FROM FIELD, FLOODS, AND RING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18203, 2 March 1929, Page 11

FROM FIELD, FLOODS, AND RING

Girl swimmers achieved outstanding feats at the opening carnival of the season in South Africa conducted in a 50 yards hath at Durban. Miss Kathleen Russell, national champion sprinter, swam 100 yards in 67sec, missing the colonial record by only I second; and little Violet Parkinson, II years old, covered the same distance in lmin 20 2-ssec—sterling time for a child. The next New Zealand swimming championships have been allotted to Greymoutli, under the control of the Westland Centre. This should suit Otago almost as well as Timaru would have done, and it should be possible to despatch a fully representative team to the West Coast. Swimming should be given a great fillip over there as the .result of the New Zealand championships being held there. Tommy Griffiths intends to leave the Dominion early in March, and in all probability he will be matched against La Barba. Griffiths may not appeal to Australian audiences to the same extent as Leckie will, for the reason that he does not “mix it” in the way that his school-mate does, but his will-o’-the-wisp tactics will bewilder some of his opponents. Both Leckie and Griffiths have now stepped on to the street of adventure, and their progress along it will be followed with interest by supporters of boxing throughout the Dominion.

Colonel H. G. Mayes died in London during December after a short illness caused by blood poisoning. During the war Colonel Mayes was director of physical training for the Canadian Forces, and afterwards held the same post in the Greek Army. As a tennis player, he gained international honours for Canada. He took a set from Henri Cochet at the last Wimbledon championships, and he all but beat Rene Lacoste in live cets in the final at Monte Carlo last year. He was 48 years of age, and one of the finest • participants any sport ever knew. Fitness was always one of his greatest assets, and he was the finest tennis player Canada ha 3 ever produced.

The reinstatement of W. T. Tifden as an amateur by the American Lawn Tennis Association will cause unfeigned satisfaction wherever the game is played. From the first# it has been deemed that the action* of the American authorities was not only ill-timed, but ill-considered, and this sense of injustice caused a strong feeling of sympathy to be manifested in favour of which has no doubt been a factor in the reversal of the disqualification decision. It is interesting to learn that Tilden and his old partner, F. T. Hunter, are once again to a tour Europe during the ,coming season, and it may be taken for granted that they will be assured of a warm welcome both in France and at Wimbledon. The statement that Tilden is not likely to be considered for selection as a member of this year’s Davis Cup team is rather curious. He is still the best player in the United States, and why he should be passed over is by no means clear.

Fight promoting in London within the last six months has grown apace, and from all accounts, Mrs Dick Burge, who conducts the fighting business at “The Ring,” has been staging big matches, wherein the fighters get a percentage of the gate, with considerable success. There have been female boxers, female trainers, and seconds, female glove makers, etc., but Mrs Burge is stated to be the only female fight promoter in the world. This lady’s latest effort is to bring together Phil Scott, British champion, and Ten Sandwina, son of the strongest woman in the world, in a glove battle at “The Ring,” the winner to meet an American boxer to be decided on, who will be imported to London for the purpose of engaging in one of the biggest international battles staged for years While many English promoters have become broken on the rocks of fight promoting, Mrs Burge is stated to be making great strides in the business, and is looked upon as a miniature Tex Rickard.

Miss Fay Taylor, the prominent English lady motor-cycle rider, who is to compete on Australian dirt tracks, is expected to visit Auckland when the new track is opened next season. Miss Taylor first started riding at an early age on-a small two-stroke. Very soon, however, she became tired of this and bought a fast 2'i h.p. in which subsequently she won many awards. Her activities in British trial and grass track events have put many men completely in the shade and when last June she had a trial on the Crystal Palace cinder track, she immediately resigned from the ordinary competition staff of the motor-cycle factory with which she was employed. In November, she sailed from England for Australia, taking with her a Douglas and a Rudge-VVhitworth dirt track special with many spare parts, including a spare engine. She is now negotiating with the Australian authorities and is expected to shortly be in competition. Miss Taylor has the distinction cf being the first dirt track rider to set off to try conclusions on the Australian tracks.

