PARKE WAS FAMOUS IRISH SPORTSMAN

Chronicle (Levin), 24 April 1946, Page 3

PARKE WAS FAMOUS IRISH SPORTSMAN

James Cecil Parke, whose death was veported from London rccently at the age of 65, had a remarkably v'aried sporting eareer. He played Rugby football as threequarter for Ireland on 20 oecasions, including once against Dave Gallaher's All Blaeks at Dublin in 1905, when New ■ Zealand won, 15 — 0. ; "Parke also fepresented the British Isles in Davis Cup tennis matches in 1908, 1912 and 1913. , Further than that, he was an international golfer of renown. Oue of the biggest upsets in the history of lawn tennis occurred in 1912, .wlien the British Isles- team challenged the Australian-New Zealand zone suecessfully and took the Davis Cup back home. Ihe main cause of that upset. was the defeat of Norman Brookes by the Irishman, James Cecil Parke. Reviewing this sensational match some years afterwards, the tennis histoi'ian Cam Hanmiond wrote the following story: When the British team was nained, the order was C. P. Dixon, A. E. Beamish, P. G. Love, J. C. Parke. The Irishman 's position is very signilicant in face of what liappened. Great Britain viewed the choice as "promisihg matorial," but nevcr burst into song about tlic team 's chahcos. . No oue could see tliem winning the cup. Umpires At Fault. They sailed in Heptember, and eontemporarv with thoii- sailing came worcl that Tony Wilding would not bc availttble for Australia. This loft Australia at a big disadvantage, fqr wliile oue singlcs string deiinitely was Norman Brookes, and the doubJes was just as surolv Brookes and A. W. Duulop, it meant that Iiod Heath had to undertake the other singles responsibilitv.

Heath had beaten tlie Ameriean, Laftied, the previous vear, but he was not in his best form, and tliere seemed a natural doubl about his winning his rubbers. Still, so long as Australia had Brookes we were full of hope. Norman had won such a high plaee in the mimi* of the Australians we thought he could not be beaten. That was where we mude the mistake,' for Brookes was beaten by Parke, 8--6, 6 — 3, 5 — 7, 6 — 2. With that defeat Australia virtually lost the Davis Cup. 1 was in the umpire's cliair for the Brookes-Parke match. With liis victory Parke was aeclaimed as a superplayer. I hope I shall nevcr be guilty of making excuscs for a player, espeeially when tliat player is a beaten Austraiian, but surely an umpire's unbiased opinion should count for something. Now let me tell you that, from the centre umpire 's- chaii:, I connted eighteeii e'areless or bad decisions by line umpires; and all. of tliem against Brookes. .• Bad Decisions. He was serving rtiagiiificeritly, hitting the line for cJean aces with that peeuliar delivery tliat dippecl suddenlv and hit the line squarcly when you felt sure that it would over-carrv -for a fault. CJean aees from Brookes were called faults. On oue occasion I was amazed to see a shot bv Parke miss the sideline elearly without a call. I referred the deei sion to the nmpirc concerned, and could see by his attitude that he had not oeen paying attention. Nevertheless, he gave that very vital ' ' out ■' ' against Brookes. Brookes could. have been oxcused for showing his feelings, but inscrutable as ever, played on. . Norman arrived at the courts, the Albert Ground once again, suffering from his old enerny, gastritis. "I was bitten by an ovster, " was how he answered ray inquirv. Parke was as fit as a fiddle. He appeared on the court wearing a four-leaf shanirock, sent bv a ladv admirer, over 1 his heart. He warmed up by playing a " knock up" of four hurricane games against Beamish.

Brookes began serving. He took the game to 15, and next Parke 's service, to lovCj and the third to 30 — three games to the loss of three points. The effort, however, took the edge off the Austraiian, and he dropped the fourth game to deuce after leading 30 — 40, and the fiftli, his own service, was also forced to deuce after Brookes had led 40—30. Brookes had a very lean time. He was failing to cover the court and, caught in " no man's land", was in trouble, as Parke quickly turned the sei his way with 5 — 4. Parke took the set 8 — 6. No oue kaew the struggle Brookes was waging better than I did. Like the gallery, I still believcd that Brookes could \vin, even wlien he lost the second set 6 — 3. But what could anyone think when Parke led 5 — 1, and his own service to follow in that third set? Everything had been Parke 's way until tlie monient. he had Brookes within a game of a straiglit-sct defeat. klany another had made the mistake Parke made at tliat monient. Parke 's Mistake. Conjidcnlly slashing his way to tlie honours, he suddcnly changed. He slowed up and tried to steady himselt' through that vital game. He led 30 — 15, but lost three poiuts ili a roW for the game. The great mqnient liad come. The crowd yeiled as Norman took six games ia succession, in which Parke won only 15 points. ■ Brookes had recoverod and takeu the set. The last point of the set will always remaiu ia liiy miud as an e}>ic. Brookes was serving and was^beliind to "advautagc"; deuce was called again, and then advantage servcr. Driven to an extremity, Parke tossed. As the ball soared- the spoctators rose with it. Was ever a ball so closejy watched as it. i'ell— a good Gin. out." The cheering was delirious. Tliings were not right with Brookes, however. That last. elfort had cost liira a lot. He appeafed for the fourth set wearing a white linen hat in placc of his famous tweed cap. Sooa the beads of perspiration were standing out on his forehead; he was pcrspiring from weakness. Several times he had reconrse to stimulants. Parke at the opposite ehd, had returned to his suprqmest confidence. He played delighlful tennis, driving- off eitiier hand while running at full tilt. He went on to an easy win, and the crowd hailed his victory in truest sporting spirit.