SPORT AND SPORTSMEN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18381, 6 February 1928, Page 9

SPORT AND SPORTSMEN.

Sergeant Secrett, Earl Haig’s personal servant for thirty years, preceded Earl Haig’s charger in the funeral. Mr N. Parker, of Lyttelton, states that the Sergeant Secrett referred to is no doubt the same man as visited New Zealand on the Ophir on the occasion when the present King and Queen visited the dominions. Sergeant Secrett was the strongest man in the Imperial Army. During his stay in Christchurch he had a weight-lifting competition at the Opera House against, the local strong men. X SC sc D. Upton was the hero of the Linwood bowlers on Saturday. A slow leg-break trundler, he captured in 13.3 overs, five wickets for 31 runs. He has good control over the ball and can break them both ways. He will be useful to Linwood. A. Grant, an ex-Canterbury representative, who played for Linwood, has evidently struck form again, as on Saturday, playing for Midland against University, he put 145 on the book before being dismissed. Grant plays bright cricket once he is set. The acting secretary for the National Rifle Association of New South Wales (Captain Thackrav) announces that the New South Wales team for New Zealand will sail by the Maunganui for Auckland on February 10. One member selected, A. Darcy (Tamworth), cannot accept the invitation of the N.R.A., and his place will be filled by W. J. Fulton (Junee). Fulton is well known to riflemen in Victoria, as at. one time he was one of the leading members in the Bright Club. sc s: Messrs A. H. Barnes and R. Yewen, of Sydney, lowered the Adelaide to Melbourne car record on January 2S by twenty-one minutes. Leaving Adelaide early on the Thursday morning in a Chrysler 70, they arrived in Melbourne Thursday afternoon, covering the 580 in 11 hours 49 minutes, averaging slightly over 49 m.p.h. A remarkable performance. The previous Ade-laide-Melbourne record was also held by Mr Barnes. Si SC zc Increasing success is rewarding the Christchurch Regatta Club in their regattas at Kairaki. The outing on Saturday was even more successful than last year, and the large crowd testified to the course, from a spectator’s point of view, being a good sc st x A par. from the Sydney “ Bulletin ”: Not since Ilinemoa did her famous swim in the Maoriland lake have such paeans of joy. gone up from the sensational press as when “ little Betty Taw,” aged thirteen, swam second in the Olympic 400 metres race at Manly baths to Edna Davey, who beat the Infant Phenomenon by Bvds in 6min 13sec. It is a pity to see followers of athletic sport so lost to all sense of p-*oportion as to encourage the robbing of kindergartens to make an Olympic holiday. Apart from the truly ridiculous aspect of the situation—does anyone seriously consider the sending of this babe to compete at Amsterdam? there are obvious gangers in pitting a half-grown child against splendid specimens of womanhood in such a stiff trial as the 400 metres. •A SI SC

