SPORT and SPORTSMEN

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 233, 1 October 1931, Page 13

SPORT and SPORTSMEN

'THE DUNEDIN Rugby Club, the oldest active Rugby club in the Dominion, celebrated its diamond jubilee on Tuesday. In its early stages Dunedin played two games of football a year, its opponents being the Union Club, which is still in existence. In 1877 the Dunedin Club, with two members of the Union Club, sent a team through New Zealand, playing matches at Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Temuka and Timaru, winning all of these, and drawing with Auckland. Not a point was scored against it. The oldest living member of the Dunedin Club is W. Mills. He joined in 1873, and was a member of the team that toured New Zealand. Before the season has gone far we should have C. S. Dempster and K. C. James back from the tour of England, and the confidence they have gained on their second pilgrimage to the home of cricket should enable them to give a lead to local batsmen in faster scoring (says the Wellington “Post”). With a possibility of Auckland being with us at Christmas time in a tilt for the Shield, and the certainty of Canterbury, the holders, playing the Shield match here at the New Year, it behoves local players to lose no time in getting down to serious preparation. Wellington are always slow in getting a start; Canterbury, though further south, usually have championship matches going before they are under way here. A little friendly diplomacy between the Cricket Association and the Football Association should enable an early start to be made with the preparation of the Basin Reserve for cricket.

A correspondent signing himself “ Old Timer ” ■writes to the “ Star ” as follows : As the cricket season is coming on, I have picked a possible world team which may start some arguments. I think that cricket has degenerated, because Hobbs, Woolley and Hearne, though getting old, are still quite able to hold their own. How would this do for a world test team: Trumper, MacLaren, Bradman, Ranjitsinhji, W. G. Grace, Macartney, Jackson, Armstrong, R. E. Foster, Spofforth and Faulkiner, allrotinders? Another eleven would be: Grace, Jackson, R. E. Foster, Armstrong, Macartney, Hirst, Rhodes, A. E. Trott, Noble, Giffen and Faulkiner. Here are eleven great bowlers: Spof- . forth, Turner, Howell, Peel, Richardson, Macdonald, Trumble, Barnes, Lockwood, J. W. Hearne and Ferris. The unusual position of a mother and daughter tying in a stroke handicap golf competition occurred at Harewood links yesterday during the North Canterbury women’s tournament, the pair being Mrs Fleetwood and her daughter, Miss E. Fleetwood. Though their handicaps- were very different, both players finished the round with similar net scores, and a play-off was required. This was won by Miss Fleetwood.

At the meeting of the Canterbury Athletic Club last evening a member asked what had happened to the Daniels Cup. The chairman (Mr C. H. Taylor, jun.) replied that the cup was again in the possession of the club. It had been missing for some time, and the Technical Club moved a vote of censure on the centre for holding a race for a trophy that was not in its possession. “ The day after that was reported in the papers I found a parcel on the counter in my shop,” said the chairman. “It was the Daniels Cup.” Boxing Tearn for Wellington. The offer of the Christchurch Sports Club to send a team of amateur boxers to contest the interprovincial tournament at Wellington has been accepted by the Wellington Boxing Association, which has suggested that the tournev be held on Tuesday, October 20, anil that the contests be either three threeminute rounds or four or five of two minutes. The Match Committee of the Christchurch Sports Club is now considering the personnel of the team to represent Canterbury, which will be announced during the next few days. The 1^ st , l i n 6 1 rprovincial tourna ment between Wellington and Canterbury, contested at Christchurch last year, was won by Canterbury, with four wins against the visitors' three. Matters in connection with this tournament will be completed at a meeting of the committee next Tuesday evening. Wrestling Boat. Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, September 30. In a wrestling contest here this evening Billy Meesk’e defeated King Elliot by two falls to one.

