ASSET TO OTAGO ATHLETICS

Evening Star, Issue 22458, 1 October 1936, Page 4

ASSET TO OTAGO ATHLETICS

NEWCOMER FROM TARANAKI An acquisition to sport in Dunedin should be Lance Thomson, who arrived in Dunedin from New Plymouth during the week, and who is to attend the science faculty of the University. He is a senior Rugby player—either as a centre three-quarter or full-back—-for New Plymouth Old Boys, and plays senior cricket with the same club. He is an ex-West Coast (North island) champion in the 220yds low hurdles, discus, and javelin, and in interclub competition has shown good form over 100yds and 220yds. He is a former secretary of the New Plymouth Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club, and in 1932 accompanied the New Zealand team to Los Angeles in the capacity of athletic trainer. GREATEST TENNIS PLAYER IMPORTANCE OF FITNESS Tilden, I think, was certainly the greatest player of modern times, and many good judges consider the greatest of all time (says an overseas tennis writer). Like Wilding, he always paid attention to fitness. No man of 43 who is not fit could possibly play the game of which Tilden is still fully capable, nor win the championship again in 1930, 10 years after he had last won it. It was not only fitness which won Tilden his success; hia variety of strokes was quite unequalled, and many of them he had invented and developed for himself. He made excuses for himself. Once, when he had been having knee trouble, I asked .him how his knee was. just as he was going ou'. to play a big match. “If I get beaten, it won’t be bedause of my knee,” he replied.