FROM FIELD, FLOOD, AND RING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18352, 24 August 1929, Page 16

FROM FIELD, FLOOD, AND RING

The Victorian Waterloo Coursing Cup, run at Geelong, was over-sub-scribed, and the first sixty-four dbgs nominated were accepted. The meeting was a huge success, but so far the results have not come to hand. Johnny Hill, of Fifeshire. retained his British flyweight boxing title in Glasgow when he won from Ernie Jarvis, of Mill wall, in the tenth round, states the “Daily Mail.” Jarvis was disqualified for a foul blow, a decision which surprised the Englishman and his seconds. Jarvis enticed Hill to close quarters, where he was the superior. He sent a short rising blow to Hill’s body, and after delivering it he stepped back. Hill sank to his knees and -showed signs of being in much pain. No count was commenced, and as after a few seconds Hill seemed incapable of resuming the contest the referee called “Enough” and disqualified Jarvis. The contest raised little real enthusiasm among the 10,000 spectators. As a championship bout it contained little that was outstanding, but at the time of the disqualification of Jarvis, Hill ■was leading on points, although his form was not very impressive.

Heavyweights Pat Redmond (16.6), of Ireland, and the aboriginal Roy Burns (17.2) met in the principal contest at the Sydney Stadium before a good attendance. The match was scheduled for 15 rounds, but after a poor display, Bums was unable to continue at the termination of the ninth round, when the referee declared Redmond the winnter. Bums, who carried much superfluous flesh, attacked wildly in the first session, but little damage was inflicted, then Redmond commenced to punish his opponent, although in the majority of rounds his deliveries failed owing to the aboriginal covering his head with his gloves, and at other times clinging to Redmond. The Irish boxer was troubled by Bum’s tactics, but he forced Burns to the ropes in the ninth term, and then at the close Burns intimated that he was anxious to retire from the engagement. Many Auckland boxing followers will remember the Northern Boxing Association's official announcer, E. M. (Fred) Farrell (states the "New Zealand Herald"). As far back as 1914 he was a well-known figure at tournaments. He was connected with many other forms of sport, and was very well-known in all parts of New Zealand. His death was the result of an operation performed in Sydney. He was 74 years of age. At the Sydney Stadium Ted Monson, middle-weight champion of Australia, went down to defeat at the hands of Meyer Grace, of America. The battle went this way (says a Sydney writer) : Monson was short of a gallop, due to his long rest from active boxing, and Grace Is a better fighter than he looks. Add to this, Grace is a fast, elusive, a good boxer, and a terrific puncher with his left, and the fact that Monson was standing at the end of the contest—and still fighting bitterly—proves that, with a few more contests under his belt, the champion will find his old form. Monson took a hiding, but he battled through to the end without a murmur, and tried to the last second to land a knock-out blow. Grace, however, was too experienced to be caught by any of Monson’s "sneak’’ punches, and, for that matter, he seemed too tough even when caught. Monson placed some terrific blows to the jaw and under the heart, but the American just held for a moment, and then continued to dance round the ring, jabbing and hooking punches.

Some months ago, Johnnie Dundee, the former welter-weight boxing champion of the world, was suspended by the New York Commission, but the ban was removed at the request of some other Commission, and now Dundee has been figuring in a world’s title fight. He dropped the championship recently to the foremost contender, Jackie Fields.

During a contest in Vienna, the Hungarian boxer, Hudra, dropped dead from heart failure during the fourth round with Anderschitz, the champion of the Vienna police. This was the first professional contest the Austrian authorities had permitted for five years. In another contest, Syd Turner, an Englishman was knocked out in the third round by Steinbach.

