LONDON SPORTING LETTER

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 192, 14 August 1931, Page 7

LONDON SPORTING LETTER

Sad Shocks at Wimbledon, but Triumphs

at Stamford Bridge.

(Special to the “ Star.”) LONDON, July 9. Keen disappointment was again caused by the failure of the English players in the lawn tennis championships at Wimbledon. Up to the halfway stage the prospects were excellent. In each of the singles there were three representatives among the last eight, and yet not one of them got into the final. After his dramatic win against H. W. Austin, Frank Shields, the tall American, qualified for the final, and in this he should have met his fellow countryman, S. B. Woods. But Shields injured his knee, and scratched. In the circumstances, there was no deciding match, and Woods took tne title. The mishap to Shields was not serious, and under ordinary conditions there is not much doubt that he would have played. But he was officially not allowed to play, inasmuch as it was feared that his injury might be aggravated, and so be prevented from taking part in the Davis Cup final. The final of the women’s singles was an all-German event, and it was won by Fraulein Aussem, who beat Fraulein Krahwinkle in two straight sets. The public did not know how near this match, too, was to being abandoned. Fraulein Aussem played against her doctor’s advice, and Immediately it was over she went home, and is to undergo an abdominal operation. She will not be able to play any more this season. In the absence of Mrs Helen Wills Moody, Fraulein Aussem must now rank as the first woman player. She had defeated Miss Betty Nuthall :or the French Championship, and on the way to her success at Wimbledon she also accounted for Mme. Mathieu, the chief exponent of France. The men’s doubles were also secured for America by J. van Ryn and G. M. Lott, who beat the Frenchmen, H. Rochet and J. Brugnon, in a five-set natch. Though he showed some improvement, Cochet was still below his 3est. I think, however, that most of tiis trouble is due to lack of practice, md I shall be surprised if he does not show, when France defends the Davis Cup, that he is still the best player in tfie world. As a matter of fact, I believe France will retain the Cup chiefly through the ability of Cochet to win both his singles. (This proved correct).

of the track came striding gracefully, and with thrilling pace, over the hurdles in the British championship, forty thousand people took up the cry “Burghley! Burghley! Burghley! ” and he did not disappoint them. For the fifth year in succes-

England’s solitary success was in the women’s doubles, and it was achieved 3y Mrs Shepherd Barron and Miss Vludford, who beat a French girl, Mile. Metaxa and Mile. S/gart, of Belgium. I. G. Collins and Miss Joan Ridley reached the final of the mixed, but they lost to the American comDination, Lott and Mrs Harper. As is only natural, an “inquest” has Deen held on the English players, and definite conclusions have been arrived at. It is agreed that there has been a marked improvement in the all-round standard of play, but that both men and women have still to acquire the art of winning. They are not keen enough in going for the vital points. They are, in fact, fatally slack as compared with their rivals. They have all the essential strokes, but they do not use them to the same good purpose. Before they can hope to hold their own, especially against the all-out-to-win Americans, they must tighten up their game, concentrating closer, and learning to clinch an advantage when once it has been gained. Above all, they must cultivate “ the will to win.”

Triumphs in Athletics. Lord Burghley remains the hero of athletics. As this fair-haired favourite

sion, he won the high hurdles so finely that in his heat he equalled his own British record of 14 7-10 sec, and in the final beat the figures at 14 4-ssec. Half an hour after running in this race over 120 yards, Burghley came out again to attempt the double in the 440 yards hurdles. In this event he was opposed by the Italian champion, L. Facelli, who, in order to save himself, did not compete in the shorter race. Completely fresh, Facelli beat Burghley, but, as soon as he broke the j tape, he collapsed, and it was Burghley who first went to his assistance. As soon as he recovered from his temporary exhaustion, opened his eyes, and saw Burghley leaning over him, the Italian jumped to his feet and embraced his rival. Needless to say, this human and sporting touch made a big appeal to the vast crowd of spectators. It was a good day for British athletics. Success followed success. Dr Peltzer came from Germany to run in the 440 yards and half-mile races, but he is no longer the world-beater of five years ago. A young Army man, G. L. Rampling, took the quarter mile. He was challenged by the European champions for the distance, and he beat them all with remarkable ease. Only once before at the British championships had his time of 48 3-ssec been beaten. In the half-mile Peltzer stumbled near the start, and largely destroyed any chance he migTit have had. Again, an English youth, T. Hampson, won with surprising ease. It is believed that R. E. Thomas is the finest mile runner in the world, and he was not really extended, the margin in his favour being over thirty yards. The crowd, admiring his beautiful stride, urged him on in the hope that he might establish a fresh record, but he finished three seconds outside it. Still, his time of 4min 16 2-ssec on a gusty day, with no one to pull him out, represented a fine performance. English runners filled the first three places in the sprint, and a Glasgow University student, R. Murdock, gained the 220 yards. Altogether, the day offered great encouragement for the Olympic Games at Los Angeles next year. Two More Tests. A wonderful tribute has been paid to the New Zealand cricketers by the authorities at Lords in arranging two more test matches for them. They are to take place at the Oval and Old Trafford, Manchester. To fit these extra games in, an appeal had to be made to the Surrey and Lancashire Clubs to surrender their fixtures with the tourists. They readily agreed to this arrangement, and the M.C.C. were, of course, pleased to allocate the new tests to their grounds. This arrangement has given great satisfaction, but it is felt that even now

a mistake has been made. As in the case of the first test at Lords, which the New Zealanders drew so well, the matches are to be restricted to three days each. Under these conditions it is quite possible that both may be drawn, and it is strongly urged that, in event of the match at the Oval ending without a decision, that in Manchester ought to be played to a finish. I know that the New Zealanders would prefer this, though they are pleased and properly proud that they have proved themselves fit to be allotted two more tests.

The extra games will, of course, be extremely valuable to the selectors in their endeavour to build up the England team for next year’s visit to Australia. They will provide opportunities for trying . more young players. The Gentlemen versus Players match this summer is to serve this purpose, and many of the players who have taken part in it for- years have been dropped. Though the appointment has not been made, at the moment of writing, I think Sutcliffe will be the captain of the professional side, and he will have under him. apart from Hammond and Larwood, all young men with their spurs to win. It is specially notable that the bowling is to be left mainly to them, and the form of Verity, the slow left-hander of Yorkshire, Parks, of Worcestershire, and Mitchell, of Derbyshire, will be closely watched.