A Dunedin writer says that, judging from the form displayed at the most recent club fixtures, Otago should he represented at the New Zealand athletic championships by a team that will do credit to the pro-

The British boxing authorities are apparently quite determined about throwing down the gage to the American authorities in respect to the distribution of world ittles, for on top of the cable message stating that om Heeney and Phil Scott will meet :i London for the heavy-weight title comes a further one stating that Fidel la Barba and Teddy Baldock ill meet in London for the bantamweight title. The British authorities claim that Baldock is the rightful holder of the championship, and it may be justly claimed that, as the championship has no officially recognised American holder, La Barba and Baldock have as much right to contest it as any other pair.

In a review of boxing for 1982 the New York “Tribune” has the following with respect to two world’s championships:—The bantam-weight division lacked a universally recognised champion. A 1 Brown, Panama negro, and Bushy Graham, of Utica, were hailed as the leading contenders for the title left vacant by Charley Phil Rosenberg. The fly-weight division also revealed no generally accepted champion at the end of the year. Corporal Izzy Schwartz, of New York, was recognised by the New York Boxing Commission as champion, while Frankie Genaro was called the boss of the midget maulers by the National Boxing Association.

It is regrettable that Arne Borg will not now be appearing in Wellington. There is talk of matching W. Cameron (Wellington), the New Zealand 100 yards champion, against Borg at Auckland in a race of distance. While the contest would undoubtedly be an interesting one, too much should nq£ be expected of Cameron, and that he should blithely go on establishing records is not to be taken for granted any means. Certainly, in the last week, Cameron established a new record, when he swam 100 yards (fresh water) at Hastings, ii» 56 4-ssec, bettering by 2 4-ssec the record made by N. Dowsett (Wanganui) at Dunedin last year in the New Zealand championships. Still, Borg has done the 10 0 yards in a bare 5 3sec, as compared with Cameron’s 56 4-ssec.

The news that, a£ter all, Lachie Macdonald, former middle-weight champion of New Zealand and of Australia, and the Scottish middleweight champion, Tommy Mclnnes, are to meet in Dunedin on Saturday night will be received with delight by boxing fans, for these two hardhitters can be depended on to provide a splendid mill, if their previous contests are any criterion. They have already met three itmes, Macdonald having two decisions to his credit and Mclnnes one, but ia no case was there anything between the pair, and torrid fighting was generally the rule. The fourth meeting should be no exception. Macdonald is the better in straight work, Mclnnes relying mainly on fierce left hooks and solid right swings, but the oversea Scot is a hard puncher and good infighter, as Dunedin fans should be able to testify after they have seen him in action. Of seven fights in Auckland he has lost only the two to Macdonald, and among them was a victory over Ted Monson, the middleweight champion of Australia. Lachie is a Dunedin boy and should receive a warm welcome there, and there is every reason why the local association should sponsor him during the coming season, for, in the absence of the feather-weight stars, it might be possible to bring over from Australia suitable opponents for Macdonald.

One of the most sensational wins recorded in Sydney for some time was that of Jack Roberts, of Newcastle, over the Filipino boxer, “Kid” Johnson, whose quick victories over Norman Gillespie and Charlie Glasson since his arrival in Australia had caused him to be rated as a boxer entitled to matches with the best men of his weight. Thus, when he was given an engagement with Roberts, many anticipated that the Newcastle boxer would share a similar fate to Johnson’s other opponents, and this was probably the cause of the moderate attendance at Rushcutter’s Bay Stadium. Although Johnson’s weight was announced at 9st, with Roberts seven pounds heavier, the Filipino did not appear to be the lighter man. They boxed carefully for a few seconds, then Roberts staggered his opponent with rights to the body, following these deliveries with telling left hook 3 to the jaw. Johnson crouched against the ropes and fell. He did not take advantage of the count, and immediately resumed, whilst Roberts rained every manner of blow upon the Filipiho. Four times Johnson sank to the canvas, then he staggered towards Roberts, clinging to his legs. When Johnson was down for the fifth time in two minutes of the opening session he took the full count.

Jimmie Wilde, one of the greatest little boxers that ever wore a boxing glove, and ex-fly-weight champion of the world, recently accepted an engagement of twenty weeks as a music hall star. When Jimmy was in his prime as a boxer ho turned many offers down to appear on the stage. The last offer was made with a very handsome salary attached to it, and although the little ex-champion is well supplied with money, he accepted and decided to make it his first and last stage venture.

