SPORTS AND PASTIMES

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14737, 31 August 1921, Page 9

SPORTS AND PASTIMES

| SPORTING. -f RACING FIXTURES. ; -jaugußt 31 —Egrnont-Wanganui Hunt SJ Club. September '3—North Taranaki Hunt CliiOi *>mker 7—Marton Jockey Cluh* '~;aer 10 —Rangitikei Hunt Club. Qper 17 —Manawatu Hunt Club. -£>§r 17 —Pakuranga Hunt Club. Jber 22, 24 —Wanganui Jockey tub. I :'jber 24, 26 —Avondale Jockey 1 tub. i aber 26, 27=-:Otaki-Maori Racing I .ilub. iWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. quirer," Hamilton. Sasanof is'* •>oked on as a certain starter in the iVondale Cup. A. Oliver is reported a have the mount. Ceding," Hamilton. —Admiral Codngton is a chestnut gelding by eley—Ransyl. He won three aces on end last season JOTTINGS. , ..f A : Says the Sydney Morning Herald: — h is a oommon occurrence for a rider:ss horse to accompany the field -hroughout a race, but it is unusual % such an animal to pass the winning : &i ffest without causing interference. I August 11, at Menangle Park, . ibercfahtow lost his rider soon after M atari' of the Park Handicap. The 1 "ding, however, kept with the field, f was a couple of lengths in front jga toe judge's box was passed. ire Eater won so ifS-pressively in '; rsnfleld Steeples, at the National that he is already being men•i a likely sort for next year's National Steeplechase. Some it Tigerland is a more likely

. ihn McTaggart, who died sud- ; ,; this week at Christchurch, took "great interest in trotting, and on the ime of his death was part-owner of ■he successful pacer Paul Dufauit, %io, during the past two seasons, has ■jed in the interest of Messrs Yates J McTaggart, and won in stakes =..090 Paul Dufauit is a brilliant acer, and was acquired by his present owners for the ridiculous sum of

29. ' Mr W. S. Hickenbotham, the veteran Flemington trainer, who retired from I active work recently, has been paid a I unique compliment by the V.R.C. Mr I Hickenbotham has been granted an I honorary trainer's badge for life, in I the letter accompaning the gift, \ reference is made to the recipient's I honourable conduct throughout an exl tended training career, and the hope ■ was expressed that Mr Hickenbotham I would be long permitted to use the ; badge. , When Waimai entered the birdcage t prior to running in the Grand National Steeplechase he looked so bright and

J well that many who remembered his \ excellent form over 1 Riccarton country j r under big weights supported him as i one carrying a good outside chance • (says "Sentinel" in the Otago Times). I He ran a great race, but, unfortu-' f nately, when on the threshold of vic--1 tory,.he slipped upon landing over the ! last fence when well clear of Coalition,, I who had been under pressure a long | way from home. In fact, a sporting f soribe who knows what he Is talking i about, and who had taken up a posi--1 tJon at that end of the course, states I ■-*£** Waimai was going away from 1 Caaltion as they raced to the last I Jump. The English cable service sent out a I very*i wrong impression of the two | cafflsons administered to Gray in the | Old Country. The cable studiously | conveyed the idea that the New Zea- | lander got into serious trouble, but | news by the last mail makes it pretty I clear' that both-matters were trivial. One caution was for failing to ride out a green youngster, who had no chance by-the time he could be got going, and the other was for striking his mount after passing the winning post. There i are two winnings posts on the course;

they are fairly close to each other, and Gray, a stranger to the course, 'ode for the wrong post. Gray was .dvlsed afterwards that the cautioning ' vas to be regarded as purely formal,

aid that what he had done was not looked on in any serious light. John Doyle, an old-time jockey, whose death occurred at Stetchworth

