YOUNG AUSTRALIA

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1931, Page 6

YOUNG AUSTRALIA

* PROMINENCE IN SPORT. GOLF, TENNIS AND SWIMMING. ALL UNDER TWENTY YEARS. SYDNEY, Septmber 17. Events in sport in Australia during the last few months have amply demonstrated that this is the -clay of youth In almost every branch veteran players have been defeated by boys not yet out of their “teens.” In addition, at the opening of the -summer season, Australia bids fair to unearth some of the finest swimming talent in the world. The most noticeable sphere of sport in which youth has predominated this year has been golf. A 16-year-old boy, Jim Ferrier, of Manly (N.S.W.), is amateur champion of New South - Wales, while a boy of -similar age, 'Harry Williams, is amateur champion of Victoria, and last week he won the amateur title of Australia and was third in the open championship. Although Ferrier finished ahead of 'Williams in the open champion,ship, good judges are of the opinion that the Victorian lad is a shade the better golfer. He displayed remarkable form in the championship games, and made a few mistakes. During the last few days, including that on which the final was played, he suffered severely from boils and split thumb, which militated against his putting, and it was on the greens that he lost the strokes which deprived him of first place in the final. His long game was faultless, and one of the ■ main features of his play is his ability not only to get out of trouble in rough or sand, but to turn the strokes into /consistent winners, Ferrier is little inferior to him but relies more on brute force to carry him through, whereas the Victorian lad has a wonderful control over his shots. The lads in their games beat some of the best Australian players of the day, including Hattersley, Dr Bettington, Frank Eyre, Rufus Stewart and others.

TENNIS PLAYER OF FOURTEEN

In tennis two youngsters have emerged in Vivian McGrath and L. 0. S. Poidcvin. Both lads are still at school, McGrath at Sydney IHigh School, and Poi(levin at Sydney Grammar, but they are playing with the leading players and defeating them. McGrath is' only 14 years of age and is one of the most promising colts in Australia. He possesses a most peculiar backhand stroke which has earned him fame in all the big tournaments. He executes the stroke with both hands on the handle of the racquet in th-t same manner as a straight drive at cricket, and, 'despite the admonitions of the critics, has up to the present non-plussod many of the leading players. During the;,last few months lie has won with ease all the schoolboy and junior titles in New South Wales and -Queensland, and, in addition, has been among the finalists in several of the open events. He was in the New •South Wales team which recently toured -Queensland fivith success,..and ..was selected to play in the championship doubles in the open titles.

CHAMPIONSHIP CYCLIST AT 18

In the amateur cycling world, one of the most promising colts seen for a decade has arisen in Joseph Buckley, 18 years old, of New South Wales, who won the senior road championship of Australia. Last year he was junior champion of New South Wales, but so meteoric has been his rise that this year he collected the national title. He is considered to be the. best Australian cyclist, produced since Hubert Opperman.u. Buckley is an .ideal type, being endowed with racing stamina, physique and brains. The displays and the manner in which he has won his races stamp him as an outstanding athlete. Australian swimmers have been “on the map” since "Boy” Charlton started his great career a few years back. This 3yeatL instead of one champion, Aus'traliit is likely' to possess " a team of' swimmers all under 20 years of age who .Will be doughty, opponents for any nation in the world. Noel Ryan is a I ready known, and h : s deeds do not need recapitulation. Victor Besomo, aged 17, and Asher Hart, aged 14„ are two of the younger brigade of ■whom big things are expected this year.

PHENOMENAL TIMES

Evidence of the strong hand which 'Australia holds in the swimming world is the fact that at the New South Wales championships last season of four teams of four .swimmers each who competed in the one mile team championships of the State, each man of each team swam 440yds on an average of 5.33. Twelve or 13 of the 16 competing swimmers' were under. 20 years of age. Besomo, who swam against Ryan in 'the ’'last relay, was off’ the board two seconds before the national champion, hut despite the fact 'Ryan swam better time for the distance than he has ever recorded, Besomo beat him home by half a yard. Asher Hart made swimming history wheii, although only 14 years of age. he won easily by 50 yards the senior 440yds championship of the New South Wa-les (Combined High Schools in 6.2 B—record time bv more than Msecs for the seniors!

With the Los Angeles Olympic Games ■looming on the horizon in 1932, Australia will be able to assemble a team of youngsters who will- surprise the spectators at the Games.