FROM FIELD, FLOOD, AND RING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18820, 7 March 1931, Page 16 (Supplement)

FROM FIELD, FLOOD, AND RING

The tennis learner will find it help to prepare earlier for every stroke. Do this by taking the racket back sooner, so as to be in the right position for the forward swing in plenty of time. Often the swing-back (says Sir Gordon Lowe, once famous as a player), is not begun until the ball is almost on to the racket, when a sudden dive for it is made at the last moment. This is a constant cause of late hitting and mistiming. For ground strokes the swing-back should be begun well before the ball has crossed the net. You will then be waiting for your forward swing in good time to hit the ball clean and true. This method, too, will help you to judge the ball so much better. This earlier preparation is also essential in volleying, when the swing- back should be begun almost before the ball has left your opponent’s racket. I cannot emphasise too strongly the importance of preparing for your stroke at the soohest possible moment. A well-known lady player always makes a noticeable pause with her racket before she swings forward to meet the ball. Others could follow her example with considerable advantage to themselves.

A sensation was provided for followers of cash athletics in Victoria when Malcolm Dunn, 22-year-old runner from South Australia, finished second in the final of the Wangaratta Gift, 130yds., from 2yds., for he ran the distance in nearly Byds. inside “evens.” .Later in the evening, and again off 2yds., Dunn won an invitation handicap of 130yds., in 12 l-ssec., which was equal to 6yds. inside even time. In this invitation race L. C. Parker finished second, from 2iyds., and Tim Banner third, from scratch. The race, indeed, had been arranged to give Banner an opportunity to break the Victorian record for 130yds. which stands at 12 6-16 sec. and which is held conjointly by Bannerand Austin Robertson. However, Banner’s time on this occasion was not only a sixteenth of a second outside his record, but not quite so good as Dunn’s. Dunn It a tall lad. It is reported that Mrs May Sutton Bundy, the American woman of English descent who, as Miss May Sutton, twice won the woman’s singles at Wimbledon a quarter of a century ago, find who also was woman champion ©f the United States, has taken up lawn tennte coaching professionally. She is an aunt of young Johnny Doeg, who holds the American singles championship, and whom she coached. The French Federation spent New Year's Eve in solemn conclave devising means for an early “spring clean” of French Rugby. Referees have been given a strong hand. They must send any guilty player off the field, and that player’s name must be entered upon a report-sheet. As soon as the player’s name appears on this sheet he is automatically suspended and censured. The referee also has power on the field to suspend a player for two matches, and on application to the federation by the regional committee an even heavier penalty may be imposed. Every referee who fails to ena commission of referees. The federation has given a distinct concession to force the rules will be brought before the demand's of the 12 “rebel” clubs who have resigned, but while it has accepted the advice of its “erring children,” it has expelled them from the family, and threatened all who come in contact with them on the Rugby field with a similar fate.

A striking suggestion for the purpose of “deflating” int-er-collegiate football in the United States of America has been made by Dr. Nicholas Murray Buttler, president of Columbia University. He proposes that admission to such contests should be free, thus doing away with the large annual earnings, what in the case of each of many institutions amount to more than £200,000 annually. He would also abolish financial assistance from the colleges themselves, and permit no student to participate in any contest unless he were doing a normal amount of college work of a character to satisfy the highest scholastic requirements. These proposals have been made before, but have not been taken so seriously as they will be when coming from an individual of Dr. Butler’s position and prestige. It is a matter of common knowledge that the conditions relating to football are little less than scandx’ous in the majority of American colleges. Students of preparatory schools vsho give evidence of being promising football material are offered various financial inducements, which virtually amount to salaries, for attending one institute or another, and are usually permitted to continue as students and play football regardless of the quality of their intellectual achievement. It has often been demonstrated that an unsuccessful season in football produces a pronounced drop in the total registration of the following year.

According to the “New Zealand Bportsman,” the Manawatu Boxing Association suffered a loss of £46/13/8 on the conduct of the New Zealand championships.

D. J. Olliver, the 1930 All Black footballer and ex-Kaikorai player, was the outstanding competitor at a floodlight athletic meeting held at Taihape recently. He won the 100yds., 220yds.. and 440yds., handicaps.