(England) shortly before the last mail left, was born in Manchester in 1844, and was apprenticed to Mr John Foubert.'the trainer'of Flying Dutchman. During his. career Doyle rode many notable winners, including Tattoo in the Portland Plate in 1860, Joey Jones In the Northumberland Plate in 1861, 'Tim "Whiffler in the Chester Cup in 1862, Ace of Clubs in the Chesterfield Cup in 18C3, and La Toucqucs in the French Derby. Oaks and Grand Prize at Baden Baden 'in 1563. •

Reports state that Coalition has run ills last race, and is to be retired with his recent honours "thick upon him. His owner thinks that it would be impossible to give him a proper preparation for another National, and by this means a racing one, so the Patronus (gelding is to go into permanent retire•ajent. Many writers have credited Mr Rididford with wishing to send Coalition Home to contest the Liverpool Grand National, but nothing was further from the mind of the Wellington Sportsman, as he fully appreciates the difiloulties to be encountered in sued an undertaking. While at full gallop at Winslow '(Viotoria) recently a horse named Quicksilver jumped a fence, separating the crowd of spectators from the course, and landed on the radiator of a motor-car. The jockey was flung through the air on the seat of another car, the horse fell sideways into and smashed the window screen of a second car, and then on to the stepof a third. After this he sot up and cantered to the paddock. Stupidity, a fwo-ycat'-old half-sister to the New Zealand-owned sire Absurd, won the Great Surrey Foal Siak.es at the Epsom summer meeting, and she is looked upon, as something above the ordinary. Stupidity is returned as by Polymelus or Sunstar, but, according to certain data bearing on the date of her foaling, she can, it is stated, be safely included among the progeny of Sunstar.

• In addition to having a battle in fetors over the Racing Commission's report, Parliament wil! be asked to 'consider an amendment to the Gaming Act which provides for legalisation of bnokmaking en racecourses. It is understood that 'fie proposed amendment to the Gaming- Act will provide for ,£-?,rtfn.iual liflUyfag fee of £2OO, payftMrC-to the Government Treasury. : JTh c bookmakers arc 'o fc» licensed by Stile Government urlir (fee supervision of the Police De'.r.rtrr.c-r.t. A fee will also be. paid tc .ht various clubs for the privileges of bo'~.f:ig on a racecourse, aiui ft is alio proposed that each 'fen licensed by the Government. wi!! have to find a guarantee as to his

financial position. A good deal of sympathy is being worked up in favour of the scheme, which will, it Is claimed, received more favourable consideration from Parliament than is generally believed. The English-bred horse Ethiopian opened his third season in Australia in a taking manner at Caulficld on August 6th, when he won the Malakoff Stakes, a weight-for-age race, run over a mile and a furlong. Ethiopian, who was imported ,from England to Melbourne by-Messrs A. and O. Tye, was sent up to auction in the spring of 1918, when he fell to the bid of the ex-New Zealander, Mr W. Riordan, at 500 guineas, and he has proved an excellent speculation, the Cantaia Stakes of £IOOO being among his captures last season. The English horse is engaged in the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, Sst 51b being down against h'is name in the first-named event, and Bst 61b. in the latter. Ethiopian, who was got v by Dark Ronald from Zobeyde, a daughter ot St. Simon, can boast of a high-class pedigree, and he is credited with possessing a final run of a particularly brilliant order. FOOTBALL. THE LEAGUE CODE. THE SOUTH AUCKLAND TEAM. "Verax" has received a letter containing a criticism of the thirteen who did battle here for South Auckland against Auckland. As the communication comes from one who has represented two provinces in big Rugby football, but who is now an ardent follower of the League code .the criticism is given in full. Dufty (full back) is probably worth his place as a goal-kicker, and has thehappy knack of retrieving mistakes. His taking of the ball left a lot to be desired.

Paki (wing three-quarter) is good enough for any team. His work is always heady. ( Hemingway (centre) is too much inclined to go on his own, but a brilliant player withal. He should remember that solo work does not win matches.

Johnson (wing three-quarter) was starved for work throughout the match, with very little opportunity of shining.

