SCRAP BOOK JOTTINGS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 252, 23 October 1937, Page 4

SCRAP BOOK JOTTINGS

INTERESTING NEWS ITEMS

The Dreaded "Duck.” With the dreaded duck, W. A. (Bill) Brown, Australian Test and Shield batsman, began the season dismally with Queensland Colts, of which he is captain. The next Saturday he made 17. That day Stan McCabe, in Sydney, rattled up 124 in 93 minutes. His time is probably flattering, for Sydney Club grounds are on the small side. Swimmer Turns Professional.

Miss Rita Mastenbrock, the famous Dutch swimmer, who won the 100 and 400 metres free-style events in the Olympic Games at Berlin last year, and who is the world record holder for the 100 and 400 metres backstroke is to turn professional. She is to become swimming instructress at a swimming school near Amsterdam, to teach the young something of her wizardry. According to the rules of the Dutch Federation, she automatically loses her status as an amateur. Holland will thus lose her most famous of many famous women swimmers. Ambrose Palmer.

Ambrose Palmer, retired light-heavy and heavyweight champion of Australia, recently denied a report that American boxing promoters were sounding him concerning the possibility of a trip to the States. Palmer said that no offer from America had reached him recently. Although he has been out of the boxing ring for nearly two years, Palmer would not admit that his retirement decision was irrevocable. At present he had no intention of returning. Palmer celebrated his 26th. birthday on September 19. During the season just closed he played football with the Footscray senior League team. Budge and Mako.

The news that Donald Budge and Gene Mako, Wimbledon champions, will be coming to Australia is heartening, says the Sydney Referee. Possibly Frank Parker, another ranked American, will also make the trip. The Americans leave Los Angeles on November 10, and will arrive in Sydney on November 29. They will stayin Australia till February 4. The fact that the visitors will make only four appearances does not come as a shock considering the amount of tennis they have had within the last eight months. After a very strenous European tour they have just completed the American national championships. The Americans will appear in the Australian championships, Victorian championships, and two international matches. Tennis Romances.

Cupid is scoring many love sets in the tennis world these days. Abroad, Miss D. Round, the existing world's champion, has recently married and, as Mrs. Little, leads the list of women’s rankings. The volatile Chilean star, Senorita Lizana, would also be married by now—if she had her way—but parental insistence has resulted in her and her finance, Mr. Ronald Ellis, postponing the happy event till next year. In Sydney Miss Rene Chalmers was recently married, and is now Mrs. L. Menzies. Miss Peg Menzies, who for many years has been one of the New South Wales leading lady players, is the latest to join the band of newlyweds, and is now Mrs. R. Walton. The latest romantic news is the engagement of the charming Miss Edna McColl, to Mr. D. Bain, of Melbourne. Miss McColl has figured prominently in many tournaments, and play's an attractive dashing game. Hearty congratulations and best wishes to all these people. All-round Athlete. 11. G. Owen-Smith, whose name is frequently mentioned in cricketing cable messages, is considered the greatest all-rounder seen in England so far this century. Owen-Smith is a South African living in England. He was responsible for one of the best bowling feats of the season, besides finishing with a splendid bowling and batting average. Against Surrey his figures for the first innings were five for 52, but he had one amazing spell, when he took the five wickets with 11 balls without a run being hit off him. The chief factor in his success was the great pace at which his leg breaks came off the pitch. Apart from his cricket, at which he has represented South Africa, Middlesex, Oxford University and the Gentlemen, he has captained England at Rugby, was goal-keeper for the English Hospital Soccer cup-ties, has boxed for Oxford against Cambridge, plays golf and hockey and works hard at St. Mary’s Hospital.