The first sprinter to return “evens” in the English Amateur Athletic Association's 100yds. championship, and the first coloured man to gain an English athletic title, died in England recently. He was A. Wharton, of Darlington, who won the 100yds. championship in lOsec. in 1886. Wharton won the championship again in 1887, but that time he ran a yard outside “evens.” After he won fame on the running track he turned his attention to Association football, and played for several good-class clubs in turn. He was a native of Sierra Leone. Death’s removal of a picturesque personality from among the old-timers of English athletes has attracted attention to the prominence that several coloured men have won in amateur athletics in the Old World. England itself has had two worthy successors to Wharton. The first was H. F. V. Edward, of the West Indies, who achieved three double events by winning the A.A.A. 100 and 220 yards championships in 1920, 1921 and 1922; he also made a peculiar record of his own in 1922, when he turned his “double” into a “treble” by taking the 100 in lOsec., 220 in 22sec., and the 440yds. in 50 2-5 sec. Olympic honours eluded Edward cruelly, for at Antwerp, in 1920, the interference of a marksman caused him to be left at the post in the final of the 100 metrs, and in the semi-final of the 200 metres he pulled a thigh muscle and ran into third place in the final as a very “lame horse.” Then came Jack London, of British Guiana, whose full possibilities have never been explored. He has beaten “evens” for 100 yards time and again; he was runner-up in the Olympic sprint in 1928, and A.A.A. champion in 1929, but might have been even more famous as a high jumper, for h cleared 6ft. 2in. without either training or style. In other countries, also, coloured men have shown great speed as sprinters, and even greater prowess as long jumpers. Theard, the coloured Frenchman, is notable among the former class, while Ed. Gourdin, of the United States, was the first man to take the long-jump record beyond 25ft. Sol. Butler and H. de Hart Hubbard, his compatriots, both surpassed his feats, the latter reaching 25ft. 10 7-8 for a world’s record, which has since been eclipsed by S. Cator, of Haiti, clearing the colossal distance of 26ft. 0 l-Bin. All these negroes, incidentally, have been magnificent sprinters, while Hubbard in addition to returning 9 7-10 sec. for 100 yards reached 50ft in the hop step and jump and returned 15sec. for 120 yards hurdles although he was a very midget of a man. Then there is Eddie Tolan, the present 100yds. championof the United States of America. Tolan, great rival of the 220yds. champion, George Simpson, now in New Zealand, is reported to have run 100yds. in 9 2-ssec., but this performance is not so well authenticated as is his 9* sec for the “century.” There have been but few great black distance runners, except the French Algerians S. Beddari, who was hard to beat at four miles and El Ouafi, who won the Olympic Marathon race at Amsterdam in 1928.

At a meeting of the New Zealand boxing council correspondence was read from the Boxing Association in Johannesburg, South Africa. The authorities there are willing to receive a New Zealand team of amateur boxers late in the present year, and there is ; every reason to be sanguine of the tour eventuating. The delegates to the annual conference of the New Zealand Boxing Association, held in Palmerston North last year, empowered the council to act on any satisfactory proposal advanced by the South African people (says an exchange). The council members went into the matter fully at a recent meeting. It was estimated that to send six amateurs and a manager across to South Africa, fares for return sea transportation would approximate the sum of £4OO. It was stated that the N.Z.B.A.’s overseas account was in a most healthy position (there are funds to the extent of £I,OOO in this account) and the view was taken that a tour such as the one at present under consideration would prove a big incentive for amateurs. During the meeting the question of possibly having to finance a representative or representatives to the next Olympic Games was raised, but it was stated that the New Zealand Olympic Association anticipated being in a position to finance all worthy athletes to the next meeting. The secretary was then asked to cable the following message to Johannesburg:—“Endeavouring to arrange visits on lines suggested letter. Please state proposed number contests, duration, tour, localities. Require guarantee return visit.” ' Provided the South African people accede to the request of a return visit to New Zealand at a later date there is every reason to be sanguine of at least six of the available champions making the trip to the sister colony towards the end of this year.

