Sporting Sprints.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 55, 29 March 1912, Page 13

Sporting Sprints.

lliitfhie iMeliegan, tlic liglit-wcitAhi taxing champion ol Australia, has denied to go to America towards the «ud of in'.\t month.

Ac<M>nlJnt!; to tho Huston 'iMomiig Bcoord," Jack Johnsdu is not jp<'Uiii}j; bin mouth quite so wide these days. Ho is now willing to for 2U,(H)() dollars. Modost Jack! It ho doesn't taury up and accept some ofl'or for a fiyht, he will be arrivino- at that period at lifo when tJie only money easily earned is the old-aire pension.

Sydney "Sun" asks some questions of those who dub the Board of Control's team "unrepresentative" :--Of wJ»at is it unrepresentative? Is not Jennings at least as good as the Trumpor of to-day? Is that agile all-round-er, ]{oy Minnett, not a more valuable mronlior of the- team than Armstrong? Why should Hardsley be less likely to "come again" in England than Hanslord? 1-1 ill has not been in England linee 190">. On his general form since, and right up to date, is he not a long way below D. Smith? By what rule is it made impossible for McLaren to do as well as, or belter than, Colter m England? Why should not Oar keek OX Webster, or both, now that they are given the great opportunity, become equal, or superior, to' Carter at his best?

''"The word 'possibilities' (continues oar contemporary) has been used with nroch show of wisdom in connection With these agile and ambitious pioneers of a new and inspiriting era. Hut the team is one of 'probabilities.' The wealth of variety in the team's bowling and in its batting is more, marked than has been the case with any team that has gone to England for many years. R. J. Massie being unavailable as one of tho team's left-hand bowlers, the outgoing fifteen are fully representative of Australia's active and ambitions Sret-class cricket." And we agree, eantankeirnis critics to the contrary Botwithsianding.

The Australian billiard players at present in K/Tigland present curious contrasts in personality. George pray, refinod, almost effeminate, with palp complexion and highly-strung nerves; Fred. Lindrum, of ruddy complexion and sturdy build, the picture of robust health, with smiling face and rocky gait—a typical-looking English "farmox'e boy" in, town for a day. Georgo Gray looks a billiard player every inch cl him ; Fred. Lindnim looks more like • wrestler, in whose hands a cue would rest but ill.

Already enthusiasts, locking through ft. highly-interesting winter, are tipping eris and that member of the Australian tearing cricket team to "come back with the figures." . The law forbida wnblieation of the odds on coming sporting events, but in tho guarded diction •f tie other turf, it may be mentioned that in the batting market there is wry little to choose between Minnett, Jennings, Bardsloy and Smith : while fcrthe bowling average Hazlitt, Maearteey, Kelleway and Minnett; arojnost frequently named. But there is one double which has a host of supporters —Emorx both wa.vs.

Pfirnaps no city in the world, says •n English paper, can boast such ericfeting resources as Sydney, such facilities for developing the game, such complete and efficient organisation, and yot •o few opportunities for t;he attainment of international honors. It could easily inn at least four good county-standard foams on its own—if it had the chance. »■ *■- »

Messrs. Butcher and No re. licensed bhormen at Tho Kise, 30 miles up the Fitzroy river, Queensland, recently oanght a swordfish measuring 19ft. long trith sword measuring 4ft., in all 23ft. long. It took two horses to pull tho fob on to the river bank.

The following curious item is taken fawn the Sydney "Arrow" : M. (Peterslam) asks: Has a batsman scored over 800 runs in an innings, and been on tlio losing side? The answer is "Yes." P. A. Perrin stored 343 not out for Essex v. Derbyshire in 1904. Essex totalled r>97 and 97, and Derbyshire- 548 end 149 for one wicket. Therefore, Esfex was beaten by nine wirkoLs. C. A. OHivierre scored 229 and 92 not out.

Miss Mina Wylie, who is being sent wrth Miss Fanny Durack to represent the Sydney Ladies' Swimming Club at flic Olympic Games, is second only, and by no means a bad second at that, to Hiss Durack in speed swimming, while ■ho stands out from all contemporary Australian ladies as an exponent of ether departments of natation very much moro useful for purposes of saving life from drowning, towards which flw teaching of the art isj or should bo, eepooially directed. Miss Wylic, too, fcss no equal among her sex as a trick ■trimmer and diver.

The mythical ashen have materialised, •wording to the Melbourne "Argus."