Edward Ray is just reaching fiftyone years of age, having been born in Jersey on March 28, 1877. The winner of many tournaments, his outstanding successes comprise the winning of the British open championship at Muirfield in 1912 with rounds of 71, 73, 76 and 75 equals 295; and the American open championship at the Inverness Club, Toledo, in 1920, with rounds of 74, 73. 73 and 75 equals 295. He also tied ior the United States open in 1913, at Brookline, with Francis Ouimet and Harry Vardon, the first-named player winning a memorable play-off with a score of 72. Ray is a mighty hitter of the ball with the wooden clubs, but he also has a most delicate touch on the putting green, and is one of the best holers-out • in the professional ranks. He is now attached to the Oxhey Golf Club, Herts, and was previously identified with the Churston Club (Devon) and the Ganton Club (Yorks). He captained the British side in the match at Wentworth in 1926 against a team of American professionals, and in America during last year. An unfortunate incident somewhat marred the second motor-paced match race between Hubert Opperman and' Leon Vanderstuyft at the Melbourne Motordrome recently. Vanderstuyft set put to wear Opperman down, hoping that the twenty miles distance would enable him to do this, but at the end of nine miles Opperman, paced by Bob Finlay, passed him. As Opperman took the lead Vanderstuyft raised his hand as a signal that there was something wrong with his pacer's machine, and the race was immediately stopped. It was found that the plugs of Rody Lehmann’s machine would have to be renewed before he could start again. There could be no doubt that the mishap was genuine, but the crowd hooted Vanderstuyft vigorously as he pedalled round the track. He was apparently affected by this attitude, and, although he fought hard right to the finishing line, he could not recapture the lead, and was beaten by twenty-five yards. There is no doubt that he is a great rider behind pace, but, even allowing for the moral effect of the mishap, it appears as if in Opperman he has met a greater. Opperman was never extended in the final stages of the race, and, if pressed, could probably have bettered his time (24min 56 2-ssec). (Opperman won two matches on end. leaving no doubt as to his superiority.) Referring to a report of the New South Wales Cricket Association on January 17, regarding the effect of the time limit for Sheffield Shield matches. Dr F. V. M’Adam, who was manager of the New South Wales team which toured the southern States in December, expressed the view that the new order had made for better, keener, and more attractive cricket. He instanced the matches against South Australia and Victoria, in which, he said, the time limit had resulted in battles of tactics and greater skill generally. Dr M’Adam added:—“Sheffield Shield cricket has become advantageously influenced by the rule. I consider we can definitely attribute to it that the game is made more open, resulting in brighter and better cricket, that the captains seem to have better opportunities for the. display of tactics, and that better team work generally has been displayed throughout.” The team selected to represent. Victoria at Trentham in the Ballinger Belt, rifle shooting championship and the Gordon Highlanders' Cup teams' match this month has been selected as follows:—R. W. Reseigh (Donald), captain; R. Bellinger (Hopetoun), G. A. Bruce (Yarrawonga), 11. V. Ewart * Upper Yarra), S. A. Grant (M.R.C.), W. W. Harris (Sunshine Harvester), W. J. Harris (Wodonga), A. J. Preece (St Arnaud), L. A. Righetti (M.C.C.), W. Sproat (Donald), and E. Tyzack (CollLogwood). Emergencies, C. Hen-

derson (Footscray) and A. J. Hocking (South Bendigo). Since the team was chosen E. Tyzack (Collingwood), who shot so brilliantly in the Bisley tests, has notified the V.R.A. that he will be unable to make the trip. His place in the team will, therefore, be taken by the first emergency, C. Henderson. A correspondent' has written to the “ Star ” asking for a list of the principal performances held by Hubert Opperman, who will take part in the great Tour de France cycle race partnered with Harry Watson, the New Zealand crack road rider. Opperman's comparatively short career has been crammed so full of success that it is rather a difficult task. First of all must come his performance in the Dunlop Grand Prix last November, which, although there can be no comparison with previous times, as this was the first occasion on which the race was run, must take place as his lest ride up to this stage of his career. In road racing he holds the record for the Wonthaggi-Melbourne (78 miles) of 3hrs 38min, and the Launceston-Hobart (130 miles), which he completed in shrs 59min. lie secured fastest time three years in succession in the SaleMelbourne race, and set up a record for the course, and last year broke the world’s record for twenty-four hours unpaced on the road, travelling 416 miles. Behind pace he has shown himself to be in the world’s champion ship class, and he is recognised without question as the champion of Australia and New Zealand in this branch ?f the sport. In match races against all comers he has* had an almost unbroken run of success. This season the Melbourne Motordrome manage nient brought out two of the leading European pace followers—Leon Vanderstuyft and Rene. Marrinier —specially to provide opposition for the Australian champion, who has now de feated them both. He holds the world’s record for five miles and for ten miles behind pace, flying start, with w indshields, and also the world’s record lor three miles, motor-paced, standing start, without windshield. As Opperman is aged only twenty-three years he has many years still before him in which to break more records, and there seems little doubt that he will do so.