One of those extraordinary happenings which occur at odd times in the game of bowls took place recently (says Sydney “Bowling Life”) in a handicap tourney. One of the scratch men was Ted M'Millan, a leading light in interstate bowls a few years back. He met the well-known ex-internation-al cricketer, Harry Donnan, and conceded him one point start. Donnan got the mat on the first end and never lost possession of it afterwards until he had scored the 31 points necessary to enable him to claim the game. We remember several cases like this, where some tantalising, invisible fiend seems to run one player’s bowls into position and persistently reverses that order of things for the other fellow. Well may one exclaim: “The glorious uncertainty of bowls 1”

The Cambridge and Oxford combined team has done very well against the American University players in ’varsity matches, and so far have won all the team contests. In the open invitation tournament at Meadowbrook most of the British players dropped out early, but Norman Farquharson, of Cambridge University, did well to reach the semi-final, where he was defeated by Fritz Mercur, 6-0, 6-2, 6-4. Mercur now meets J. H. Doeg in the final. R. R. T. Young has not been mentioned in this tournament, but he has been playing well in America. In his match against Mangin, the American writer, Allison Danzig, comments as follows:—“The match started as a procession for Mangin, but after the first set there were no more parades. Young, the Cambridge captain, had ceased beating himself with his errors, and from now on he exercised such excellent control over his strokes that Mangin could count no point won that was not earned. Young had not only control; he had determination and concentration that often had Mangin anchored in his backhand or fore-* hand corner. It made no difference to Young that in Mangin’s backhand lay his strength. If is served his strategy in working for position to play to the backhand, Young kept attacking on that side until the opening was given in the forehand court. Mangin had to keep an eye for the openings right and left to give Young the chance to volley. The American made no such mistakes. He had faith in his ground strokes, dnd when he did go forward it was only with the greatest discretion in timing his advance. The New Zealander, although defeated, put up a great fight, and produced tennis of a high quality.”

The New Zealand amateur road cycling championship of fifty miles is scheduled for decision on September 21. This race is to be conducted by the Otago centre of the N.Z.A.A.A., and should attract a good field from the Dominion’s be3t amateur riders. This date being the local club

may decide on a definite day for the Wellington provincial championship. Forty mile races are to be held on August 17 and 24, so the Port Nicholson Club will probably hold the “fifty on August 31 or September 7. It is the intention of the club to be well represented in the New Zealand championship, and riders likely to be selected are in serious training.

After witnessing most of the good hard-court tennis tournaments in England, Mr F. J. Ohlson, vice-president of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association, is of the opinion that New Zealand compares quite favourably and in some respects more than favourably in the organisation of its championships and local tournaments. In England, however, the players are able to buy balls at a price for which they can readily sell them second-hand.

Although John Van Ryn and Wilmer Allison won the doubles at Wimbledon and also the Davis Cup doubles, they did not escape defeat whilst abroad, but strange to say it was at the hands of Tilden and Hunter that the young champions had to bend the knee. These pairs met in the final of the London doubles championship, and Tilden and Hunter won, 9-11, 6-2, 7-5. The names of Tilden and Hunter will be inscribed on the London singles championship cup. They were to have met in the final, but rain caused so much delay that the two finalists expressed the desire to hold the title jointly. Tilden and Hunter also won the doubles championship of Holland, defeating Nielsen and Ramberg, the Swedish players, in the semifinal, and Timmer and Coen in the final. Tilden beat Wilbur F. Coen of Kansas City, in the semi-final of the singles, 8-10, 6-3, 6-2, and Hunter settled Hans Zimmer, the Dutch champion, 6-8, 6-2, . Tilden and Hunter also competed in Switzerland. Tilden beat Hunter in the final of the singles, after a brilliant five-set match, 5-7, 6-4, 7-4, 3-6, 6-1. Hunter beat Christian Boussus, the young French southpaw, 9-7, 7-5, in the semi-final. In the doubles Tilden and Hunter defeated Worm, of Denmark, and Don Fisher, the well-known New Zealand player, in the final, 6-2, 7-5, 6-3. Fisher can still put up a great game, when he is so inclined, in a doubles match, especially when there is a good gallery.

During their stay in Melbourne the members of the N.Z. Kirk-Windeyer Cup team were the guests of the Victoria Golf Club and were accommodated at the Club House. Writing of this club’s course, Sloan Morpeth says: “This course is comparatively a new one, having been laid down three years ago. The greens were sown entirely with Chewings Fescue, the seed being obtained from New Zealand. Such a perfect result has been given that the writer has considerable difficulty in describing their excellence. They are all exactly similar in pace, and when putting on such a silky surface one fully knows that to miss a 10ft putt means the fauty execution of the striker. Not a weed or blade of foreign grass can be noticed in any one of the eighteen greens. The construction and lay-out of each individual hole gives such a result that the members of the team will be purprised if in their visitation to other courses its equal will be seen.” In an article, Sloan Morpeth, writing from Australia, observes that the first impression made on the New Zealanders when they went to Rose Bay immediately on their arrival in Sydney arose from “the magnificence of the fairways and greens.” The leading Australian courses are kept in beautiful order, as those who have had the

