Sporting Sprints.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 3, Issue 61, 10 May 1912, Page 13

Sporting Sprints.

At a banquet given in honor of J. B. Hobbs, tlie English cricketer who was so successful during the recent Australian tour, a letter was read from IVI--bam Warner, captain of the team, in which he said that Hobbs was one of tho greatest batsmen and the finest oovcr-point the world had ever S''- (! * * » 'Twas on a tandem—oh, what lie tried to steal one little kiss--Tho dear Forgot to steer — |s;t[) o>[it UA\op ,Coq j . pay x. a Ihe .\>,'.i',-on Square Gardens have been leased to tho Madison Athletic Club at a rental of £60,000 a year. The club intends to stage championship boxing bouts, but will bar Johnson- * * * Jack Lester, a little whilo ago, was one of the ivliit.« Wipes if pkVc'l he ■jgHpMMMMHH|HI that with but mm^mm^mm^mm^mm^mm^ with find Lcsurn pro c t s enter ; but t i'lor the a n c matr HKVKVKVKVKVKVKVKVKVKVB inferm^m^m^m^m^m^m^m^m^mL t ?» to THE TUG OF WAR. See, six aside, strong arms, strong thighs— Tho rope between them loosely lies: I I I I I I I I I I I I And now behold tlie strain each feels; They bond their backs and plant their heels: (((((( ) ) ) ) ) ) Hurrah I TTurrah! the right side's stronger, Tho others can't hold out much longer: )))))) I I I I I I We told you so, their grip they miss, And fall down, flat, a row like this: I II I I I » # * Pat Bradley, the young American middleweight, is a pretty hot proposition, and has won his two fights in Sydney in convincing fashion. Maurice Fleming, the young South African, lasted 15 rounds against him, but New Zealandor Bill Riudd went down in less than two rounds. Rudd looked a 2 to 1 shot over Bradley, and with his strength and weight should have won. But Bradley surprised everybody by punishing Rudd severely, and winning on a knock-out early in tho second round. Bradley gives the impression of being ablo to take as well as give a punch, and it is quite possible that he will do well in good company. * » * McVea is reported to havo trained hard for his final contest with Langford, which comes off to-morrow, May 11. Tho big colored boxer is set upon retrieving tho laurels which went to his smaller opponent on Easter Monday. McVea's reputation as a boxer is his living, and ho cannot afford to have it damaged so severely as Langford damaged it at their last meeting. Langford has pursued the saane training methods which brought him into the ring in such good form on April 8, and is serenely confident that he can at least earn a decision again, though his great hoi;e is that he may- bo able to knock McVea out. With tioth men so keen ahclut the match, and each in such a position that defeat will mean a severe loss of prestige and reputation, a fine contest should bo assured. Another big content which is to come off at the Sydney Stadium is the ttmh<V dobatod return match between C'labbv and Mchegan. Clabhy is to weigh 10st, 81b. ringside—tho same wfticht as that

j at which he met the light-weight champion in their previous contest. This match will servo to close the season. Itwill bo decided on May IS. Last Saturday, May 4, Mehogan had to go through an encvVinter with one of the most dangerous boxers seen in Sydney for a long time. This was Pat Bradley, who recently outed Bill Rudd in two rounds, but the result of tho go had not reached this side of the pond when we went to press. AT THE RACES. Same old racecourse, Same old ground, Same old horses Running 'round; Same old grandstand, Same old crowd, Samo old "Betting Not Allowed." Same old bookies, Same old gate, Same old starter, Same, old weight, Same old paddocks, Same old jocks, Same old kicking, Samo old knocks; Same old "easies," Same old scouts, Same old talent, Same old touts; Same old wise ones, Same old tips. Same old "sure things," Same old slips ; Same old home stretch, Same old luck, Same old favorite In the ruck; Samo old hither. Same old foam, Same old wav of Walking home. —Ex. # » » Dick Arnst has started training in London in view of his coming contest with Ernest Barry. The world's sculling champion, so the cable says, weighs lGst., so that he has a considerable quantity of superfluous adiposity to got rid of before the event. Dick is being partnered in his training operations by Cecil MoVilly, the Tasmanian amateur sculler, who is one of Australasia's Olympic representatives. * * * Ernest Barry is probably the pretti-; est sculler England has over had. He | is the acme of grace in a boat. His [ brother Bill, a former English chain-1 pion, was a picture, but Ernest is more so. No one in England can "touch" him. As Barry says, he does not rely on sheer strength to drive, his boat through tlie water. There is a science in the art of sculling which, says Barry, is just as important'—how to work the leg drive, the wrist turn, and the swing of the body ; all those things require thought. Barry has been many years at the game now, and in his time has won many big things. At school he was a big chap, and elder brother Jim was champion. The boys of tbe school made a fuss of Ernest because of V.'ltiiam, and Ernest said then, "Chuck it. I'll be champion, too!" and he was before very long. Now he is a man bordering on .30 years of age, Cft. Tin., list. 101b., broad and handsome, a perfect specimen of tho English atbh'tS' if ever there was one. Arnst is over a year younger, about 6ft. on his broad feet, and because of his remarkable development, 13st. 21b. in weight when in condition.