According to Ike Kutner Johnny Leckie would put up a very creditable showing against either Fidel la Barba or Willie Smith. “Provided Leckie fights up to his best form,” writes Kutner, “it would not surprise me if he beat either La Barba or Smith. Of one thing I am certain, Johnny Leckie will be a great favourite here on account of his aggressive style. I saw Vince Parker just shaded on points by Wallie McKenzie. The New Zealander put up a good performance after such a loiig lay-off.”

A knock-out or two does not mean the end of a boxer in America, if that man has the grit and ability to fight his way back. Jim Maloney has experienced one or two reverses in his career, but he has come into the limelight again, this time as an opponent for Tom Heeney in one of the heavy-weight elimination contests. Maloney went very quickly the last time the pair met, and Sharkey also kayoed Maloney in quick time. If Heeney wins again he may be in line for further good money, though one New Zealander who is living in America expressed the view that Heeney would need to register some sensational performances to hope to be a payable proposition in another big title contest.

Some 20 or or 30 years ago Mr H. A. Parker, who is at present on a businesgWisit to thq Dominion, was one of the outstanding figures in tennis in Australia and New Zealand, and there are still players of an older generation who recall his prowess with enthusiasm and speak in glowing terms of his magnificent drives on both forehand and backhand. He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School, and while there ,he had the benefit of coaching at the hands of »Mr J. M. Marshall, Who won the New Zealand championship in 1890, and again in 18 96, and waa famous for a forehand drive of great power and accuracy. Mr Parker held the Dominion singles championship on six occasions—a record that has only been beaten by Ollivier—and he won the Men’s Doubles no fewer than eight times, his partners being Gore, Cox, Laishley, Swanston, Lycett and Doust. In the Mixed Doubles he was successful on four occasions with Miss Nunnerley, and once each with Miss Powdrell and tyiss Wellwood. Among his claims to a lastting fame, he has his name on the championship roll of every State in Australia. He was a member of the New Zealand team which beat New South Wales in 189 6, and he captained the Dominion side which beat New South Wales in Sydney in 1904. He played for many years for New South Wales against other States, and his last success m tournament play was his win in the Sydney singles in 1913. When in England in 1901-3, he won the singles of Sittingbourne and Frinton and Norwich, and was in the final of the doubles at Wimbledon. He took the European doubles title at Homburg. In 1905 Mr Parker played 1 in the Australasian Davis Cup team, and it is on record that he beat N. E. Brookes in an inter-State match in 1910.

The departure for Hamilton of E. Halstead removes from South Canterbury, and the Old Boys’ Football Club in particular, a player whose position will be very hard to fill. Perhaps one of the fittest and most popular players in Timaru, Halstead was a player who never tired, and whose roving tactics were always a constant menace to the opposition. He was a prolific point-getter, and his hefty kick will be badlj 7 missed by his side. During the week he was met by members of the Old Boys’ Club, and presented with a gold-mounted fountain pen. Members joined in wishing him all luck in Hamilton.

The Timaru Rowing Club is flourishing this season, having over 50 active rowing members, and it is gratifying indeed to see the club meeting with a fair amount of success after a period of lean years (says “Coxswain” in the Christchurch “Sun” in commenting on the Christchurch Regatta). An active membership of this number should indicate prosperous years ahead, and it is doubtful whether any of the Christchurch clubs has a larger number of actual rowing men.

With the completion of as far as Canterbury is concerned, the Timaru Rowing Club has completed the season with the greatest success

the club has experienced since prewar days, whep the membership was at that time about 20 0, compared with the present total of about 50. The club competed at Christchurch Regatta and also at Kaiapoi, gaining 4 firsts, 4 seconds and 1 third, while only 2 crews were unplaced. By entering two crews in most of the events at Christchurch, Avon (Christchurch) gained 28 points for the D.C.L. Cup, which goes to the club securing most points at regattas under the jurisdiction of the Canterbury Centre, Timaru being second with 15 points, and Canterbury Club next (11 points). Kaiapoi Regatta saw Timaru making a strong bid for the cup; in fact at one stage of the programme Avon were 2 points behind; but by winning the Youths’ Single Sculls, the last race of the day, the latter scored 5 points and the cup. Had Avon not won this race, it would have been the first time that the cup had left Christchurch, Avon and Union being the only clubs to win the coveted trophy in previous years.