good fortune to play on them know. The clubs have large revenues and employ labour lavishly. Where it is deemed ne9essary . even the fairways are weeded' by hand. Morpeth, it is understood, will play in the Australian open at Adelaide, where he will be joined by Shaw and MTntosh, the two North Island professionals who have been selected to compete in the Australian open. All three should make a good showing in the open, though MTntosh is better at match than at medal play, and Morpeth should do well in the amateur championship. Morpeth is at present New Zealand open champion, and was amateur champion in 1927; Shaw was open champion in 1926, and it as present professional champion. MTntosh was professional champion in 1926 and 1927.

The following particulars concerning Sir Thomas Lipton's American Cup challenge will be of interest to yachtsmen generally:—Sir Thomas Lipton first challenged for the America Cup through the Royal Ulster Yacht Club in August, 1898, and the race took place the following year. His first challenger, Shamrock 1., was designed by Fife, who combined some of the lines of the famous English cutter Britannia in Shamrock. She was built by Thonleycroft at Millwall, on the Thames, near London. She was sailed by Archie Hogarth, assisted by Captain Robert Wimge. and was beaten by Columbia, designed by Herreshoff. The second attempt by Sir Thomas Lipton was made in 1901, when Shamrock 11.. designed by G. L. Watson and built by Denny Bros., of Dumbarton, was again beaten by Columbia. Her captain was Captain Sycamore. Shamrock 111. was the next challenger for the cup. She was designed by Fife and was beaten by Reliance in 1903. Captain Wimge, who sailed Shamrock, reported she was only a very moderate boat, the sails of which were far from perfect. Shamrock IV. was designed and built by Nicholson, of Gosport. The race took place in 1920 and was won by Resolute. On this occasions Shamrock was in charge of Sir William Burton. Sir Thomas Lipton’s fifth attempt to win the. cup will be made by Shamrock V. in September, 1930. The race will be sailed off Newport, Rhode Island, and, unlike previous contests, there will be no time allowance, both the challenger and defender being of 76ft. rating.

Gallant* New Zealander Johnny Leckie (8.1 ID was the storm centre of American Pete Sarron’s (8.9) glovethrowing cyclone whites E.T.C. to New Zealand Sportman. The contest was a return engagement between the pair, the preveious encounter going to the New Zealander. Without in any endeavouring to discount any of the credit due to the American for his masterly display, one point must be stressed in fairness to Leckie and which triumphed over all his brilliancy. He had at last succumbed to that dreaded athletic malady—staleness. This trouble has been expected before with him on this trip, owing to continuous disappointments with regard to dates for fights. A boxer labouring under such a disability is incapable of doing the right thing and, although he may strive to do all in his power, he in reality finds himself as helpless as a swimmer caught with the cramp. Five weeks had elapsed since his last battle and, barred a brief let-up immediately following that contest, he had been in strict training, the return mill having at that time been arranged for July 20— exactly one week before it actually took place. Leckie trained for the date, only to be disappointed. Consequently his preparations had to be upset. Calculations had been thrown out of gear as a result. This had the effect of making Leckie stale. These facts have been given for a definite reason. All sorts of excuses are harboured and, in justice to Leckie, the writer has placed the above facts before readers. Sarron paid a fine tribute to Leckie after the fight to the New Zealand Sportsman’s representative. He said that the Dunedin lad was the gamest he has yet met, but he thought that his greater ring experience won out in this fight. He went on to say that Johnny was a wonderful fighter, and, when questioned regarding the New Zealander’s prospects in America, he declared that he thought they were very bright. He has yet to learn many points of the game which would come naturally with experience in good company. This opinion from one of the class of Sarron is indeed pleasing. Mr and Mrs Johnny Leckie received a hearty send-off from the N.Z. Association composed of N.Z. residents in Sydney, on Thursday evening before sailing for New Zealand. Mr and Mrs Leckie*B health was proposed by Mr Robert Carter, late of Dunedin. Johnny replied most suitably.