FROM FIELD, FLOOD, AND RING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18286, 8 June 1929, Page 16

FROM FIELD, FLOOD, AND RING

The world's discus throwing record was broken by Eric Krenz, the Stanford University athlete, at Palo Alto, California, recently with a throw of 158 ft 83in, compared with the previous best of 158 ft Hill.

Auckland papers are loud in their praises of the exceptionally good form shown by J. VV. Savidan in the recent steeplechase events. It will take a good man to beat this little Northern "wonder" at the cross-country championships at Dunedin.

Merv. Williams, the Australian boxer who visited New Zealand some time ago, is anxious to get back in the game again. As conqueror of Phil Krugg, Gordon Kiely, and Charlie Long, he thinks he is as deserving of fights as Ted Monson (says a Sydney writer).

Two records were established in connection with the Corbett-Cuthbert fight for the Lonsdale feather-weight belt at the National Sporting Club, London. For the first time in the history of the Lonsdales belts the contest was of fifteen rounds, instead of twenty, and for the first time also "a belt contest was declared a draw.

Fred Webster, who after winning English amateur championships in three classes—bantam, feather and light—turned professional in 1928, is now light-weight professional champion. On 3rd May he defeated the title-holder. Sam Steward. Webster, according to London critics, possesses the best left hand seen for many a long year.

Jack Dempsey has Joined forces with Umbert Fugazy, the rival of the Madison Squari Garden Corporation, formed by the late Tex Rickard. It seems Jack was not satisfied with the treatment fce received from the Garden people following the Miami fight between Stribling and Sharkey. Jack is to be the matchmaker for Fugazy. He is already ready to sign Sammy Mandell for a light-weight championship go.

It is strange the number of prominent prize flghgters who have been butchers by trade. Among many whose names are writ large in the annals of British fisticuffs is Henry Pearce, better known as the “Game Chicken." And Pearce was only one of a long line of "fighting butchers.” In addition to contributing more firstclass bruisers to the ring than the members of any other trade, butchers appear to have had an exponent of fisticuffs as far back as 1687.

The sculling race at the Australian championship regatta at Perth was an easy thing for the New South Wales and Olympic champion, R. H. Pearce. His only opponent was the West Australian representative, Langley, who scales less than lost. It looks as if Pearce’s fame as a sculler has awed all the other Btates. It is rumoured that there is a possibility that Pearce will settle In Perth. In reply to a question on the subject, the New South Welshman said that it' was true that if he could get a decent job he would stay.

Another capital display of keen, clean, and vigorous boxing was given at the Melbourne Stadium, when, In a return match, Johnnie Leckie (Bst. 1211 b), of New Zealand, met and again outpointed Claude Wilson (9st. 031 b), of America (writes Norman M’Cance in the "Melbourne Argus”). It was an even more interesting bout than when the two met on 20th April, being more intense and with more clearly defined incident, as, for example, when Leckie, for the first time in his career, was knocked down by a snappy Jolt to the jaw when he flung himself in halfway through the eighth round.

A near panic occurred in the eighth round of the ten-round contest between Jackie Fields and Jack Thomson, the San Francisco coloured welter-weight at the Colissuem, Chicago. The contest was for the world’s championship, the National Boxing Association having declared the title vacant, owing to Joe Dundee, the holder, having disregarded its instructions to match up with a logical contender by 21st March. Whether the New York Commission will agree to accept the association’s ruling has yet to be seen. Of the incident referred to at the outset a report says: “As Fields and the negro stood toe to toe throwing punches at each other, a thunderous, rumbling sound, growing in volume each second, suddenly started from the south end of the Colisseum. In a twinkling the crowd of 10,000 was in a riotous uproar, with hundreds dashing out of the exits and others storming toward the ring. A hundred or more stricken spectators climbed or crawled over the ringsiders and swarmed between ropes, filling the ring. The battle had to be stopped until police and firemen restored order. Twelve to fifteen persons were injured in the crash. Newspaper reporters at the ringside lost their typewriters in the jamb, and telegraph wires were broken. A fight between a negro and white spectator, in which a gun was drawn, was said to have started the stampede in the south end of the Colisseum. The spectators in the immediate vicinity of the belligerents fled in disorder to give the combatants room.” Subsequently it was announced that, in additions to many slightly injured, one person was dead and two others were reported to be in a dying condition; also that no further contests between white and coloured boxers would be permitted at the Colisseum.