Cycling Notes. In spite of the wet weather last Saturday, both the big amateur and cash fixtures were a great success, the trying conditions giving the riders a taste of real road racing conditions. Of the starters in both races, only a small percentage finished, the hardy and welltrained ones coming through with flying colours. The handicapping was upset by withdrawals and the stronger riders were prominent. N. H. Steele, Leeston, the winner of the seventy-mile cash event, is a strong rider. Although Steele is practically a newcomer to the sport, he performed remarkably well. He caught up with the leaders just before Southbridge was reached, and won the sprint at that town. Steele’s previous racing experience was gained in unregistered races at Lyttelton and Sumner. On his showing on Saturday, Steele should shape well in the Waimate race. P. Dawson, second place, rode a splendid race from start to finish. In company with Steele, he disposed of all the leaders. Dawson lost the race in a close finish with Steele. Since his arrival in New Zealand from Australia about three years ago, Dawson has met with little success, but he now appears to have struck form. The smin men, W. J. Lamberton, H. J. Crofts, W. K. Weir and G. Mugford, were a good bunch, and when Watson announced his intention of not starting it was apparent that L. W. Hill and R. S. Weir, riding from the sci'atch mark, would have their work cut out to gain championship honours. In view of the -fact that the scratch mark was weakened it was not surprising that the fastest time should be won by a smin rider. The unfortunate spill which occurred close to the finish robbed the race of a certain amount of interest. W. J. Lamberton, Mairehau seventy-mile road champion, was lucky in securing the honour, for when Weir and Crofts fell he was some distance in the rear. Lamberton, however, is a splendid road rider and is to be congratulated on securing his first blue ribbon in the cash ranks.

The Waimate to Christchurch race takes place next Saturday and, as in the past, the event has attracted the largest entry for a road race for the season, 94 riders having nominated. Only two entries were received from the North Island, these being from New Plymouth—R. D. Sole, the winner of the Round the Mountain race last year, and N. H. Bellringer, who gained fastest time in the same race in 1928 off the 10min mark. The South Island entry is the most representative for some time and the race promises to be one of the most successful conducted by the North Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Athletic and Cycling Union. The oldest competitor is D. J. Wilson, Waimate, whose last performances date back to 1909. This rider is 51 years of age and has been placed on the lOOmin mark. The race for fastest time honours, the New Zealand road championship, should prove an interesting one, as seven riders have been placed on the scratch mark. Only three of these riders, H. G. Watson, L. W. Hill and G. Mugford, have performed well over a distance. H. G Watson’s record being by far the best. In 1923, Watson won the Timaru to Christchurch race off 34min, in 192.7 he gained fastest time, and he also won the fastest time honours in 1930. Two years ago Watson rode exceptionally well in the Dunlop Grand Prix, a race of nearly 600 miles, in Australia, and also was a member of the Australasian Tour de France team, in which race he performed creditably. L. W. Hill has also ridden well in long-distance races and has been close up on several occasions. It is in the shorter distances that he has been prominent and he has performed exceptionally well over 50 miles. G. Mugford, Aylesbury, won the Timaru to Christchurch race in 1929 and, last year, he finished sixth in the Waimate to Christchurch race. With the exception of these performances Mugford has done little else to justify his inclusion amongst the scratch men. He can, however, be depended on to g(ve a good account of himself. Last year, H. J. Crofts rode off the 25min mark and two years previously he rode into a place in the Timaru to Christchurch race. Recent performances have gradually brought Crofts back to the scratch mark and he will start a fit man. His track sprinting experience should stand him in good stead at the finish of the big race, and it will not be surprising to see him in the running for championship

The ex-amateur, W. J. Lamberton, has been riding well this season off the scratch mark. Last year, he rode well in the Waimate race. In his first ap- ! pearance as a cash rider last year he , won the fifty mile Rakaia race and, last week, he won the seventy mile championship. R. S. Weir, who is a doubtful starter, ■ has shown outstanding form in recent big road events and his performances have justified his inclusion on the scratch mark. W. K. Weir’s performances have also been good this season, although not up to the standard of his brother’s. He should give a good accdunt of himself. Four good riders occupy the 20min mark: A. A. Mnrwood, C. W. Preen, U. Turtill and A. N. Ralston. A. A. Morwood has the best record over a distance. In the big race of 1927, Morwood had the unique distinction of puncturing his tyre, mending it, and then winning the race. He rode off the 16min mark. If h© can strike form, Morwood should ride well. C. W. Preen, A. N. Ralston and H. Turtill have great records as riders, but have yet to prove themselves over a distance. Turtill has not previously raced over a distance of twenty-five The twenty-five-minute men are a solid bunch and, with ordinary luck, should be well up at the finish. The two North Island riders, R. D. Sole and N. H. Bellringer, of New Plymouth, have both ridden well in the Round the Mountain race, having gained first place and fastest time respectively. White, Ellis and Arnst go to make up a particularly strong combination.