L.B.W. Rule. The new rule regarding leg-befor» in cricket is no longer an experiment. It is now embodied in the rules of the game and affects all grades of cricket in New Zealand and elsewhere. Jr Speedway Rider Weds. The Australian speedway cyclist, van Praag, married at the Hendon registry oilice recently, Gwen Hipkins, 25, a Clapham dressmaker. They left last week for Australia on their honeymoon. The Empire Eights. With England, Canada, New Zealand and Australia competing in the eights at the Empire Games it should be one of the main sporting events, says a Sydney rowing critic. Unfortunately it is set down for a Wednesday afternoon For a Purse of £lOOO. Henry Cotton, British open golf champion, has been invited to go to the United SUtes to play Ralph Guldahl, the United States open champion, for a purse of £lOOO, put up by a Texas millionaire. Cotton may go if the stake is increased to £5OOO. Victorian High Jump Record. The council of tne Victorian Amateur Athletic Association has decided to grant the application of J. P. Melicalle for recognition as a record of his high jump of 6ft. 5 11-Ts inches, made at the Victorian Centenary International challenge meet on the Melbourne Cricket Ground on January 26, 1935. Girl Swimmer of 17. England has developed a magnificent swimmer in 17-year-old Margaret Jeffrey, of Croydon, who has, within a few months, jumped into world class as a middle-distance performer. If she visits Australia for the Empire Games in February, Miss Jeffrey will prove a wonderful attraction in her struggle with the Western Australian stars, Dorothy Green and Evelyn De Lacy, in the 440 yards title event. Hammer Throw Records. All hammer-throwing records were broken by Dr. P. O’Callagh. ■„ the Irish Olympic representative at the Cork County Championships in Ireland last August. He threw the 161 b. hammer 196 ft., which is 6ft. 5Mn. better than the world record made by P Ryan, of the United States, in 1913. ‘ N.Z. Golf Shield at Burhill. Playing brilliantly in a rainstoriW' G. H. Coley, with rounds of 77 and 7i? recently won the Burhill Golf Club's annual competition in England for the New Zealand Shield, presented in memory of the time spent there by New Zealand troops during the war. J. IV. Dodd, 151, and E. W. Carter, 151, tied for second place.

Empire Games Diving. Mr. J. S. W. Eve. honorary organising secretary of the Empire Games, 1938, has announced that the new.yanended regulations of the International Diving Committee, wnich ara to operate as from January 1, 19; i, will apply to the diving competitions at the British Empire Games in Sydney in February.

Galleries at Golf. Galleries at golf matches usually retard rather than assist players. However, responding at the presentation after winning one of the five open championships he has collected, Ivo Whitton said: “I commiserate with the piofessional who was beaten by me by a stroke. He had no gallery. There ) were hundreds in mine and at each green they were a perfect wind-screen, making putting comparatively easy. I have no doubt that if he had had th« gallery and I hadn't, the result woulc have been different.” Grafton School Soccer. A splendid record in soccer football was secured by the Grafton School during the season just ended. The school s senior team won the Victoria Park group championship and the Auckland knock-out championship. The junior te a had even greater success. In addition to winning both the Victoria Park and Auckland group championships, it was successful in the Victoria Park and Auckland knockout competitions. The school was also honoured by having four of its pupils chosen for the Auckland primary schools’ soccer representative team.

Jarvis for Royal Air Force. Mr J. H. Jarvis, of Auckland, formerly of Dunedin, has received advice from the headquarters of the New K Zealand Air Force that h' second son, Sidney, has been accepted for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force, subject to the consent of his parents. This has been cabled. Sidney Jarvis is well known in swimming circles. He holds the New Zealand records for 50 yards, 100 yards and 220 yards junior free style events, and two years ago he won the 100 yards, 220 yards and 440 yards New Zealand intermediate championships at Hamilton. Japanese Athletes. Owing to the hostilities oetween China and Japan it was unlikely that the two brilliant Japanese athletes, Kenshl Togami, jumper, and Kohei Murakoso, distanct runner, would be heard of on the athletic field again, stated Mr. H. L. Towers, president of the Auckland Amateur Athletic Centre, at the annual meeting of the centre. Mr. Cowers said that Togami was now in the Japanese Army and might not be heard of for two years. Murakoso. although he said that he was going to throw away his shoes after his New Zealand tour, ran 10,000 metres in 30min. 39 4-ssec., the best time for that distance registered last ' year, shortly after his return to Japan, added Mr Towers, but he, too, was likely to be lost to athletics in the .struggle now being waged.