Stewart (outside five-eighth )ys a tricky player who will reach big lootball. 'He has a nice side-step, and should be played inside five-eighth. He has the failing of passing too soon when on attack.

Jackson (inside five-eighth) is very fast, and a Trojan for work, but he runs towards the touch lines too much instead of occasionally trying a cut-in. He has the same failing as Stewart, inasmuch as he passes before actually getting up to his man. A mere boy yet who will reach big football.

Wilson-Hall (half) is a shrewd head, and oan be depended on to do the right thing at the right time.. He is a very unselfish player, and good to watch.

The same writer, dealing with the forwards, says:—? Sheeran is one who plays a hard game, and does not shirk the hard toll. He is a little too much inclined to show over-eagerness. Meehan is one of the honest sort, and well worth his place in the team. Neill threw away opportunities against Auckland,' and has a lot to learn, mostly the necessity of using his head always when attacking. He is full of vim, but irresponsible when giving a pass. . '.

Bishop is a grafter from start to finish, but needs some tuition in playing heady football.

Bass is always in the limelight where attacking, and a sure tackier. He seems to dodge scrum work, however. Probably the most experienced player in the team. "Tut" Wilson (captain) is probably the most versatile player in the team. He can occupy- any position, and is a happy selection as leader,of the side. Making reference to refereeing my correspondent holds that the advantage rule was on many occasions overlooked, and the game became somewhat, cramped in consequence. It is hard, he admits, for referees to get out of the habit of blowing immediately a breach has be.en committed, but one of the- chief attractions o£ the League code is this self-same rule, properly interpreted, and the sooner referees become competent to act up to the rule the sooner will the code become popular. •GOLF. (By "x\ : ibliek.") The many competitions which have lately been in progress at St. Andrews' are now approaching the stages. 01 finality. The principal • competitions have, of course, been the club championships. The results so far in the senior competition arc follows:-—N. Bell beat: C. F. Bond; beat J. Porneroy.; E. t. Tate beat 0. S. Ellis; White-Parsons beat H. T. Gillies. Sell beat Simpson in the semi-final,/ and will therefore meet the vyinner 01 Tale v. While-Parsons in the final. In the juior championship R..Whitten beat W. J. King; F. Loughlin beat A. E. Robinson; H. Varney beat E. Cox; W. P. Gray beat H. A. B. Brabant, in the semi-finals Whittcn beat Loughlin; Gray beat Varney. The final now remains to be played between Whilten and Gray. The senior handicap match play competition was won by L. Hemery, who beat 0. S. Ellis. The junior branch of this competition is not yet finished, the result lying between the winner of T. P. Walshe and A. E. VVel.ib, who will meet P. G. Russell in Hie final.

Mr B. J. Mcßeth's trophy, which was offered for competition among me junior players was won by D. Gerrand, who heat G. Wilkes in a play-off, they having previously tied for second position. Webb, the virtual winner, was disqualified for a breach. The law professional tournament has been won by L. Hemery, who heat T. P. Walshe in the final.

The medal competition, run in competition with the qualifying rounds of the championship, was won by It. Whitten. who returned a nett card ol

The bogey competition, held last Saturday, was won by A. E. Robinson, whose card showed 5 up on bogey. 'l'he club championship has produced some good play, and some surprises. In the first place J. Horton failed to qualify, while T. Simpson and .1. Pomeroy made their first appearance, among the qualifying ones. It is now a foregone conclusion that the club will/ have a new champion. Both C. F. Bond and H. T, Gillies, the only players competing, who have pre-*-viously held the championship, are now out of the competition. White-

Parsons has been playing a steady game, and it is quite possible that he may be seen in the final with N. Bell. The ionloy championship has brought w light some talent among the first-year players. Both R. Whitten and A. K. Robinson are first year players, who have done remarkably well. On recent play it would appear as if R. Wbitten must win this competition. The motor inower has now been repaired and thoroughly overhauled, and Is again working on the course. There it no doubt tHijt the course has shown some tendency to go back since the motor has buen out of commission. It will be interesting to notice whether the course wltt improve with the use of the motor fijom now onwards. Club tournaments arc tho order ot the day. Programmes have been sent out from Natter, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Ghristohurch, and Hamilton. All these clubs are holding tournaments during I lie next four or five weeks. The Chrislchurch tournament will be the New Zealand Championship meeting. That will commence on October 15, and continue for one week. Several of the local players have already staled their intention of travelling south for the principal fixture.