In the “Life of Sir Henry Segrave,” written by Captain Malcolm Campbell and Mr J. Wentworth Day, it is stated that in the third and fatal run of Miss England 11. a stopwatch of a timekeeper was pressed at the moment of the disaster and registered 21 2-ssec., and that later the exact distance covered was measured and found to be 2,780 ft. If this is so the speed works out at 119 m.p.h. It is shown that Miss England 11. should thcc: ? 1 . ally be capable of this speed.

Writing in the “Evening Post,” “Huka” discusses an interesting point with respect to the service. A question was addressed to him in the following terms: —“A right-handed player serving from the extreme right-hand corner of the court in a doubles throws the ball to the right and hits the ball while it is still in the air outside the right-hand side line. When serving from the left-hand side he similarly gets as close to the middle line each time as possible, and hits the ball when it is in the air over the righthand side of the court, with the result that a service hitting the middle line or just inside it has such a twist that the receiver is forced into the same half of the court as his partner. It is assumed fn each case that the server’s feet are in correct position and other conditions governing service compiled with. Are both services in order?”— Reply: Yes. Strange to say, that was a favourite service position of my own many, many years ago, and it was mostly always good for a point against most players. Tell the server to continue his good work, provided he keeps his feet as provided for in rule 6: The essential point so far as this question is concerned is that “immediately before commencing to serve the server shal stand with both feet at rest behind (i.e. further from the net than) the base line and within the imaginary continuations of the centre mark and side line.” It does not matter how far he throws the ball out to the right, provided his feet are in the right position. Naturally the body bends over to the right to allow the arm to reach further with the racket so as to cover the ball.

The New Zealand inter-university track and field athletic championships are being held in Dunedin on April 6, and already great keenness is being shown by the officials of the Otago 'Varsity A.A.C., preparations for the big track meet having already been set in train by the club captain (J. E. Lovelock), assisted by a willing band of Officials.

One has only to converse with Harlow Rothert, the captain of the American athletic team for the space of a few minutes on athletics to realise that the Stanford University man has a most earnest desire to offer helpful and constructive advice concerning the development of field athletics in New Zealand says a southern writer. Therefore his comments on the lack of coaching and the lack of the right practising method observed among s the field men are worthy of the closest attention. Rothert 6tates that New Zealand has much promising material to trouble has been that in the majority draw upon for field events, but the of cases the men have had to go out on the ground and teach themselves. A wrong style is easy enough to develope, but much harder to eradicate, and this lack of coaching is undoubtedly one of the reasons why New Zealand has not produced more field men of the type of Stanley Lay. The New Zealand Council can hardly be accused of a lack of interest in this matter, because a proposal emanated from the controlling body not so very long ago to the effect that the centres should go into the desirability of importing a coach to visit the various centres. The centres rejected the suggestion on the grounds of expense, but until some such scheme is adopted New Zealand can hardly hope to compete against the world’s best in all classes of track and field athletics.

It is understood that Miss Carstairs is likely to make an attempt to break the world’s speed record with her British International Trophy racing boat Estelle V. within the near future on Windermere. Thi6 intention is subject to the necessary permission on the part of the authorities controlling the use of the lake. Estelle V. is undoubtedly possessed of an extraordinary turn of speed, which she was prevented from showing fully when at Detroit because of burst fuel tanks.

Established in 1926, the secondary schools’ athletic championships of Otago and Southland have made considerable progress since their inception, and practically the only school of any importance that does not now take part in the meet is the Waitaki Boys’ High School. The fifth championship meeting will be held under the control of the Otago Centre at the Caledonian Ground to-day, and indications point to some particularly fine performances being registered. K. Uttley, who did 23 l-ssec. for the furlong, 16 2-ssec. for the 120yds. hurdles, and 10 4-ssec. for 100yd6. last season, is still attending the Southland Boy’s High School, which won the Macassey Shield last year, and which promises to have a strong team this season. Otago Boys’ High School should also have a more than useful team, and M’Glashan College will also be well represented at the meeting. The Southland Technical College is bound to send up a contingent, and it is to be hoped that the local schoolboys themselves attend in larger numbers than was the case the last time the meeting was held in Dunedin. The junior shield last year was won by Otago Boys’ High School, and an addition to the programme will be a junior relay of 440yds. (four 110’s).

