SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

Thames Star, Volume LIX, Issue 16626, 23 October 1925, Page 6

SPORTS AND PASTIMES.

bowling. An English writer on the subject of wood or composition bowls, says . “Temperature is a consideration winch is surely important where the Antipodes are concerned, and there the uso of composition bowls is, I believe, piaetically universal. It would be a pity if a detail like this were allowed to jeopardise the chances of England s bowlers.” The writer is not quite correct, for tho majority ol placets in New Zealand in any case use wooden bowls. If the game continues to increase in popularity the wooden bowls are not likely to be so good as in the past, as the makers will not bo able to give tlieir stocks of lignum vitae tho time to mature that they have done in the past. Professor Maxwed Walker won the Dominion championship with wooden bowls, and Mr. j. D. Best v'on the singles with a similar set. Mr. Gustaffsen, of Fremantle, the Australian champion, used and old pair of Tavlor’s wooden bonds, if * *

The British bowlers are said to he 1 so good that when it comes to the selection of New Zealand or local teams it will be necessary to make the selection of players on their merits.

Mr. John Rankin, president of Manly Club, Australia, is expected back from a country our shortly, and will probably be leaving soon after foi a tour of New Zealand. Mr. John Spence, president of the Australian Bowling Council, who visited New Zealand with the New South Wales team in 1923, celebrated his golden wedding on September 28tli. All New Zealand bonders wdll extend to him and to Mrs Spence hearty congratulations.

ATHLETICS. An Olympic novelty w*as employed in acquainting the crowd with the progress of the athletic contest between the Oxford-Cambridge and PrincetonYale teams, for in addition to the score-board. Old Glory was raised by khaki-clad soldiers for an American victory, and for a British triumph the Union Jack was hoisted aloft to snap in the breese. A band of Highlanders in kilts and all the trimmings of their uniforms piped music lor the crowd. * * * *

International athletic compeition between Australian and' Californian University teams will be carried out on a scale similar to that of the OxfordCamhriclge competitions with American collegians, if plans mature. Track and field sports, tennis, boxing, and baseball should be included in the programme of international inter-col-legiate athletics, with picked teams from Stanford and the University of Southern California and Australia in alternate vears. *“* * *

That great New Zealand athlete, R. A. Rose, won another eross-coun-try race last' Saturday when lie was first home in the race for the Bennett Memorial Shield. As usual, he led the whole, way .and won in 35min 3f)see. While Bose's succession of victories remains unbroken, and while- he is undoubtedly the most brilliant distance runner Australasia has had, yet the advisability of matching him with Nurmi seems doubtful. It is granted that. Nurmi’s best times are made under perfect conditions both as regards the track and the weather.

America’s high jumper, Haro-ld M. Osborn, in 26 years of age, weighs 175 pounds, and is described as a blonde. He was born in Butler, Illinois. His father was athletically inclined, and was very good at the standing broad jump. Two elder brothers were good athletes in high school. His best performances are stated to be: high jump, 6ft 8 10-16 in; javelin, 180 ft; 120yds hurdles, 15 2-ssec.; discus, 133 ft.; long jump. 23ft. Slyin.; shot put, 40ft. Sin.; pole jump, 12ft.; hop, step and jump, 46ft. 9fin. Ho has won several* American championships. He is fond of swimming and golf, and is inclined to motor racing. He declares- he hopes to compete in athletics for another four years, and then he may think about taking up coaching. His particular style of “high jumping” is perhaps contrary to rules, for the rules does say that buttocks must not be higher than the level of the head when crossing the bar.

Ernie Hjertberg, famous Swedish athletic coach, accepted a position of track and field coach at Rice Institute, Houston, Texas, and took up his duties this month. He returned recently- to the States afer an absence of 15 years, prior to which he coached the IrishAmerican A.C., New York, and Columbia University. In 1915 Hjertberg was offered, and accepted, the position of chief coach to the Swedish Olympic team ,and the great work he accomplished has not been forgotten, and he again saw them through in 1920, hut subsequently- took up a position in Holland and coached the Dutch team for last venr’s Games.