The south Auckland tournament will be held at St. Andrew's on September -26, 27, 28, and 29. The various items are:—South Auckland Championship, Waikato Championship, 18-Hole Medal Handicap, 18-Holc Medal Handicap, 18-Hole Medal Handicap, 18-Hole Pairs Best Ball Handicap, 18-Hole Bogey Handicap, 18Hole Medal'Handicap, 18-Hole Bogey Handicap, 18-Hole Pairs Best Bail Handicap. Entries close with the sectary, Mr A. E. Webb, at Hamilton, by September 24. ■,

In the final of the Cambridge championships on Saturday N. Banks beat A. H. Nicoll by 5 up and 4 to play. Banks early established a lead of 5 up, but the lowest his opponent could reduce it to was 2. The champion reached the final twice previously, to be beaten by R. Muir, and, later, his brother, J. Banks. J ! 1 i *. CRICKET. THE AUSTRALIANS ABROAD. LIST OF CENTURY-MAKERS. (By "Cover Point.") " The following Australians have scored centuries over the present tour of England:— 177 —Macartney v. Leicestershire,. 100 —Bardslcy v. Leicestershire. . ; 162 —Collins v. Surrey. 104 (not out) —Gregory v. Yorkshire. 132—Bardsley v. The Services. 105—Bardsley v. M.C.C. 146—Pellew v. Cambridge. 132—Bardsley v. Gloucester. 14!)—Macartney v. Gloucester. 200—Bardsley v. Hampshire. ios—Macartney v. Hampshire. 3 4 s—Taylor v. Hampshire. 101 —Gregory v. Surrey. 193 —Macartney v. Northampton 107 —Gregory v. Northamp'on. 345—Macartney v. Nottingham. . 100 —Pellew v. Nottingham. 117 —Armstrong v. Warwickshire. 115 —Macartney v. England (thlvd

Test). 129—Ryder v. West Scotland. 113—Collins v. Scotland (2nd match) 120—Andrews v Scotland (2nd match) 119 —Collins v. Essex. 122—Bardsley v. South Walee. 124—Bardsley v. Lancashire. 155—Macartney v. Kent. 102 —Armstrong.v. Kent. 157 (not out) —Mayne v. Kent. 127—Bardsley v. Gloucester. 121—Macartney v. Gloucester. 101—Collins v. Somerset. 124 (not out) —Ryder v. Somerset.

British Hundreds. British players who have scored centuries are:—■ 107—H. Ashton (Cambridge). 129—C. P. Mead (Hampshire). 147 —Kerr (Scotland). 101 —A. C. Russell—Fourth Test. 182 (not out) —C. P. Mead—Fifth Test. 101 (not out) —A. C. Russell —Fifth Test FUN AT THE BOWLINQ CREASE. Many quaint and amusing incidents have marked the cricketing career of Lord Harris, treasurer of the M.G.G.. and the moving spirit in Kent cricket for half a century. Some of the best stories concern funny umpires. He tells of one old county player who was umpiring in a match in which a well-known amateur, while batting continually got out of his ground in order to tempt the. tieJd to throw at the wicket. At last one did, and hit the slumps. "Not out!" was the decision. At the end of the over the umpire went up to the batsman and whispered, "You really must be more careful, sir; you were clean out that time!" Fuller Pilch, who, until W. G. Grace's, time, was perhaps the finest batsman the game had produced, acted as umpire in his later days. "I have played when he was umpiring," writes Lord Harris, "and remember that he was seriously affected by hio-coughs. The following'might not infrequently ,be heard: "How's that, ,Fulie!rr' (Hiccough). 'Cuss that ginger b.ecr! Not out!"