The Rev. Joseph King, a Presbyterian minister, won the Victorian bowling champion of champions event this season. He defeated a well-known player, Mr Harry Brewer, in the final game by 31 to 20.

Amateur swimming has seen the last of Johnny Weissmuller as a competitor. He is now classed as professional. He has accepted an appointment as Professor of Natation as Waseda University, Japan, and will act as national swimming coach for Japan.

E. D. Andrews, New Zealand’s singles champion in 1926, wall again be a competitor at Wimbledon this year, and if his injured angle stands up to the strain he hopes to battle his way further through the draw than he did last year. Andrews competed at the TallyHo hard-court championships, which were held at Birmingham during Easter week. H. F-. David, a Warwickshire player, beat Andrews, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, in the fourth round, but went down to D. M. Greig, who represented England v. America in 1927, in the final, 2-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2. David’s success against Andrews was due to the pace of his attack, but in the longer match against Greig the latter was able to take the

According to the “New Zealand Sportsman” three of the Welsh boxers who have been appearing at. Leichardt’s Stadium would come to New Zealand if sufficient inducement were offered them. They are Taney Morgan (fly-weight champion of Wales), Billy Thomas (welter-weight champion of Wales), and Young Freddy Welsh (former feather-weight champion of Wales). In Australia Welsh, who beat Barber, grew into a light-weight, and in a fight with Norman Gillespie was knocked out in four rounds, though he did not show his best form in this contest. Morgan is said to be a classy fighter, and according to Sydney writers, when he lost to Teddy Green the decision was about on a par with that given to Barber when Leckie beat him in Invercargill. Morgan is a clever boxer, and would be a match for any feather-weights. He can fight at the bantam-weight poundage. Thomas beat the New Zealander Vince Parker, and also outpointed Jimmy Pearce.

There have been tours of American athletes, of English, Australian, and South African teams, but the projected tour of a Canadian team next season will be the first tour under the auspices of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association that has been undertaken by representatives of the sister dominion. Leaving the athletic side out of the question, there is not the slightest doubt that such a tour will have beneficial results in other ways, for there is no better agent for a good relationship between two countries than the interchange of visits by representatives of various sporting organisations. The Council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association is fully alive to the importance of bringing overseas atheletes to New Zealand, and it was no fault of the controlling body that the projected tour by an American team fell through last season.

Referring to what it styles an ingenious invention, the English “Bowls News” has the following:— “At a meeting of the executive of the Lancashire County Amateur Bowling Association, held in February last, a firm of Northern bowl manufacturers submitted a pair of bowls for inspection for the official approval of the L.C.A.B.A. The bias of the bowls could be altered at will. Thus, if a player wanted the strength to be a 2i bias, or 2J, or even 23, he had only to apply a key to adjust the bowl accordingly. The interior of the bowl is grooved, and an Archimidean screw runs through. On this is a squared piece of weighted metal which can be moved, and it is this movement which gives the change of bias.” (If my memory serves me right, Mr Wm. Dali, of this city, had a patent on much the same lines years ago.”—“Measurer.”)

The Napier Boxing Association is negotiating with Freddy Welsh, fea-ther-weight champion of Wales, to appear in Napier on June 19. Taney Morgan is being considered by the Wellington Association for the middle of June. Both boys have much to recommend them, and, if these two associations can transact the business successfully, they should be well remunerated. Walsh has a draw to his credit with Johnny Cuthbert, present British feather-weight champion and Lonsdale Belt holder.