VERSATILE ‘ ‘SNOWY. ’' FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN ATHLETE. BOXER, SWIMMER, NOW ACTOR, Mr. “Snowy” Baker, personal manager to Miss' Pauline Frederick, who is at present in Wellington, with the “Spring Cleaning” Company, when seen by a Times reporter this week, was quite willing to talk of his notable athletic career. “One of the things of which I am proudest,” he said, “is of having represented. New, South Wales against the original All Blacks in Sydney in 1904, when I played scrum half-back, a position in. which I represented Australia for thyoe years. I forget just how much they beat us by in that game. We gave up counting before the end. “I have always believed in versatility in sport,” he proceeded. “I have played football, swum, and boxed, and would like you to mention that I have retained my amateur status throughout. I have no time for the American idea of producing the specialist in any one particular branch of sport. After all, sport is something that people should go,in for, for the lovo of the game, and for the good of

the country as promoting physical fitness.” , . , . , , Asked as to the age at winch lie had entered athletics, “Snowy” laughed. “To go right back,” he said, “it was probably when at the age of five my father threw me into Sydney harbour. I managed to swim out all right—somehow. Incidentally, my father is over 89 years of age now, and is still strong and athletic, and as straight as a gun-barrel. “Mv first taste of success in athletics was when at the ago of 11 years J won the swimming championship of illy school in Sydney. Since then I have swum over all distances from 100yds to a mile. In 1906 1 was one of a team of five who put up a world’s record for 500yds, doing the distance in smin 0 4-ssec. The other members of the team were Fred O. B. Lane, Cecil Healy, Alex Wickham and my brother, Harold Baker, whom you will remember as mauagei; of the last Australian Rugby team to visit New Zealand.

“In 1908 I went to London to represent, Australia at the Olympic Games in swimming, diving, water-polo, and boxing, where Australia did fairly w.eli. 1 got second in the high spring dive, and we took a second in the teams race In the boxing I fought Johnny Douglas (also well-known as a cricketer) for the middle-weight championship of the world, and lost the decision on points, the only time I was ever beaten in the ring.” Incidentally it may be pointed out here, although “Snowy” did not refer to it himself, that this was his fifth fight of the day, and Douglas had come fr.esli from only one previous bout; also that the decision was not given until after a conference between the judges, which lasted over an hour. “During different tim.es,” Mr. Baker proceeded, “I have held the lightweight, welter, middle and heavyweight championships of Australia, and here also I have never participated save as an amateur, although J have promoted professional bouts.” The pressman took in the perfectly proportioned figure before him. “It would take you all you could manage to fight as a lightweight now,” lie suggested. “Yes, perhaps as a. lightweight,” “Snowy” agreed. “Bud I still tip the scales at only list 61b., and I’m as fit as a fiddle.

“In America 1 keep in pretty fair condition. I am Commissioner of Sports of the Los Angeles Athletic Club—an honorary position, and one of the finest athletic clubs in the world. Tho clubhouse is of 14 storeys, and covers an area of three acres. The idea is to foster sport in all its branches, outdoor and ipdoor. The membership is six thousand, and the rules provide that- the sons aufi daughters of members automatically become members in turn. In my opinion such clubs are the finest thing for sport that has ever been instituted, and in time they will extend right through the Southern Hemisphere. In Melbourne they are already considering the formation of one. It is my opinion that the pre-eminence of America, in athletics, is due to these clubs, a network of which exist throughout the country. There are both social and athletic members, the fees .for the former of whom are double that of the others. “If an athlete is not in a position to pay his fees and dues, a. fund exists from which these may be met. Incidentally, to give an idea of the standard of the Los Angeles Club, I may mention that 40 out of the 300 American representatives at the Olympic Games last year, were members of it.”

“How did you come to take up pie ture work?”

“T had always been interested in fencing, duelling, swordsmanship, and trick horsemanship, , such as tent-peg-ging, etc., and merely put this to use in the films. In all I have taken part in 12 films in Australian and American

. I always had an idea of making a picture in New Zealand. As a matter of fact Miss Frederick and I have seriously considered filming Miss Rosemary Rees’s novel “April Sowing,” in which Miss Frederick suggested that I should play opposite to her. There has been nothing definite fixed yet, but it is not improbable that Miss Frederick will return to New Zealand later to make this film.”

Asked if it were his intention to make America his home, Mr. Baker stated that for the present at any rate, this was so. “I have real estate and picture interests over there,” lie explained, “and I "like the Americans. They get things done. They may talk a little, but they have an excuse for talking. And they give anyone from Australia and New Zealand a great welcome. ‘Anzac’ is a great word with them, and is generally applied to all people from the Antipodes. Yes, I'll probably stay in t.ne States.”