryan, the Somerset cricketer, playing for Mr I-I. M. Martineau’s eleven in the Holyport cricket “week,” played in three successive matches and scored 102, 100 and 105. Darby O'Connor, the young Aus- j tralian feather-weight, who • was beaten in New Zealand by Tommy Griffiths and Johnny Leckie, but who made himself very popular here by his aggressiveness and general ability as a boxer, has left for Sydney. After his bout against Leckie, in which he was badly punished, he complained of pains in the head, and the doctor has advised him to take a rest.

George Robey, the famous English comedian, is keen on sport. On one occasion Gentlemen of the M.C.C. were playing Gatton Park, and the evening before the match the M.C.C. captain telegraphed to Lords that a bowler must be sent. A little man with a delightful smile turned up. He bowled two overs, had 18 runs hit from them, missed a catch, went in first wicket down, and was bowled first ball. Later he said he had never had a ,1 oilier day. It vas George Robey, who enjoyed his cricket and Association football as much as anybody who ever played.

Ben Traccv, easily the most travelled ~- of all Australian boxers, arrived m Sydney recently. He shales that Billy ' Grime is at present at N*w . 1 »ork, where lie is likely to tight in ..is next contest, and that bis opponent will probably bo Finmgan. During his travels he ran across Joe AAatermau, ’■ who had “Doc” Snell in hand. in . spite of the statement that AVatcrinaii was likelv to bring his protege to Australia, Waterman remarked to Tracey: “Say, Ben can you teT me what benefit f would derive by bringing Snell to .... Sydney, where I know he would not be able to earn as many dollars as he does pounds in his own country, and with no months of travelling backwards and forwards!” According to Tracey, Snell is a big draw card in America, and since his defeat of “Tod” Morgan, the junior light-weight champion, lie is among the big ir.cney.

It is not generally known that Sir Harry Lauder numbers cricket among his sporting accomplishments, and indeed. that he lias even taken part in a. match with Albert Trott, the famous Australian. Sir Harry tells in his own humorous manner, of that distinguished event. Trott, he said, chucked him up some slow stuff, and then, unexpectedly, sent down a good one. “And. when 1 raw it coming,” said Sir Haro 1 , “L just dropped my bat and ran.”

During the tour at Homo Bernau made mere “ducks” than any other member of the New Zealand team. His total was seven. Mil's, Page. Daere, and M’Girr made lour each, Oliver ami Henderson three each, Blunt, James, Cunningham and Merritt two each, and Dempster, Lowry and Alcott one each. This makes 40 all told. There were 78 Instances of opposing batsmen being dismissed before they bad scored. It will be noted that no member of the New Zealand team escaped making a “duck.” Al’Girr was tins on'y member of the team who earned “spectacles.” He failed to score in eaeli innings of the Somerset match.

The only Briton in all the great programme of 24: events at the British amateur championships who promises anything really great in more than one (•vent at- 1 lie next Olympic Games is the Cantab. I). G. A. Lowe, whose record is as magnificent as any runner can wish. lie was the Olympic 800 metres champion in 192 I, when he won in Imin 52 2-ssce, heating a field of cracks from all over the world; he 'is the holder of the world's record for GOO yards; he was runner-up to the famous long-striding German, Dr O. Pelipzciv in the championship, half-miie last year, when both heat world's record in Imin 51 3-osec : and lie is the holder of various championships in Great Britain. At the recent meeting Ife cantered home in the half-mile in Imin 54 o-sscc, and that he had much up liis sleeve was evident in the 440yds. which he won :n 48 4-ssec.

Gene Tunney narrowly escaped violence from a madman recently. The champion had just returned from liis morning work-out on the road and was within fifty yards of his cottage, when a savage, 1901 b patient, who had escaped from the State hospital in Utica, accosted him. The-madman demanded that the world's heavy-weight championship be settled right there. Gene's quick wit saved him. He pointed his right thumb over his shoulder at the crowd trailing him and with a torse "See my manager,” ducked in his cottage. On the arrival of several sheriff’s deputies the man fled. An armed posse was arranged and, after an hour’s search through the woods, the maniac was captured and returned to Utica. Gene was upset, but had already cancelled his workout for the day, and spent part of the afternoon conferring with his sparring partners.

The early history of the world s oldest sculling event, the race foi Doggett’s Coat and Badge, is shrouded in obscurity. Thomas Doggett, a famous comedian, founded the contest about 1715, when he created a fund for the presentation of each winner with an elaborately braided livery, to which a large badge is attached by means of a strap round the left arm. The influence of heredity is shown by the fact that the race lias been won by four different members of the Barry family. This year the successful sculler was L. B. Barry, a younger brother of the man who was beaten by Goodsell.

The death of Ben Tlioroughgood at the age of 57, removes a noted sculler, who shone over a period of many years when the glamour of the sport was great, with rivals numerous and skillful Isays a Sydney writer). A big man, and strong. Tlioroughgood was an outstanding performer in heavy boats, in which lie won numerous championships. He was also champion of Australia. Tlioroughgood was born in 1870, on the Clarence River, the birthplace of a number of noted scullers. He soon acquired ability in (lie handling of boats, and at 1G years won the championship for heavy boats, and secured a fine silver cup at Stockton regatta. His love for the sport was so keen that lie was still racing at 4 5 years of age, winning liis last championship'thirty years after liis first. It is certain that in later years the severe strain imposed by contests exacted its toll, and shortened the life of one who might have been expected to attain a greater age.

Among golfing annals of the Dominion no name stands higher than that of A. D. S. Duncan. AVit.hout a doubt lie is the finest golfer this country has ever produced, and it seems very unlikely that liis unique record in New Zealand golf will ever he equalled let alone bettered. Duncan first won the amateur championship in 1599, and has won it on nine occasions since-—IBOO. 19 01, 190 a 1907, 1909, 1911, 1914, 1922 and 19 26. He lias three wins in the open championship to his credit, securing the honour in 1907. 1910 and 1911. Apart from these national honours, lie has collected almost innumerable provincial and club championships, aiul to record them would require columns of newspaper type. He is a popular figure of any gall course, and is “a living monument to New Zealand golf,” as he was referred to by an Australian writer when Duncan was recently in New South AVales with the Kirk-AYincleyer Cup team. His name is a household word among the golfing community, and far beyond the realms of the sport, and for years past he has been known as the “grand old man’’ of the Royal and ancient game in this country.