FROM FIELD FLOOD AND RING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18536, 5 April 1930, Page 16 (Supplement)

FROM FIELD FLOOD AND RING

Sydney’s latest boxing inportation, the Filipino Young Gildo, should prove » draw, for though defeated by Billy M’Alister, the bantamweight champion, at Leichhardt, he convinced the champion that he had been in a fight, and there was very little between the pair at the finish, though the Victorian deserved the verdict. M'Alister was far cleverer than Gildo, delivering cleaner blows and sending them in with great frequency. Then he would cleverly get out of range, and the manner in which he made Gildo miss on many occasions showed he was a master in evasiveness. But there were some rallies when he could not get out of range. He seemed quite off his balance from the rushes of the dark-skinned chap, whose right very often made contact with Macs face. In the twelfth round one of these blows sent the Australian down for a second and for the remainder of the round he was entirely on the defensive. No one who saw the Filipino In action will miss him on his next appearance, states a Sydney writer.

It Is not often that winners of New Zealand tennis championships are beaten in the same season, unless by some prominent visiting players from overseas. This year results have proved an exception, for C. Angas, winner of the national singles, was shortly afterwards beaten in both single of the Anthony Wilding Memorial Shield contest by D. France and C. Malfroy. Then Misses Wake and Andrew, who won the national ladies’ doubles, were beaten by Mesdames B. Miles and W. Peppier in a match for top position on the Canterbury ranking ladded, and now comes the news that another national champion, in Miss Dulcie Nicholls, who won the New Zealand ladies’ singles at the last national meeting, has been beaten by Miss Marie Williams in the Brougham Hill Club's championship. Miss Williams, who won 9-5, did not compete at the New Zealand meeting, and this is her second successive victory in the Brougham Hill singles.

Commenting upon the rowing twelve men picked to go in training for the trip to the Empire Games, a Christchurch writer says that though neither of the Christchurch rowers are in the senior class, both are of the very best material, being of the right size, and proved racers. They will keep their end up all right if in the final selection. For the stroke of the crew it will not be possible to go past F. Brough, is he is available. It is reported, however that he will he married shortly, and his changed estate may prevent him from making the lengthy trip to Canada.

It transpires that Leon See, the French boxer-manager, is not the real manager of Camera, Marcel Nilles, farmer French heavy-weight, being the man on the box-seat. The only interest See has in Camera is a percentage one from Nilles to sub-manage Camera Nilles retains 20 per cent, of Camera’s earnings, allowing Leon See 30 per cent., and Camera himself gets 50 per cent.

Who was the greatest single sculler the world has known? Some authorities say Harry Searie, but he was for such a short period before the public that he was not really tested by several years of contest. He rowed only two races for the championship. Death cut short his career. Others place William Beach on the pedestal. But all things considered, the man who, by years of racing against all classes and sizes, clearly demonstrated world superiority was the Canadian Edward Hanlan. Standing less than sft Sin and weighing less than list, he met and defeated all the best men of Canada, United States, England, and Australia and held priority in the sculling world until the time he was attacked by typhoid fever. This undoubtly affected his stamina, and in addition he was beginning to feel the stress and strain of competition. It was then that he met and was defeated by William Beach, on August 18, 1884. Years afterward his nephew, Eddie Durnan, sought to regain the championship, but failed being defeated by George Towns, on the Nepean, New South Wales, in 1907. Durnan’s son is amateur champion of Canada, and hopes to meet Bobby Pearce in the single sculls at the Empire Games in August.

The Essendon Rowing Club. Melbourne. recently promoted and carried out a “learn-to-row month." Quite a large number of young men availed themselves of the opportunity of free tuition, and the club hopes to profit materially next season from its venture.

There have been several instances lately where bowlers have been found bold enough to challenge unfair bowls in the course of Sydney matches. A short time ago a team which was shaping well towards ultimate victory in an important contest was disqualified when one player's bowls were challenged, and another instance occurred a week or so ago. The Sydney ‘News’ writer reports the incident as follows Sooner or later it was expected that something drastic would happen because of the large number of bowls being used in the association’s pennant and State competitions that do not qomply with the Australian Bowling Council's laws. The climax was reached on Saturday, when something hap-

pened that quite eclipsed the North Sydney-City Club episode, wherein Charlie Bartlett's bowls were challenged by P. Redmond a State selector, and found wanting. It was in the B grade between Waverley and Rand-

wick. Early it was seen that there were bowls being used by the Randwick men that appeared to be of a doubtful model, and forwith a challenge was made by a Waverley skipper. This was done, according to one of the Waverley skippers, when Waverley was in the lead by 18 points. The happening had a disastrous effect upon the Waverley players, who, being considerably upset went down by 14 points—--94 to 80. At the conclusion of the match a skipper and third man had to return home minus their woods, for they were impounded, and to-day the secretary of the N.S.W. Bowling Association (Mr M'Laren) will probably deliver the bowls to Mr A. W. Noakes, official tester, who will test the bowls and report to the council of the association. Only a few weeks ago I mentioned the fact of having seen interstate champions, club champions, and semi-finalists in State rink competitions, as well as many pennant men, using unstamped bowls, and those that were stamped bore no mark of an official tester since 1912. The law in regard to the standard bowl is certainly flouted by many bowlers who ought to know better.

