LAND & WATER.

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 49

LAND & WATER.

SWIMMING THE CHANNEL MISS COPPLESTONE’S PLANS. LONDON, June 22. The New Zealander. Miss Lily Coppleetone, interviewed by the Daily Herald, stated that she would attempt to swim the English Channel during the first week in August. “ I have left my trainer behind, and do not know a soul in London,” she added. MISS COPPLESTONE TRAINING. LONDON, June 25. Miss Lily Coppiestone has commenced training in London. She intends leaving for the north next week. She will attack several records, including the crossing of the Firth of Forth, before her departure to Cape Gris Nez. Asked who was training her for the Channel attempt, she replied: “Nobody. I am doing everything.” BILLIARDS THE EMPIRE CHAMPIONSHIP. SYDNEY, June 22.

The Empire amateur billiards championship has begun. The New Zealander, W. Hackett, is playing L. Hayes (Australia) 2000 up. The scores at the conclusion of to-night’s session were: —

Hayes (in play), 1333 (best breaks 59, 49, and 77); Hackett, 697 (66 and 32). Hayes was the steadier, but the New Zealander occasionally sparkled. SYDNEY, June 26. In the Empire amateur billiards championship Steeples defeated Hackett (New Zealand) by 2000 to 407. The Englishman made a break of 461 unfinished, which is a world’s record. SYDNEY, June 28. In the Empire billiards championship L W. Hayes defeated H. Goldsmith by 2000 to 1250. Hayes’s' best break was 127 (unfinished). NEWMAN AND LINDRUM. MELBOURNE, June 28. Newman has scored 22,463, including a break of 914 ; Lindrum 20,648, including 'breaks of 536 and 231. CLAY BIRD SHOOTING. DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIP. -HAMILTON, June 25. The Dominion shooting championships were opened at Hamilton to-day in ideal weather. Sportsmen from all over New Zealand are present for the occasion. In the Open Clay Bird Handicap to-day of 58 competitors F. E. Cox (Taumarunui), 15yds, W. O’Brien (Hawera) 11yds, and A. Aitken (Morrinsvillcl 12yds shot the possible of 24 birds, and divided the stake. June 26. The New. Zealand Gun Club’s annual competitions were continued to-day in dull, cold weather. In the £lOO Handicap, of 30 birds, M. Pratt (Otorohanga) 17 birds. D. Fraser (Te Kuiti) 15, W. Semmens (Whakatane) 14, C. Hodge (Auckland) 15, W M'Mullan (Kaikohe) 13. G. Brotherton (Raetihi) 12, A. Richards (Taumarunui) 12, and H. Belk (Taihape) 12, shot the possible and divided the stake.

BASKET BALL. ♦ .The following are the results of Saturday’s games in Dunedin:— A GRADE. Otago GirlsVHigh School 20, Training College 15. University 13, First Church 10. BI GRADE. Tinopai 20, University 4. 811 GRADE.

College I 11, Collegiate 7. Rawhiti 15, Blue Triangle 10. Tinopai 13, Musselburgh 12. N. 25, Caversham 20. CI GRADE. Roslyn 9, A.B.C. 4. Blue Triangle 14, Gipoy 1. Normal 14, Maori Hill 8. Tanawai 2, Tinopai 2. Athletic 14, College II 3. Mutual 24, College IV 17. CH GRADE. Tuis 8, Caversham 5. Walton 19, Wesley 17. Blue Triangle II 15, Hostel 8. CYCLING OTAGO CLUB’S CONTEST. The Otago Athletic and Cycling Club held its cup race on Saturday from Park-' side to Otokia and back, a distance of approximately 32 miles." A field of 11 faced the starter (Mr A. Holmes), and B--Thomas, the limit man, set off shortly before 3 p.m. against a heavy and cold bead wind in the presence of a large er<wd of spectators. " On reaching 'he | top of Lookout Point Farmer, Turnbull I and Forward were riding well and nad | dropped Brown and Wills. On going | through Fairfield this bunch passed HanI cock and they caught Jones at Allanton. The scratch men, Ralston and Preen, were riding exceptionally well and were rapidly gaining on the rest of the field. Thomas, who had ridden very well on bis own all the way, was the first to turn for home at Otokia about three minutes ahead of a bunch comprising Turnbull. Farmer, and Forward, who had picked up Johnstone shortly before this. The scratch men were only owe and a-half nin.utes behind this bunch at the turn, having thus gained seven minutes on the way out. Wills, Jones, and Brown all withdrew before reaching Otokia. Farmer and Turnbull then went away from For ward and Johnstone about Allanton, and at East Taieri they passed Thomas, who had withdrawn from the race with cramp in the foot. Preen left Ralston at Allanton and riding brilliantly caught Turnbull at Mosgiel Junction. Farmer at this stage was about 600 yards ahead of Preen and both were tiding well. When negotiating the bend at Devil’s Elbow Farmer had the misfortune to have a severe fall owing to his back wheel collapsing. Up to this stage it had promised to be an exciting finish, but Preen then went on to win easily from Turnbull, with Ralston, who punctured on Lookout Point, wheeling his machine into third place. Hancock was the-Only other rider to finish the course. Preen thus secured the O. Cup along with first prize, as well as a set of Dunlop tyres and tubes 1 presented by Mr G, Heasley, cycle ager.t, Mosgiel, for fastest time. The following are the official placings:— C. W. Preen, Dunedin (scr), 97min

ssec 1 C. Turnbull, Allanton (SJmin), 119 min 45sec .. 2 A. W. Ralston, Allanton (scr) .. .. 3 J. Hancock, Shag Point (lOJmin) .. 4 The thanks of the club are due to Mr Dawson for the use of his shed as a dressing room.