Sport And Sportsmen.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18803, 4 July 1929, Page 9

Sport And Sportsmen.

“It is perhaps by its sports and amusements that the age of chivalry is best known,” said Miss N. E. Coad, M.A., during the course of an address to the Wellington Historical Association recently. “It was a very sporty age, though by no means any more so than our own. Then, however, sport, especially in the upper classes, had an absolutely free run. It was not hampered by such things as scholastic education, science, industry, and agriculture. The people who excelled in sport however illiterate or useless in other respects, were the brightest ornaments of the society of the day. It often seems as if we are getting back to the same position now, except that in the age of chivalry only the upper classes could make a business of sport. Nowadays nearly everybody can do so.” A golf hint:—“ One of the main reasons why more women do not drive further, is the fact that they do not hit the ball hard enough. In their attempt at distance they forget to control their club, and let the club control them to the extent that it swings them off their balance, and they lunge after the ball. In other words, they swing the club faster than they can exercise control. We have all noticed that some of our longest drives are the ones where we have hit what we thought was a lazy shot, although in reality the results have been brought about by our having everything under control, with power applied at the exact moment of impact—the acme in correct timing.”—(Miss Glenna Collett, the woman champion of U.S A.) “ Polaris ” of the London “ Star ** writes: “The careers of cricketers at the Universities are often most fascinating to follow, especially when, as frequently happens, a neglected player turns out a star. The case of E. D. Blundell at Cambridge is typical. He came from New Zealand two years ago a more or less unknown quantity, but it did not take Patsy Hendren and one or two other good judges long to decide that here was a very promising bowler. Last year Blundell came into his own with a vengeance. He practically made his place secure when early in May he took six Leicestershire wickets for 25. He did only moderately well against Oxford, but at the end of the season had the largest bag of wickets at Cambridge—49—and was headed in the averages only by L. G. Irvine, who played in few matches. This season Blundell seems likely to be the mainstay of the University attack. He began with six Yorkshire wickets for 99, and in the only other match he has sc far played he took nine Notts wickets for 194. One of his greatest assets is that he has a very strong physique, and can bowl consistently well without tiring.” Mr Charles Burbridge Bevis, whose death at the age of sixty-four was recently announced, was one of the cleverest and most successful of English yacht racing skippers. Among the wellknown vessels of which he at one time had charge were the Lulworth. White Heather, Satanita, Sybarita, Ailsa, Audrey, Hispania, and Windfall. He was sailing master of Sir Thomas Lipton’s Shamrock I, and with Sir William Burton, shared the charge of Shamrock IV in the last contest for the America Cup. ‘ Captain Charlie ” as he was always known, was often successful with a vessel which seemed to be able to do nothing for anyone else. lie was* conspicuously successful with Lulworth (ex Terpsichore), which appeared to be a failure until Bevis was given charge of her. He was among the first flight of British racing helmsmen, amateur or professional. The semi-finals of the European Davis Cup Zone have been completed. Last week it was known that Great Britain had been successful in the lower half of the draw against Hungary. Now comes the news that Germany, with its young team, has advanced to the final by defeating Czecho-Slovakia, and .now meets the British team in the final, possibly at Berlin. This particular match must be completed not later than Monday, July 15. Germany was hardly expected to reach the final, but its young players, especially Moldenhauer, must have greatly improved this year. Germany had a bye in the first round, and then defaulted to Spain in the second round. After that Italy, which country was expected to reach the final, was met and defeated in the third round, and in the semi-final Czecho-Slovakia was not equal to the task set its representatives by the Germans. Moldenhauer must be playing well to have put J. Kozeluh (Czechoslovakia) out, and it may take Gregory and Austin all their time to secure a win for Great Britain. If Moldenhauer does defeat them, then all will depend upon the doubles match, as the two Britishers should be able to beat Germany’s second string, who may be Prenn. Whichever nation wins will have to meet the American team in the inter-zone final at Paris on July 19, 20 and 21. Having experienced a phenomenally successful season for the Wigan Club in Northern Union football in England, L. Brown, the former Auckland and New Zealand League player, returned to Auckland on holiday by the Makura yesterday. Although he missed thirteen games owing to injury. Brown scored no fewer than forty-four tries, and had he played throughout the season would have stood a good chance of establishing a new scoring record. His stay in Auckland will, of necessity, be short, as he has to return to England for the opening of the next football season there. The standard of the Northern Union game in England was maintained at a high level, Brown said. .Liberal encouragement was given to a man who showed individual skill as well as being a good team player, and clubs were always on the look-out for men who could play bright football. The result of this policy could be seen in the engagement of several New Zealand players by English clubs. He hardly thought that the English clups were deliberately enticing men awav from the Dominion. The authorities in charge of the game in England had helped to give it a footing in New Zealand, and now New Zealand was supplying them with some outstanding players. It was an incentive to young footballers in the Dominion to make good.