"W.G." made great use of his legs to protect his wicket —so much so that unfortunate umpires were being grumbled at constantly cither by bowlers for not giving him out, or by the batsman for being given out, for "W.G." had no hesitation in expressing his frank opinion about any decision.

The famous bowler, J. C. Shaw, who remarked once, referring to the "G.0.M.": "I Puts the ball where I likes, and that beggar puts it where he likes," was constantly appealing to Heaven —as he failed in Ills appeal to the umpire—that, lie had got him legbafore. "W. G." would remonstrate: "Didn't pitch straight by half an inch."

A well-known cricket character of that time was Harry Jupp, who used to play for Surrey. Jupp was a stolid person without a vestige of humour. One cloy, however, he had the laugh of C. I. Thornton, the Kent and Middlesex "smiter." The latter was fielding at short-leg after an interval was bowled to Jupp. It was a leg ball, but "Juppy" merely looked round. "Why didn't you hit it, 'Jupp'."" some asked. '"Cos i thought Mr Thornton hadn't finished his apricot," was the reply. "One Middlesex amateur," Lord Harris writes, in "A Few Short, nuns" (Murray), "always had some excuse for getting out. Once, having been bowled by a plajn ball on a perfect pitch in good light, his friends remarked, 'Well, T can have no excuse this time.' On inquiry, however, the batsman said that a "great glaring butterfly had flown across the line of sight just as the ball was delivered!"

"On another occasion, having been bowled, he shrugged his shoulders and said, 'What was the good of my trying to play? I could see that ass So-and-so (his partner at the other wicket) wasn't ready to run." Lord Harris has played cricket m all parts of the world, and tells a story of ;i match in India. A Parse?, batsman wis dismissed without scoring. He

retired, put on a different dress, tied a handkerchief round his head to prevent 'identification, and presented himself at the wicket again. He then made a big score and won the match. The ruse, however, became known, and the Bombay Gazette remarked, "If everything is fair in love, why should it not be so in cricket as well?"

HERE AND THERE. W. Bardsley and C. G. Macartney are having a contest all on their' own for first place in the batting averages of vhe Australian Eleven. Bardsley is now the favourite. Gloucestershire county, which the Australians accounted for so handsomely during the week, is not a strong side. In fact, it is very weak. A couple of fairly strong teams yet to be pitted against Australia will be the English XI. and Sussex. The former game, to be played at Eastbourne; begins to-day. Mailey's performance in capturing the whole ten wickets for 66 runs in the second innings by Gloucestershire stands among the high-class bowling successes of first-grade cricket. W. P. Howell accomplished it during his first game in England? against Surrey, at the Oval in 1899. Another notable bowling feat in big cricket was that in which J. T. Hearne, in the second innings of Australians v. M.C.C. and Ground, at Lords, in June, 1896, took all nine wickets which fell, George Giffen being absent. In the first innings he had obtained four wickets for 4 runs, and with Pougher, had dismissed the side for 18. A W. Carr, of Nottinghamshire, who was' selected for the English cricket team which the M.C.C. proposed to send to New Zealand, but which the New Zeajpnd Cricket Council declined to receive, as not being sufficiently strong to be a good "draw," knocked up 204 runs against Essex a few weeks ago. A bearded, picturesque Indian, wearing a white turban, turned out for the Sussex County cricket team in a match with Oxford University a few weeks ago. He was H. S. Malik, who had also appeared for Sussex in 1914, and who was well-known in English golf at one time as an Oxford University player. A remarkable uphill innings was plaved by one young cricketer in the annual match between Winchester College and Eton recently. Winchester was dismissed in its first innings Tor 57 runs, to which Eton replied with 255. In Winchester's second innings, though J. L. Guise hit with great freedom all round the wicket, and scored 278'before he was run out. Winchester's total for that innings was 381. However,'Eton lost only three wickets in scoring the 184 runs needed for a win.