I. G. Collins, who was a member of the British tennis team that visited New Zealand last November, has been awarded "the “R. M. Watson” Memorial Cup for the second year in succession. The cup is awarded to the player that has the best record in Scotland during the season. It is a marvel that Collins can take part in any athletic games, far less play such a fine game of tennis, as not so very many years ago he had his left leg broken above the knee, and the ligaments of his right knee were torn to ribbons at the same time.

Miss Nuthall is to play with Miss Ryan in the doubles at Wimbledon this year, and the combination should do well. Miss Ryan has won the doubles •at Wimbledon nine times in the last twelve years, a very fine performance. She played for U.S.A. in the Wightman Cup in 1926, but her long residence abroad has now disqualified her from again representing America. She was to have played with Miss Wills at Wimbledon, but apparently the American authorities preferred that two Americans should play together. The American ladies’ team to play in Europe this year will be Misses Helen Wills, Cross, and Morville. Matches will be played against Germany, Belgium, Holland, France, and England.

Four terrier dogs decided who should win a golf competition of the Giuldford Alliance, at Worplesdon, Surrey, recently. They attacked A. J. Howlett, the veteran professional attached to the West Surrey Club, just w r hen he seemed certain to win, and he finished second. After hitting a good drive to the 15th hole he was about to play his second shot when four dogs ran out of a garden adjoining the links, and attacked him. Howlett was not bitten, but naturally he missed his shot, the ball going out of bounds, and costing him stroke and distance. He took eight for this hole, and though he finished in figures better than par (3, 4,4), he finished second with a score of 74 plus 2—76. The winner was a young assistant professional, F. Wallis, of St. George’s Hill, who, playing from scratch, went round in 75, to take the leading award, as well as the assistant professional’s prize.

The Surrey tennis championships are played at Surbiton, and in some quarters are looked upon as a try-out before Wimbledon. English enthusiasts are very jubilant over the success of Miss Betty Nuthall in winning the Surrey championship singles this month, especially as she defeated the noted Miss Ryan, 7-5, 6-1, in the final. Misses Ryan and Nuthall also won the doubles, putting out a good pair in Misses Fry and Sterry, 6-4, 6-3. Of course, it must be allowed that Miss Ryan was winning championships before Miss Nuthall was born. Yet Miss Ryan beat Miss Boyd (Australia), 6-0, 6-2, in the fourth round at Wimbledon last year, and reached the semi-final, where she fell to Miss Helen Wills. Miss Nuthall was not playing too well last year, but she must have found her true form this season to score so well from such a champion as Miss Ryan. England’s young hope was 18 years old on 23rd May. As Misses Nuthall and Ryan are playing together in the ladies’ doubles at Wimbledon, they must have a great chance of winning, but so far as the championship singles event is concerned, Miss Helen Wills, who is reported to have improved upon the great form she showed last year, should be, barring accidents, a sure winner. Miss Ryan won the Surrey singles in 1919, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924,. and 1925.

Probably no name was more used in the pugilistic circles of Great Britain and America in the late 50’s and early 60's of the last century than John Carmel Heenan, “the Benicia Boy,” who as the representative heavy-weight fighter of the United States, crossed, the Atlantic to meet Tom Sayers for the fistic supremacy of the world. Yet Heenan never won a prize battle, although he was acknowledged by the Yankees to be their champion. He was one of the giants of the prize ring, standing 6ft l*in in his stockinged feet and scaling over 13 stone. He was beaten in his first essay in the regulation roped enclosure by John Morrissey, the then champion of America. That pugilist made as a condition of granting him a return match that Heenaq should go to England and beat Sayers. This the “Benicia Boy” failed to do, as the pair fought a drawn battle at Fornborough on 17th April, 1860. Heenan went back to New York on 4th July of the same year, but returned to England in 1862, and on 10th December of the following year fought Tom King, of Stepney, at Wadhurst, for £IOOO a-side, and was beaten in thirty-five minutes. Heenan, like his conqueror, retired from the ring and became a successful bookmaker and commission agent.

