Sporting Notions TABLE TENNIS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 47, 18 November 1937, Page 8

Sporting Notions TABLE TENNIS

^'Omni").

European Players Becoming Too Skilful RACECOURSE LUCK

(By

When ping pong was invented the pastime caugit the public taste for about as long a period as did . • miniature golf Ping pong did not . expire entixely, and after a long period of years the game wa© rechristened table tennis, and with a few amendments to the rules, has entered on another period . of popularity. This time, possibly - due to the change in name, the sport appears to he properly established, and it is now governed hy an international authoritv. In Europe it has immense popularity, but tie players appear to be becoming too skilful, so much so tiat Wien tie experts met in eonference in Paris recently, it was decided tiat "no best in tiree games match ' ' must last longer tian one iour. The world 's longest table tennis matci was registered at Prague last year. It lasted 2J iours, and no fewer tian 9000 siots wero nnade. Apparently the 40-hour week is designed to suit suci a game as* table tennis. Race Systems. There are many "systems" followed by those wio try tieir' luck at tie races, but one f ollowed by a Hawke 's Bay lady is original and has never once. failed to show a credit. It must first be mentioned'tiat sie is an ardent supporter of tie Hawke 's Bay Rugby representatives, and tiat sie does not see a racecoujse as often as sie sees a Rugby field, but wien sie goes to tie races tie only time any casi is rislced is on a horse carrying black and wiite colours. At Napier Park on Saturday "Omni" me tie lady and inquired iow tie system was working. "Splendidly," sie replied, "two bets and two wins." Tie fact tiat Lady Eurst iad also earried tie magpie colours iad fortunately escaped the fair punter's attention. However, tiere is merit in tie system for tio reason tiat black .and wMte colours are not. earried in every race,' thereby reducing considerably tie risk of losing very much' if tie worst iappens. Youthful Tennis Star. Join Bromwich, Australian tennis prodigy wio recently defeated Adrian Quist for tie Queensland singles title by tie fantastic scores of 6 — 0, 6 — 0, 6—3, celebrated his nineteenti birthday la.st Sunday. On his birthday eve he again defeated Quist tiis time for tio New Souti Wales title. Racehorses' Names, Tiere is a superstition among some racehorse owners concerning tio number of letters that siould be used 'in the naming of a ioped-fo'r champion. The popular fancy is for a name eomprising seven letters, and periaps tiis is tie reason tiat many of tie greatest stake-winners in Australia and New Zealand bear names containing tiat number of letters. Phar Lap, Amounia, Windbag, Carbine, Cetigne, Tie Hawk, Sasanof, Carlita, Advance, Nonette, Estland, Trenton, Lochiel, Chortle, are just a few tiat come to miud, and now must be added Avenger, winner of

tie A. I.C. , Derby. Man of Paris. "Bunk" Pollock, well-knbwn . Riigby full-back, is a man of many parts. He is a bird fancier, and a very wellinformed one, too. Tien, as anotier side-line, ie is to be found in tie corner of one of tie "bone-crusiers," wien the grunt-and-groan boys hold sway in tie Empire City. Now that ummer has arrived, "Bunk" wields tie willow in tie Hutt Valley Cricket Association of a Saturday afternoon, and last week-end registered iis fifth three-figure score. He is regarded as tie most prolific run-getter in tie Valley. Blg Half-back. Wien tie 1935 All Blacks returned from England tiey all iad a, good word for B. C. Gadney, tie outsize English half-back and captain. Last winter he suffered a broken ankle, but it ias mended splendidly, and ie is playing again tiis winter witi J. 'R. Auty, tie international fly-half for Headingley. Gadney, wio is a fourteen-stoner, would be just tie man to lead tie British team to Souti Africa next June. In priyate life he .is ieadmaster of *a preparatory seiool in Yorksiire. Australian League Teain. Tie Australian Rugby League team at present touring in tie Norti of England is not . all-conquering so far. To dato tiey have lost to tiree clubs, Lancashire, Halifax. and Salford, drewwiti Widnes, and lost boti Tests- played. Tie third and.final Test will be played at Huddersfield on December 18. Witi tie prospect of a succession of ieavy grounds for tie remaining matcies of the tour, furtier defeats are likely. Critics in tie Norti of England say tiat tie present Kangaroos are tie weakest side ever to tour England. Crump's Come-back. Auckland has ever been noted as a city to produce fast swimmers, and now witi tie prospect of seleetion for tie coming Empire Games in Sydney next Eebruary, tie speedsters are up and doing already. Last week at the tepid batis Peter Hannan, Bob Prank•:n and Noel Crump met in a 100 yards final. Hanan recorded 54 1-5 secs., Erankham just under 56 secs., and Crump 55 4-5 secs. Crump gives flefiaite signs of staging a come-baclc.