At the close of tin- fmuth tost match, on the .Melbourne ground, the Kn»lis!i ,vieke! keener Siisilli pulled up (he ,i ti.nijis and took them oil llu; Held as trophy ol victory. One (if the wickets .as afterwards burned mid tho embers .iiol'ully jm-sorvrd. A suitable \nn, i i.lie slkiiio of a hollow splioro, a riickot ball, was made by a firm of ilclboiinio jewellers, and Uie ashes have goiif to Knylaml in this re<ep((li|n.

Jnck Donaldson on his Auckland rnnqueror: is a tvo infer fid spriiit<T uj) to 7."iyds. \Xv tint olf the mark together, and are together lor the iirst IClvds or l-'iyds. Hut then he spoins to draw riu;lit awny from om\ I don't know how he do<-s it, and I Hnvo often marvrlled at the speed ho yets up then. I think To stir's c;ront speed in t ho early part of a sprint is duo to tho groat strength of his leirs nnd back. Fie would make a lino siandme! liifrli juniprr if ho pnid rnnro attention to that branch of nthlotir.s."

Arrangements have bn-n made for G. N. Mill, the crack Auckland amateur runner, who will represent I he Dominion at the Olympic (James at Stockholm, to join th' 1 Australian representatives, leaving Sydney by the Ostorloy Grange on April 10.

General satisfaction is expressed in England over the ratification of the Dick A rust-Ernest Harry sculling match on the Thames 1, ," '-he championship of Use world. Asked what he thought of his chance. Harry said: 'Without lioing ovor-coirlide.iit or boastful, or in any way underrating Arnst. I think I can win. 1 shall bo at a distinct advantage on the Thames. which I know so well. T am familiar with the condition-;, and have a perfect knowledge of the course.''

Al. Thompson is n ' corner." all right, following up his first professional victory over Tommy Townscud, the ox-arnatoitr Australasian middleweight champion defeated 'I'im Lund handily. Thompson is not rm ordinary boxer. Ho is of the l)av<' Smith stamp —the kind which develops only once in a way, and a lone , way. Ho should have a caro-er of conquest*. * * *- In a cycling match at Sydney on the IGt,h inst,. A. J. Clarke" (Australia) boat Ivor I'Amorica) in two out of throe 0110-mile races. * * * Miss Fanny Durark Mvain lOtiyds in Sydney on March jti in Iniin. (isec, tints iuworiiig o\vn world's record by 3sec. * * * Scotland for ever! At Kugby foothall the Scottish international team defeated England by a goal and a try to a try, and at the soccer game the Scott it's vanquished Ireland by four goals to J\.\e. * * Arrangements are being pushed on by the Dun lop Huljlht Company for the.ir contest from Adelaide to Sydney, a distan"O, of about 11 ">0 miles, l;etween relays of cyclists, motor cyclists, and carisis, who will cany three separate despatches supplied by tin- Commonwealth military authorities. The event is to bo decided during the Easter holidays, Sib to Bth April. The contest is to be, a handicap one. The bicycle despatch will leave Adelaide 'M hours ahead of the mota.r cycle relay, which leaves six hours ahead of the motorcars. * • » Arthur Postle, the Pittswoith <(.}.) ped., did great tilings on the Auckland Domain on Saturday. March 10, when he beat Jack Donaldson, the world's sprint champion, over three distances —75yds, loOyds , and. 200 yds. There was great enthusiasm when j'ostlo won all the three, after probably tho finest racing yet seen in New Zealand, in the 7">yds. Postlo equalled his world's record, and in the oilier two he established new world's records. Tho times were taken by experienced timekeepers, mid the track was remcasnrcd after tlve races and found to be quite correct. The rains of the previous day had left the track a trifle heavy, and there was a good breeze, ptrainst the runners. All three races wore run in tapes over a straight course. i'ostle won the 7-lyds. by a yard and a half, in 7 l-isoe. ; the 150 yds. by a foot, in 14 1-osee. ; and the 200 yds. by a yard suwl a half, in 19seo. Both men gave a rare revelation <jl speed.

The. Australasian team of Northern Rugby footballers lias icUiriMvl to Australia. The management of the tour is subjected f.o considerable criticism, and it is staled that tho New Zealand members received sr-ant consideration from tlie New South Wales manager. Gerwrtl dlissatisf-action existed over the selection of the teams, and some of the best players lost interest. Instead of a profit being made on the tour, tie receipts barely met Uie expenditure. Tho expenses proved enormous —weli over £5000, it is reported.

The provincial cricket match— iilie last of the season —between Wellington and Marlborough ended in an easy win for the former by an inninge and 102 runs. Scores: Marlborougli, 71 (W. Jackson 17 not out) end 112 (W. Chisholm 29, W. Jackson 23); Wellington, 305 (H. E. I3«rton 122 not out, W. A. Baker 54).