Commenting on C. G. Macartney's score of 34 5 runs against Nottinghamshire, nn English paper says that the Australian played wonderful cricket. He drove, cut, and hit to leg in most brilliant fashion, and hit four sixes, 47 fours, three threes, and 30 twos. But for chances at 9 and 213 his Batting was without blemish. The speed at which he scored is sliown by the fact that he had been batting for less than three hours and a-half when he reached his third hundred. The value ot the big score i's increased by the fact that the Trent Bridge ground has big boundaries.

The Rev. C. J. Godfrey, an exSussex cricketer writes to an English paper as follows: —"Your notes on sudden disappearances on the cricket field brings to my mind a match 20 years ago between two well-known Surrey oounty clubs, Jn which j was playing. I was batting .at the bowler's end. The wicketkeeper, a Mordecai Sherwin in build, in the middle of, an over received a note sent from the pavilion. He read it, thrust it into Ms pocket, and without removing pads or gloves ran (or waddled) as fast as bulk, wind, and impediments permitted, off the ground and up a long hill until out of sight. Players and spectators watched the unrehearsed comedy till a turn iln the road hid him from view. He did not return. Just before we left for home we learnt the cause. (We imagined either his house was on fire or some dire accident had befallen). What was it think you? That note contained a real tragedy. The brokers were in." BOXING. (By "Straight Left.") The Ngame is booming in Auckland. There was a packed audience at Monday's bouts, and the quality of the boxing ensures that the sporting public will ask for more, Jack Johnson, former heavy-weight champion of the world, still has plenty of assurance. He wanted to see the Dempsey-Carpentier fight on July 2, but he was not to be released from goal until July 9. He wanted to be released on parole, to enable him to see the bout, but his request was refused. Although a section of the audience showed its dissatisfaction, there, was but one decision for Referee Burns to give in the Keenan-Gleeson lightweight professional contest. Only a knock-out could have deprived the Aucklander of the honours. Gleeson very -nearly secured it in the fourteenth.-

Since the Auckland light-weight, Jack Keenan, made his professional debut, and tilled the breach at short notice to meet' Lin. Robinson under the auspices of the Hamilton Association when the Glabby-Tracey light was staged here he has not looked back. His list of engagements in ail parts of the, Dominion has been very extensive in the interval, and he has done well inside the hempen square. Glabby, of whose ability to judge no one will doubt, after Keenan's first success at the Theatre Royal, remarked to the writer that he would do well at the game. The .exhibition put up by the pupil of Mr P. Williams' local school in C. Blackburn at Auckland was highly creditable. Dignan, his Spponent, is well to the front with the best in the light-weiight division, and a draw fulfils the good promise Blackburn had previously shown. The Hamilton bantam, A. Hudson, went, under at Auckland to the clever 15-year-old lad, C. Purdy, whose, rise lias been somewhat'melcorie. Hudson, who is now at Te Aroha, was not tuned up for meeting such clever opposition as came from the provincial and Dominion champion. ' On his way East for the light, Mr Otto Floto stopped 'in the Federal prison, at Leavenworth to ask .lack Johnson how he thought the fight would end. "Mr Floto," said the former black champion, "I've never seen this Dcmpsey.' All I know about him is what I've been told and have read, but I know Carpentier. I don't know what middleweights you developed in America since I went away. But before I went you had a middleweight named George Chip. lie could have been Carpentier;" Georges Garpentier has been asserting that the Boz gloves used in his battle with Jack Dcmpsey cost him the world's championship. "With 4oz. stoves, as originally agreed on, I could have defeated" Denip&ey in the second