There are many interested followers of amateur athletics who will hope that George Simpson, the American 220yds. champion and world’s record breaker, Is afforded another opportunity of meeting Jimmy Carlton, the Australian sprinter, whose wins in the 100yds. and 220yds. at Wellington have stamped him as a runner who is likely to be a contender for the highest honours at the next Olympic Games says an exchange. Still, a fair-mind-ed judge could hardly say that Simpson was at his best, especially wfien it was considered how the American flash had been running under “evens” for 100yds. consistently since his arrival in the Dominion, and quite a few times for the furlong. But eight races in a week and constant travelling took their toll of the famous American sprinter, and a strained muscle finally gave way in Wellington on the Saturday. Rothert the American captain, said that Simpson had no drive and was not in his best shape, and that is sufficient for this writer. Simpson ran at Wanganui on the Thursday night, and was then called upon to run the hardest races of the tour two days later. Should Simpson stick to his intention to visit Sydney for the purpose of meeting Carlton again, if the American’s leg Is right the New South Welshmen are going to be afforded one of the finest races that has been witnessed on the other side for a long time.

After Hopman took the first set against Crawford in the New South Wales singles final, and was well on the way to winning the second, he went to pieces, and Crawford, reaching his best form, won three sets to one, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. It was an entirely different Hopman (says a Sydney paper) from the player w r ho had defeated Moon in the semi-final. Mrs Crawford was too steady and methodical for Miss Valkenberg, who was certainly forceful. Mrs Crawford won the womens’ title, 7-5, 6-3. Crawford and Hopman were far too clever for Jim Willard and D. Thompson. Thompson, a colt of promise, was hardly up to the standard of the others as a doubles player. The champions won, 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Lord Burghley, Olympic, Empire and English champion hurdler at 400 metres and 440yds., has agreed to contest the next election as a Conservative at Peterborough (states our English sports correspondent).

Wellington lived up to its reputation on a recent Saturday, for the strong northerly wind reached gale force at times, and bowls became a comedy. In one head at Hataitai (says the “Dominion”) half of the bowls went right through into the ditch, others were caught on the side and sent careering badly over the adjoining three rinks to the side ditch, and when the last bowl went down only one oT the sixteen remained within the last limits. Then came an incident which convulsed all who were able to see what happened. It so happened that five rinks, playing with the wind, had finished or nearly finished the head. The wind had eased a little, and there were from twelve to sixteen bowls on each head. Suddenly a tremendously Violent gust came. Hats leaped from players’ heads and went flying over the fences, rubber mats flew up in the air like paper, bowlers "were struggling to stand up against it and to prevent their coats blowing over then* heads. Amid it all practically every' bowl on the green started rolling toward the south-west corner of the green, and in a few seconds were hopelessly mixed on the green or in the ditch. Not a head could be counted, and all had to be replayed.

The American track and field athletes who are at present in the Dominion have a high opinion of Bobby Blay, the Australian feather-weight, whom they saw in action in the north. Rufus Kiser considers him one of the cleverest boxers he has seen, and there is no doubt that if Blay is successful against the Wellington Boxing Association’s importations he will be offered some inducement to go to the States.

The bout between Donovan and Jones, which was to have taken place at Stratford on February 7, had to be postponed owing to Donovan having a poisoned hand, and, although it was later set down to take place on Februaryl4, the Str&tford Sports Club decided to postpone the match indefinitely so as not to jeopardise Donovan’s chances at New Plymouth a week later. The postponement was unfortunate for Jones, particularly as it appears that the bout will not now take place (says an exchange)-

The Australian press is giving much notice to a youngster, Ben Bailey, aged 18, the son of a Ulmarra (New South Wales) farmer, who has performed many prodigious athletic feats of late. Playing for Grafton High School against Lismore for the North Coast Summer Cup, Bailey practically won the match for Grafton with an innings of 119 not out and a bowling average of five for 49. In describing Bailey as the budding Bradman of the Clarance River Sydney, the writer states that just prior to Christmas Bailey had the amazing average of 222 runs for teij innings, while his bowling was on the same high plane. Bailey is also tennis champion of his school, in field athletes holds the pole vault and high jump championships, and as well as excellent at batting and bowling is brilliant in the field.