A SPORTING MISCELLANY

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17761, 7 December 1929, Page 5

A SPORTING MISCELLANY

FROM ALL THE WORLD OVER.

GAMES, PASTIMES, SPORTS.

SCISSORED, PINCHED & STOLEN.

Oh, Farmer Vance! Oh, Farmer Vance 1 Why do you do that song and dance when you are out to get a clutch at Eklund’s hair (there isn’t much) ? Why do you do that fancy spin? Why do you waddle round and grin? Why not conserve your strength and win—you’re just the build, sir. It seems to me that you make light of being mauled about each night, and that you simply take delight in being killed, sir!

A suggested innovation by the Otago Swimming Centre is the institution of “‘family races,’’ P. N. ltundle, well known in Christchurch, having offered a trophy, to be open to teams of three swimmers each from one family. There are several well-known households in Dunedin whose members take naturally to water. The Jarvis family, for instance—father (H. S., late of Sydenham).

When George McLeod, a 32-year-old Victorian cyclist, was breaking the record from Adelaide to Melbourne recently, lie ran over a sft. snake, which became entangled in his machine. McLeod fell off his cycle and got clear of thd snake, which presently .extricated itself from the cvcle and made off.

The British Columbia Rugby Union is the oldest Rugby-controlling organisation in the Dominion of Canada. That fact was recognised, at the inaugural meeting of the Rugby Union of Canada., by the election of Fyfe Smith, of British Columbia, as first president of the new body, and of R. P. Woodward, secretary-treasurer of the British Columbia Rugby Union, as a vice-president. Curiously enough, neither of them is Canadian-born, Fyfe Smith being a Sydney man and R. P. Woodward having been bom in Constantinople, of British parents. It is a very rare occurrence for all the competitors for a national championship to be drawn from one district. But that happened in the 220 yards swimming championship of England, recently. All the entrants came yfrom Manchester and the surrounding district. The race was held at Dudley. It was won by N. S. Brooks, o,f Oldham Police, in 2.28. There were three Oldham policemen in the contest. The second man to finish was J/ Whiteside (South Manchester) who won last vear in the fastest time ever recorded in the race.

Great Britain last month defeated France by 11 games to none, with one halved, in the professional international golf match on the course of the Chiberta Country Club. Britain secured a. Jead of ’ four matches to none in the foursomes, and it won seven of the. singles, the remaining game, that between Archie Compson and Amaud Massey, the respective Ifeiaders, finishing square. England beat Ireland by eight games to five, with-two halved, in the second International golf, match between the. countries, on the Royal Lythem and St. Anne’s course. )

When “Skid’ ? Skinner, a noted dirttrack cyclist, skidded in a recent race in England and, hurtling to the ground, removed so much skin that he

had to be carried off on a stretcher, lie certainly lived fully up to his name.

Although Wellington has not yet managed to wiir either the Sanders Cup or the Cornwell Cup, the Wellington Yacht and Motor-boat Association is determined to persevere, and challenges have been sent to Auckland for both trophies. Sanders Cup trials will start next month, but so far no decision has been arrived at about the number. Last year something like 12 races took place before the Clyde was selected to represent Wellington and so much disagreement took .place over the matter that one selector resigned his office and a new man was called upon to carry out the final trials.

“Did you tell \ anybody about my making a hole in one ” “No, I never found anyone that you hadn’t already told.”

The referee had appeared to award too many free kicks to the opposing side, and the partisan home crowd was becoming fed up with him. The whistle blew, and another was awarded. “ ’Ere,” said one spectator turning to his friend with an air of mystification, “what made ’im give that one, George?” “Oh,” said George disgustedly, “force of ’abit, mate.”

It was at another football match -•hieh KaH attracted ai.veiy large crowd that a pathetic-looking little man appealed to a busy turnstile official. “I say,” he bleated. “I’ve been separated from my wife.” “Oh, have von,” growled the official, ‘well, don’t you come and gloat over me.”

In the annual athletic meeting at the Colombes Stadium, France defeated Finland by 70 points to 69. Before the relay race, the last event on the programme, Finland heat France by 66 points to 65. The great Finish runner, Nurmi, easily won the "5000 metres in 14min. 55 2-ssec., and another Finn, Wahlstedt, won the shot-putting with 50ft. 7i-in. Sureau (France) won the 100 metres in 10 4-ssee. u . and Moulines (France) the 40 in 49 l-ssec. The 800 metres went to Kellen (France), in lmin. 57 l-ssec., the Olympic champion Lava being defeated.

Hitting his opponent low with the left hand and then, while the iniured man was on his knees, landing a righthand punch to the iaw, Bobby Delaney (Australia) committed two fouls in the tenth round of his fight with the American Paddy Waltier, at the Sydney Stadium, and was disqualified. Previcuslv Delaney had struck low-punches and bad been warned by the referee (Joe Wallis). Lifted from the floor, after the decision had been given Waltier was carried to bis comer, where he remained for about 10 minutes.