Tall George Golding, the Australian runner, left Wellington for home well satisfied with his treatment in the Dominion. Athletic enthusiasts here are also well satisfied with his performances. Everywhere he went as soon as he got into trim he certainly returned some fine spins over the quarter. He was not well when he met Dr Peltzer on the Basin on Bth February, and he did not anticipate having to run until a week later, but he could not say no to a chance of meeting the famous doctor after all the discussion and comment in Australia. The result of the memorable contest is well known. Golding was beaten and he is still somewhat disappointed over that. It is not because he begrudged the doctor the win, but because he recognises in the German a great runner over whom a win would be something of which a man would have just cause to be proud. Just how good Golding is, however, was seen after he had had a few days to recover from his sea trip and settle down. On five occasions on the tour he bettered 50sec, time which a New Zealander has not yet been officially recognised as having done. When one considers that Golding did a good deal of travelling about and that he was running on strange tracks, these performances speak for themselves. He told ‘Sprintr’e before he left that if he could have had a fortnight in Wellington he was pretty sure he could have beaten 49sec on the Basin Reserve.

Golding was farewelled by the Wellington Centre this week, and among the souvenirs of his trip he is taking back home are two New Zealand rugs. He, no doubt, will be off again before very long, this time heading for the Empire Games as a member of the Australian team.

“A new type of backstroke evolved in England has aroused considerable interest among European swimmers, for it is the claim of the inventor, H. Jones, that within one week of first trying it expert devotees of the orthodox stroke have been able to equal or better the times made with the latter, “states an English writer. “He concludes therefore that all existing world’s backstroke records will be broken when his method is adopted. The action of the new stroke is described as follows: Assuming a supine position, the right arm is extended above the head and the left arm is placed across the body to the right side, causing the body to dip slightly to the right. Both arms are swept through the water simultaneously and across the body to the left side, this time with the left arm uppermost and the body dipping to the left. The arms again are swept together through the water, then back across the body to the right side. Either the old backstroke kick or the crawl leg drive can be used effectively with new stroke.

A northern writer records a sensational accident fortunately not attended with injury to the occupants of two 16ft outboard runabouts, which occured on the Whau River, Auckland, recently, between E. J. Schofield’s Nymph and O. J. Melvern’s Chief. Both boats were competing in the final outboard race for the day, a general handicap. When turning the top mark for the run home Nymph, which was having a great race with Chief, was slightly astern of her at the turn and ran into Chief’s wash as she turned. Both boats were doing a good thirty miles, and Nymph got out of control when she hit the wash and headed straight for Chief. Striking the latter on the gunwale, Nymph rose out of the water, jumped clear over Chief and the two men aboard, and landed on the water 15ft on the other side.

There are possibilities that the exNew Zealand sprint champion swimmer and record-holder, W. Cameron, will be one of the team selected to represent Australia at the forthcoming British Empire Games. Recent advices were to the effect that a spec-

ial trial over 100 metres was to be held, and if Cameron was successful, his chances of selection were rosy. At the Australian championships he just failed to win the 100 yards event, Soussari beating him by a touch in 55 2-ssec Cameron is apparently just reaching form, and the result of the trial will be awaited with interest. His inclusion in the Australian team would be well received in New Zealand.

Word comes from London that the former schoolboy champion Johnny Peters, won the stadium Club's £250 bantam competition. There were 32 competitors. Peters left for Australia on the morning of February 14.

The heavyweight boxing championship of New Zealand has been declared vacant by the New Zealand Boxing Council. At the last meeting of the Council, a letter was read from Eddie Parker, who desired to throw in his crowui. The late champion has probably had enough of boxing. He had a long reign at the top of the tree and at one time held both the lightheavy and heavy titles together. He recently failed to make the weight against Broadfoot and, accordingly, handed over the lesser crowm. Always a clean fighter, Eddie’s successor will have a high standard of decency to live up to.

The American Olympic Association lias authorized the issue of invitations to 52 nations to take part in the 1932 Olympic Games at Los Angeles and the winter games at Lake Placid, New York.

