BIG SLUMP IN BETTING

Chronicle (Levin), 15 October 1949, Page 5

BIG SLUMP IN BETTING

(N.Z.P.A

,-^Rmter.

Britotis Forced To Curtail Their Pleasures

, CQPHHQM)

Receiv6d Friddyj 8,5U p.tUi LONBON, Oet. 14 Ohe effect of the euri'eftt "flghthess" of money has been a pronOUnced drop in betting on horees, dogs and footbali poois. Some bookmakers eonsider the drop is as mufih as 50 pef cent. compared with last year, it was pai'tiefilarly nOtie.eable in respefct to the CeSai'ewitoh^ in past years dhe of England's biggest bettiftg r&eeS. This wfegk whefi Strathspey Wdn the race at 25 to 1, one of London 's biggest bookmakers, Alfred Oopej said it would have made little difference to the bookmakers what horse won as there had been ftd bettiftg Oft customafy OesftreWitch lines. Cope said the slump started with the St. Leger. ' ' Bookmakers daflftdt remeiftber When there was less bettiftg on thftt rftce, ' ' said Cope. ' ' It amounts to this, Money is tighter, attendances dt race meetings are down everywhere, taxation and entertainmeftt duty ate erippllng and tlie people are having to cut their pleasures. ' ' Training Sohooi for Crioket Coaches. irevor Bailey} England and Essex' all-rounder, who was generally agreed"-" by the New Zealarid cricket tourists 1 to be the most trotiblqsome Englaftd. bowler they met on their tour, is to establish a traiftiftg schooi for cricket coaches. The Essex County Cricket Club and the Cefttral Oommittee for Eecreational Training are both baeking Bailey's scheme. Bailey will be assisted by Denys Wileox, former captain of Essex who coached him as a boy, and by Peter Smith, the Essex spin bowler. The coui'ses will comprise leetures, demonstrations and films dealing with all aspeets of cricket. The newly-established Welsh Eugby League Couneil which has been at work for only six months has already established an aetive competition in which eight professional League clubs are participating. Seven of these clubs have their own grounds. j The growth of the League code in Wales is being closely watched by the Welsh Eugby Union, for there is a longstanding legacy of bitterness bg^ween the two codes dating back to the economie depression. The British polo team now in Argentine participating in the internationai five-goal tournament will also take part in the Argentine open polo championships at the end of this month. In addition to several strong South American teams the United States and Mexico will also participate. The Lawft Tennis Association is proceeding energetieally with its policy of seeking out promising junior playera ftnd providing them with special coach- 1 ing. Twenty-seven juniors — 19 boys and eight girls — have reeently been in- j tdted to take part in a special covered court eourse during the winter while other similar courses will be arranged at later dates. Coaching Future Tennis Stars. Three of England 's outstanding juniors, John Horn of Essex, Wilfrid Eowe of Devon, and Miss Ann Shilcock Of Sussex, have been graded in the in- , ternational class and will be given special coaching by Dan Maskell. "The Chinese woman tennis player, Miss Gem Hoahing, who has British qualifications beeause she was born in Hong Kong, was unable to defend her covered courts title at the Queen's Club this week beeause of a sprained wrist. j This is the Sftcond bit of bad luek Miss ] : Hoahing has experienced this season as ' she was kept out of the British hard courts championship by a sprained Aftkle. It was Miss Hoahing who elimina'ted the much publicised American, ■ Gertrude ' ' Gorgeous Gussie ' ' Moran at Wimbledon this year. . Scotlaud hfts selected its three amateur boxing champions for the Empire Games in New Zealand next Februafy, ;They are Hugh Riley (flyweight), ^Toinfhy Miller (bantamweight), and . Harry Gilliland ( f eath ferweight ) .