ATHLETICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16261, 30 October 1920, Page 12

ATHLETICS.

ODDS AND ENDS OF SPORT. The name of Raujltsinhji is a household word in the cricket world. Apparently he is anxious to become equally as famous amongst racing men, a* an English paper announces that “ when tho Maharajah, of Ncwauaga; (K. S. Ranjitsinhji) returns to .India in the autumn he will .take with him a number of well blown English racehorses, among them Mouteith, The Clown, Bruce Lodge, and Women and Wine. One ol the other animals which Ranji hopes to acquire won this year » handicap that is perhaps the most popular of the season with racegoers. With the idea of doing the business well and making, a big attempt on the Viceroy's Cup, Ranji is taking out with him his own private trainer. This is B. S. Godfrey, who has had charge of the horses of, amongst others. Mr Gilbert Marsh and Mr Melbourne Inman, tho exbilliards champion, at Bruoo Lodge, Epsom.” * • Norman Ross, of San Francisco, on September 7, at Exeter .England, swam 300 yds in open water in 3min 24 4-ssec. It was announced that this lime constitutes a world's record. V Says the London " Sportsman " The death Is announced at. his residence, Rowlands Gill, of Air Sanderson Rixon, a well known old Cumberland and Westmoreland etylp all-weight wrestler, who figured prominently in the ring in the later eighties and nineties. Of gigantic and strong build, he also excelled fri many other classes of sport, and at a local sports meeting on one occasion he won a foot race for a big stake. Risen having to carry 10st of potatoes on his back as a penalty. After winning tbo taco ho ran home—some four miles —with . the potatoes, and came back in time to win tho all-weights wrestling championship.” ( Some athlete! *# Billy Fogwall who comes from Australia to meet Hanna ia tho New Zealand sculling championship, brings with him his brother as his trainer. Ho has been training on the Parramatta. . * The Sydney “Rcforce” writer says:—“lt will be remembered that Dick Arnst, started out some months ago on a clearly defined mission—to do tho come-back act. In due course hj challenged tho winner of the Fel-toti-Barry race for the world’s championship honours. Then he talked match to James Paddon, w,ho promptly accepted the defi. Then came another challenge—D. W. Ripley, tho'New South Wales champion, “called” Arnst for anything up to £SOO on the side, and (like Paddon; posted £25 at tho ‘ Referee’ ’to bind a match. Furthermore, it seems to be generally understood that Reg Short would not be averse to a match with Arnst' . The latest rumour is to the effect that the big man from Tai Tapu like to get into the Fogwell-Hanna match and tn»k K It u three-handed duel although the other two surely would not stand that. Any l way, Arnst has his hands full enough with Padclon and Ripley.*’ Arnst has two challenges on his deposit for a mutch with Paddou for tho Australian title. This the Evans Headman covered, and the match should be arranged before Christmas. Ripley has challenged Arnst to meet him tor .a stake. It is expected that when tho PadclonAmst race is over, tho Ripley-Arnst match v.-jR be arranged. Paddon, after a long retirement, reappeared in a boat at Coraki. As reported in the 4 Sunday News,’ his training had been interrupted by illness during last week, but even then he showed dash and pace.” » * « There is something of the grand manp.Bl about the methods of Northern Union football agents when they go poaching in Rugby Union preserves. Wick Powell, of Cardiff, the Welsh 44 Rugger ” International, who has just been captured by the Roaohdale Hornets,’ has described the final transaction to a 44 Western Mail” reporter. He said; 4| They have been after me long enough.- On Tuesday I arrived homo from work to find two gentlemen waiting. As on previous occasions, I refused to .negotiate, but suddenly one of them threw a bundle of banknotes on the table. 4 There’s £Boo,’ he said, and then I ■ knew that I had reached the end of my endurance,. 4 Give it to me, I’m on,’ I said, and then we proceeded to details." The Northern Union hag been trying hard during the last season to induce- Rugby amateurs to play for them, and tho manner of thoir efforts would indicate that they are getting 44 hard up” for players. * Fishing activities at the Rangilata rivermouthjost week provided excellent sport, the trout 'on several 'evenings proceeding up stream in shoals. The silveries were also running freely in'company with a small number of whitebait. Several anglers, using natural bait, landed good bags. The river-mouth this season has given every indication of going out straight, and should this continue fish will be very plentiful. Several new huts are being ©reeled on tho reserve, and the Acclimatisation Society is considering tho advisability of appointing a ground committee to survey and improve the grounds. Anglers who have been successful with the rod in this locality report that the trout are in excellent condition. * * Pew towns in the Dominion are endowed witji a cricket ground more conveniently situated and with better surroundings than Ashburton (says the 44 Guardian.”) The Domain is an ideal locality for a cricket ground, yet. when the season opened last Saturday' a dozen players were all that could be mustered. They indulged in a little practice nt a kind. Nothing in the shape of a. game could bo attempted owing to the lack of numbers. Tbo outfield was sorely in,need of attention, end there was not even one. match or praclico wicket prepared. Cricket to be successfully played requires assiduous net practice on a wicket similar to a pitch that has been propared for a competition match. What is a wicket in tho full sense of the word? In cricket parlance it means a, piece of turf carefully _ prepared by watering and rolling until it is hard and free from irregularities. It requires even more care than a bowling green, and needs special soil and carefullyselected top-dressings to enable it to stand t.ho wear and tear of at least a two. days’ match, or tho usage it would, receive with daily practice. The latter test is most important, because it is only after an hours practice a day on a prepared practice wicket that a cricketer receives tho necessary confidence to carry him through a competition match. Tho common mistake of 44 anything wm do to practise on 41 cannot be too strongly emphasised. Under tho picseut arrangement there is no encouragement for Ashburton wielders of the willow” to practise daily, or even twice a -week. Without enthusiasm and systematic net practice, cricket will always bo a back number in,Ashburton. Until the Cricket Association arranges to have the oval put i.n a satisfactory condition for daily not training local teams cannot hope for success against visiting teams. When this fault has been rectified immediate attention should be paid to the playing wickets and outfield. To attempt -cricket activities on tho oval at present would without exagsor-, ation be dangerous. Yet only eight years L„ the late Harry Trott (of Australian Elevfn Sl ti ted, A a lv r 4 p,ayi "e in a match agaunl tho Ashburton County, that tho * he P va l were tho best ho had seen nhilo touring New Zealand.