round," Carpentier. said. "Eightgloves were ordered by. the New Jersey Boxing- Commission at tiio last minute to appease tiie reformers. They made me lose the title. • Otherwise I would be world's champion." Eugene ' Corri, the famous British referee, who saw, the fight, also voiced Hie opinion Ihal Carpentier would have knocked out Dempsey if the fighters had used 4oz instead of Boz gloves. "It was a wonderful fight," said Corri. "It was perfectly refereed. Carpentier would have won if it was another man than Dempsey. - The Frenchman is still one of the world's greatest ring generals. He knows all anyone will "ever know about boxing." A few days after his July 2 success Jack Dempsey motored to a motionpicture theatre that was showing pictures of the big battle and watched the punch that enabled him to retain the championship. He also saw the punches that in the second round caused the mass of humanity in the great arena to gasp in the belief that the blond French boxer was to make his threat to carry the title across the sea. Dempsey saw himself totter and sway as the Frenchman sent these punches to his jaw. Perhaps not until he saw the picture did he realise how near he had been to dropping to the canvas floor, for after the fight Dempsey declared the blows had not bothered him. As Dempsey saw himself on the screen 'inflicting punishment upon his lighter opponent, his eyes sparkled, and he leaned forward eagerly and uttered an exclamation of admiration for the , way Carpentier gamely came back. The victor laughed long and loudly as the action of the picture was stopped down to sixteen times as slow as the actual action. The picture was of the first round, and showed champion and challenger .apparently floating in an ethereal space, lightly daubing each other, as vyith powder puffs, upon the face and body. GENERAL ATHLETICS. (By "The Scout.") Arthur ■ Duffy, former world's champion sprinter, considers that one day Paddock of California, Will get through 100 yards in 9 ''2-5 sees. Donaldson of Victoria did it in 9 3-8 sec. at Johannesburg about a decade ago. J. R. Hooper, the Australian billiard champion, who competed in England some months ago, will not lake part in the amateur championship this year in Australia. He is standing out to. give the younger players a chance. ■ A correspondent writing to Sydney [Bulletin asked if this is not a record: It. a League football game played on Sunday, July 17, between Perramon and Athcrton (North Queensland) the ambulance men attended to 22 out of the 26 , Sabbath-breakers. The unhealthiest injury was u broken leg. Ludy Langer is at present "cleaning uip" the swimming champions in the United States. At Philadelphia.in July he won the national one mile championship in 24min 13sec. The race was swum over a 220yds course- in the Schuylkill River.