The Wellington welterweight boxer, Phin Stone, has made his debut in Sydney where he knocked out Jack Halliday in the fifth round of a sixround contest. Writing on the contest, Dave Smith states in the Sydney Ref-

eree:—ln round one Stone, using a useless but point-scoring left, danced round his opponent, and took this one without a blow in return. In his corner, his second evidently told him to use his right, and a holy show he made of his boxing then. There is a terrible lot he does not know about timing, distance, etc., when punching with his right. In the third Stone was dropped for nine, but, rising, he belted Halliday from corner to corner, and had him in trouble. The New Zealand lad had evidently left his boxing ability in his homeland, for in the fourth he ripped and tore into his man, and the bell saw Halliday taking the count. In the fifth and last Halliday was pushed over for eight, and later outed in a bout that showed little merit.

Bert Barry, the world’s professional sculling champion, has accepted the challenge of Alf. Burns, the Australian champion, for a match for the world’s title and £SOO a-side (states a report). The race will probably take place on the Thames about June next. Burns, who was recently married, has not done much sculling in the last year, and is anxious to have a race for the title. His stake money has been guaranteed by the residents of the Northern Rivers, and Burns should make a worthy representative of Australia for the world’s supremacy. Barry has been sculling almost daily, and recently won a half-mile and mile events, in which he conceded considerable handicaps. The last race for the world’s title was held on Boxing Day, 1927, when Barry defeated Major Goodsell at Vancouver, three months after a match which was won by the Australian. Another oarsman, Ted Phelps, aged 22, has arrived in Australia from South America, where he has been coaching scullers, and has challenged Bert Barry to contest the wold sculling title. Phelps has deposited a side stake of £SOO. Barry welcomes the challenge. He had been hoping for a serious challenge to race on the Thames from Burns or Goodsell but no such challenge has been made.

With returns in from all quarters it would appear that the American public spent more than £20,000,000 on sports during 1929. This amount covers sums paid in at the turnstiles for boxing, baseball, football, horse racing and various other athletic pastimes in which

the patron is the onlooker, as well as an enormous amount expended upon such sports as golf, lawn tennis, billiards and the like, wherein personal athletic equipment is required, says the Police Gazette. More than £20,000.000 on sports is a truly prodigious outlay. It speaks volumes for the general prosperity of the nation, a prosperity that will scarcely feel a ripple as a result of the recent deflation of paper values in the stock market. It is certain indication that Americans are sport-minded and willing to dig into their pockets to support their favourite forms of recreational activity. Notwithstanding that early last spring the calamity howlers were predicting a poor year for baseball, just the reverse was the case of the two major leagues. American League figures were not given out, but John A. Heydler, president of the National circuit, said that the parent league in 1929 experienced the second best year it ever enjoyed, playing to 4,925,713 cash customers. This was only a trifle short of the record year 1927. Football also was generously patronised, as was boxing, although no one particularly bout broke the record in attendance figures, established at the Tunney-Dempsey fight in Chicago in 1927.

Those who know Randolph Rose intimately will not marvel at his wonderful return to form at Wellington, for Rose may justly be regarded as the greatest distance runner New Zealand has ever produced, and when he sets his mind to task he is indeed a hard man to beat. Those who had the privilege of seeing him in those epic races with the great American champion Lloyd Hahn will never forget the remarkable form shown by the New Zealander, who reached the top of his form when he beat Hahn in 4min 13-3-5 sec at Masterton, time which was claimed as a British Empire record for a grass track. Rose then went abroad, and after his return less was seen of him on the track than hitherto. Then came his defeats by J. W. Savidan in the New Zealand championships at Christchurch in 1927-28 season. There were those who said that he was finished. Yet a fortnight later Rose won the Australian mile and threemile titles at Christchurch, turning the tables on Savidan. He did not compete at the New Zealand championships last season, but he told the writer in Wellington that he intended staging a come-back this season. He is how farming at Inglewood Taranaki and has far fewer opportunities for training than when he lived in the Wairarapa. He had a trial spin in the rel cent Wellington championships, and then came his meeting with Leo Lermond the American mile champion, who has carried all before him since his arrival in New Zealand a few weeks ago. Rose has had far less racing than the American and yet in one of the greatest races ever seen in Wellington Rose demonstrated that he is still fit to rank with the best milers in the world, for, after an epic struggle, he was only inches behind Lermond at the end of a mile, which was won in 4min 21-4-ssec. That he overshadowed the popular Aucklander, Billy Savidan, shows that Rose will lend added interest to the New Zealand championships should he compete next week. Lermond by his win in this race has demonstrated that he is a champion when extended, and if for no other reason but that it has indicated that Rose is still a champion, the American’s visit to New Zealand has been well worth while.