Sport And Sportsmen.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19271, 7 January 1931, Page 3

Sport And Sportsmen.

The Wellington “Dominion” says:— It would appear as if Canterbury is to be the champion cricket province of the Dominion this season, as it has now only Otago to meet, and, as the southerners have not won a match this season, it is hardly likely that they will be able to beat the strong Canterbury eleven.” The famous Belgrave Harriers’ walker. T. W. Green, holder of the London to Brighton record, has refused an offer to join Arthur Newton and P. Gavuzzi in professional athletic ventures in Canada and America. Newton is the holder of the 50 and 100 miles running records. He turned professional two years ago, and intends, with Gavuzzi, to open an athletic club in Montreal. They wanted Green to take charge of the walking section, and enter Canadian snowshoe races, long-distance walks, and the 500 miles walk. He is not prepared, however, to sacrifice his amateur status. Green is a railway employee at Eastleigh, Hants. The Wellington Swimming Centre is not satisfied with the schedule of events at the national championships to be held in Wanganui on Wednesday, , Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 4,5, 6 and 7, and it has decided to write to both the Wanganui Centre and the Wanganui Royal Life Saving Society pointing out that some hardship would be imposed on swimmers if they were called on to take part in life- | saving events at Castlecliff on Saturday and then in the championship races in the baths that night. As the programme is at present, the Kellerman Cup race is set down for Friday, and life saving for Saturday. It is suggested that the life saving might be held on Sunday. In any case the objection is to be brought to the Wanganui Centre’s attention. The “ Dunedin Star,” in an editorial on Otago’s exhibition in the Plunket Shield matches, says: “It was obvious even to the more inexperienced of cricket enthusiasts that there was something lacking in the leadership of the Otago team, especially during the period that Auckland was batting for the first time, and this has not been confined to the present game. It has been commented upon in the north, and while none will detract from the very fine services rendered to the game by Otago’s present captain in years past, in cricket, as in anything else, the time comes when there must be a change, and it is for the selectors to look about now in the hopes of finding a player with the qualifications necessary for the filling of the responsible position of captain. They should not have far to search. In Blunt and Dunning are to be found players of much experience, who might be expected to develop those essential qualities making for successful captaincy of a representative cricket side. We would go still further, and urge the selectors to drop more of the older players whose best cricketing days are over. They should follow the lead set in Canterbury, and concentrate on the building up of a team that in a season or two may be thoroughly fitted to make a bold bid for supremacy in the Plunket Shield competition.”