Sloan Morpeth, T. H. Horton, Arthur Duncan, and Dr Ross must all be congratulated on being chosen to represent New Zealand in the Kirk Windeyer Golf Cup, but it seems somehow unfair to a lot of the keen followers of the game that some of the younger players should not be given their chance. The one that is in most people’s minds is J. L. Black, who has been much to the fore in both New Zealand championships for many years past naw, and has definitely proved his ability to be included in a representative New Zealand team. Perhaps if he did go to Australia the long courses and the myriads of bunkers might worry him, but nevertheless he has proved his worth, and must be considered very unlucky to have been left out. There is every indication that Australia will do its best to retain the cup, and New Zealand will be up against a hard team, whichever of the six men New South Wales is sending to Melbourne are selected on the day of the match. The New Zealand selectors are to be congratulated on their choice of seasoned men, who will in any case keep their end up. Morpeth, Horton, and Duncan are all golfers who are capable of the brilliance in tight corners necessary, and Ross, like J. L. Black, has shown again and again that his steadiness and imperturbability are awkward facts for his opponent when the game seems lost. But what if one of the New Zealanders, as happens to all golfers, is off his game, or indisposed? So far the name of no emergency has been mentioned as fifth man.

F. E. Dixon, of Philadelphia, chairman of the American Selection Committee, has been chosen as non-play-ing captain of the United States Davis Cup team. The team to play Canada will be chosen from J. Hennessey, W. Allison, J. Van Ryn, and F. Mercur. G. M. Lott and F. X. Shields are both unable to leave their studies at the university. Tilden and F. T. Hunter

are not available for the American zone matches, and W. F Coen has been in Europe several months getting in form to play in the French chamoionships and also at Wimbledon. Lott and Shields may be able to attend the practices later at Philadelphia, which are to take place on six new clay courts of the Huntingdon Valley Country Club. ‘lt is a matter of interest to note that the try-outs are taking place on clay, not, grass courts, but, of course, the Americans know that if they get to the challenge round against France, it will not be on grass courts that the match

will be played. The practice matches will be under the direction of Samuel H. Collom, president of the United States Lawn Tennjs Association, J. W. Wear, chairman of the Davis Cup Committee, F. E. Dixon, team captain, and members of the Selection Committee. It will be seen from this that the Americans take matters very seriously when it comes to picking teams for Davis Cup purposes. J. Van Ryn, who has been showing good form in America this years, is 23 years of age, stands sf| 103in in height, and weighs list lib. He started playing tennis when twelve years .of age, and graduated from Princeton last year. F. T. Tunter, who is now with Tilden in Europe, is 35 years of age. He has been playing tennis for 24 years. His heigh is sft 11 in, and he weighs 12st 121 b.

Following on A 1 Singer’s defeat by Ignace Fernandez in the featherweight division in New York,* a further sensation has been caused by the defeat of Fidel La Barba by the Cuban fighter, Kid Chocolate, this, however, not occasioning perhops as much surprise as Singer’s defeat, for the Cuban Kid has a very fine record in U.S.A. Both La Barba and Kid Chocolat( were over the bantam weight limit of 8.6, both being light-feather-weights, *nd it is stated in the cables that if each man made 8.6, the Boxing Com'pission might designate the winner as the world’s bantam-weight champion, the title being vacant. La Barba ma> be able to get down to bantam again, and Kid Chocolate may be able to dc likewise, for he has been fighting both bantams and feathers since he came to America a year ago, and nearly al r the time he has been fighting at weights between 8.7 and 8.9. Prior to going to New York he had a wonderful record of wins in Cuba, and he quickly became a sensation in New York. He was rated highly by the late Tex Rickard in January in both the bantam and feather-weight division, Rickard being of opinion that the Cuban Kid was one of those, including Singer, who pressed the world’s champion, Andre Routis, for top place. Tex described Kid Chocolate as a rarity. He possesses every asset of a great fighter, and although most of his fights in America have been at weight just above the bantam-weight class he has never been forced to get down to a class limit, and it is believed he would have had little difficulty in doing so. Had he fought as a bantam, within the limit, he would have earned Rickard’s highest award, but as he fought bantams and feather-weights, and scored knock out after knock out Rickard reckoned he was entitled to be ranked in both divisions.