Track cycle racing is expected to boom in Sydney during the coming season. There is a possibility of several prominent American riders making a racing trip to Australia and a few European cracks may also be induced to come, says an exchange. Joie Ray, noted American amateur rniler, has been in pretty good form lately. At a Pacific Coast Athletic Association meet last month, he brought the Pacific, Coast record for the mile down to 4min 14 4-sseo. ■ Previously it stood at 4min IS 2-ssec. Charles Dawson, the English billlardist, who recently died- was originally a Huddersfleld weaver. In 'B7 he was on strike, and r to keep the wolf from the door, took Over the management of the George and Dragon Hotel at his home town. This drove him to billiards and so to the professional championship, which he won in 1899, 1900, 1901 and again in 1903. It was one of the few cases on record where going on strike ever did a man any financial good. Vincent Richards, who beat W. l. Tilden for the Rhode Island (U.S.) tennis championship the other day, has had a wonderful record. At 15 he and another, player twice his age won the doubles championship of the United States. He was not muoh older when he downed Kumagae, although at that time the Jap hadnt fully developed the American slice and twist service or completely acquired the art of killing at the net. Richards relies on his brilliance as a volleyer in all his ofTensives. Though he dives and serves well it is his high and low volleying, both back and forehand, that piles up his points. It is also interesting to note that he excels in the difficult half volley, and is now regarded in some quarters as the equal of Norman Brookes, who was long the world's admitted master of the shot. The secretary of the Queensland Amateur Athletic Association has requested endorsement of the reinstatement of Arthur Postle, the professional runner. Postle was one OI the greatest sprinters that ever laced a shoe and he hold many records. He commenced his running career at the a<*e of 18 years and is now about years old. The Melbourne Argus states that there is a great diversity of opinion on the subject of Postle S reinstatement and that an animated discussion was expected when the matter came up for consideration at the meeting of the Council last Wed-, nesday The Brisbane authontias consider that Postle has complied with the rules in standing down for more than the necessary time and should be reinstated. Commenting on the matter a Sydney Referee writer says that Arthur Postle is a man generally admired for his excellent sportsmanship. No amateur, has a higher reputation in this respect. It is, however, rare to find one who has been such a prominent performer among the worlds professionals seeking reinstatement as an' amateur. - AMERICAN INVASION. SUGGESTED FOOTBALL AND ATHLETIC TOUR. An epochal American invasion i» threatened in the near future. It.is on the cards that a team of worldfamed athletes, including Charles W. Paddock (one of the greatest sprint runners ever known) and Morris Kirksey (the next fastest in the world), will be seen in Sydney next year. The provincial emanates form Mr H. Wilfred Malohcy, president, of the Calirornian Rugby Union. Writing to Mr W W. Hill, the late secretary of the New South "Wales Rugby Union. Mr Maloney slates that Rugby football continues to have a large vogue in Western America. lie suggests that the Rugly Union might contemplate the visit of an.allAmerican Rugby learn, supplemented by a few good amateur boxers. Not later than the summer of 19-22, lie writes.

He mentioned that the American Rugby team won the championship at the last Olympic games at Antwerp, and considers that an American team, incorporating representatives of .tie universities of California and LelandSlanford would do well in Australia, - The footballers would include such star athletes as Morris Kirnsey, the second fastest sprinter in the world, who at a recent, A.A.A.IJ. meet in? negotiated 100 yards in 9 -i-bsec. aucl

220 yards in 21 3-Dsec. Dick Templeton, one of the best full-backs America had produced, was a craok broad and high jumper. Both these athletes hud represented the U.S.A. at Antwerp in Rugby and track events. George Bilhaman had a record of 48. feet in the shot-putting. Manner had a record of 187 feet with the javelin, while Johnnie Norton'had tied for the world's record over 440 yards hurdles. Charles Paddock had twice in the one week equalled the world's maris: for 100 yards—9 3-sscc. He had the best ligures for the furlong—2l sec. Hat.

Recently-a cable message announced that the phenomenal Paddock had at one meeting in Southern California beaten four world marks and equalled a fifth —the 100 yards in 9 3-Dsec. His other records were: 100 metres, 10 3-ssec; 200 metres, 21 1-asec. (since beaten by himself apparently); 300 vards in 30 l-ssec; 300 metres, 33 l-ssec. At the Antwerp Games he won the 100 metres championship in 10 4-ssec.

Muller, continued Mr Maloney, had jumped 6ft 4 Jin. Also he was a splendid long jump and useful with discs. Hendrickson, of the California University, had negotiated a quarter-mile in 48 2-ssec. Sprott, of the same Varsity, had figures of Imin. 58secs. for the half-mile and 4rnin. 29sccs. for the mile.

All these athletes were footballers. The N.S.W. Rugby Union intends to move in the matter; but definite decisions will be postponed till after the Springboks' visit. The fact that the local athletic season does not lit in with the suggestion, and, further, that the French Rugby team will be over next year, are difficulties. But it is anticipated that these—also the inevitable questions of finance —may be overcome: Ttye visit, if very early or very late next season, would be possible.

The union does not propose to aot alone In the matter, and it is veryprobable that arrangements will be left in the hands of the Amateur Sporting Federation, which will, no dajibt be eager to frame an ambitious programme that will have the effect of materially rehabiliating amateur sport locally.