C. A. Blyth has been mentioned as a likely winner of the Waimate to Christchurch race. Last year, Blyth started in the Waimate race off 52min and punctured when in a good position, but he ultimately finished thirteenth. With ordinary luck Blyth should be well up at the finish. J. G. Stack, Kaikoura, is reported to have a good winning chance. His road performances up to the present have not been impressive. The Mayor of Waimate, Mr George Dash, will despatch the first bunch of riders in the Waimate to Christchurch race. Milk stations have been arranged at Timaru, Rangitata. Ashburton and Dunsandel. Riders will be checked through Timaru, Geraldine. Ashburton, Rakaia and Dunsandel. Secret checks have also been arranged at intervals on the road. The prizes will be presented at the Canterbury Automobile Association’s rooms, Worcester Street, on the night of the race by the Mayor. Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P. The Rudge Whitworth Cup and the blue ribbon will be presented at the Show Grounds. The art union for an oil painting which is being conducted for the funds of the race will be drawn at the prize-giving. Chocolate will be distributed to all competitors ip the race, through the generosity of Messrs Aulsebrook and Co. One issue will be given at Waimate and the other at Ashburton. Special arrangements have beten made with the railway authorities for riders to travel to Waimate by the 12.25 p.m. train to-morrow. Special accommodation has been made for the riders’ cycles. The “ Round the Gorges ” race, of 100 miles, was a very severe contest and the young riders were put to a hard test. Jt was surprising that the young competitors came through the ordeal as well as they did. Even experienced riders found the cold too much for them and were unable to go on with the race. As a rule in long distance races when the weather conditions are unfavourable, the baekmarkers triumph. On Saturday, however, the riders on long marks filled ; the first four places G. W. Brett (18 min) being the first baekmarker to finish. With the Dunedin rider. D. O’Brien (Bmin) filling seventh place. Frank Grose, who had won the championship three times in succession, did not ride as well as was anticipated. He found the cold so bad that he was off his machine at one stage and walking.

W. F. Wilcockson, fastest time, is to be congratulated on his splendid performance. Left by his co-markers and almost on the point of giving up the race, Wilcockson made a great recovery and, riding unpaced, passed the scratch men to go on and secure fastest time honours by 2min llsec from O’Brien. J. L. Richards finished seven minutes and a half behind Wilcockson. Wilcockson. who made a late start on the road this season, has been performing well and has secured fastest time honours on several occasions. To wrest the championship from Grose in 4hr 49min was a splendid performance. B. Parkin, the winner, rode with excellent judgment. He teamed with D. Shaw, who was off the same mark, and took matters steadily from the start. Parkin made his attempt over the last thirty miles and left his co-marker twenty miles from the finish, to cross the line over two minutes ahead of him. Parkin’s performance for a sixteen-year-old boy was a remarkable one. A. C. Hands, the veteran of the race, rode a game race. He has staged a great come-back. Last year Hands rode in the race, but the conditions were not hard enough for him and he finished well back. J. F. M’Grath, third place, is a young performer; he also rode several miles unpaced. M’Grath has nominated for the Waimate to Christchurch event, and it will be interesting to see how he shanes. *: A race for novice riders will be held at the Show Grounds on Saturday, starting at 1.30 p.m. This event will be held prior to the motor-cycle gymkhana. The Paparua Cycling Club will hold a road race on October 10. • The event will start and finish at the .Islington Hotel and the first man will be despatched at 2.30 p.m. The club will hold a race the following week, starting at the Riccarton Racecourse. t: FIXTURES. October 3—Waimate to Christchurch road race. October 3—Novice race. Show Grounds. October 10—Paparua Club’s road race. October 17—Paparua Club’s road race. October 24—Round the Mouiftain Race. October 26—Southbridge Sports. October 26—Ashburton Sports.