THE WORLD OF SPORT.

Shannon News, 24 February 1925, Page 3

THE WORLD OF SPORT.

All Rights Reserved. (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) Wonderful Fifty Miles Run. One of the most memorable feats in British athletics has been accomplished by A. F. H. Newton in breaking all records for the fifty miles run on the road. Newton, who was educated Bedford Grammar School, and is a farmer in Natal, has been on a visit to this country, and his attempt to set up a new record was achieved within a few days of his return to South Africa. He started under the shadow of Big Ben, Westminster, at eight o'clock in the morning. It was raining and bitterly cold and generally the conditions were most unfavourable for a record performance. Owing to the traffic he had, of course, to run by the side of the road, and the gutters were full of water. The result was that his legs became painfully cold, but he was given hot lea with salt in it, and his vitality quickly revived. His aim was to beat six hours and he ran to a schedule which would enable him to do so. Though his pace was wonderful, there is not the slightest doubt that he could have increased it, but though he was' fresh and well to the bitter end, he never tried to force an extra yard. lie set out to do a certain time and was content with this performance. His route lay along the historic road to Brighton, and the total distance covered was ol miles 1670 yards. This he completed in 5 hours 53 minutes 43 seconds, and it is significant that within an hour of completing the course he was seated at dinner in a perfectly "normal state, showing not the slightest sign of physical distress. The previous amateur record for the Westminster to Brighton run, accomplished £5 a ears ago. was 6 hours 58 minutes 18 seconds, and the professional record 6 hours 34 minutes 50 seconds. L'olh these times were shattered in an amazing way. Another notable feature was that Newton completed the marathon distance of about 25 miles in nine minutes shorter time than the first Englishman accomplished in ihe recent Olympic Games in Paris. Yet Newton went on foi" another 26 miles It was one of the greatest feats ever accomplished by an athlete in this country. Bad Manners at I/awn Tennis.

There have been many complaints concerning the bad manners of lawn tennis players at open tournaments, and the position has become so serious that official action has had to be taken. What "punishment" is to be imposed has not been indicated, but it is understood that those who offend ayainst the amenities of the courts will be dealt with. It is in tlu smaller tournaments at which, the trouble chiefly occurs. At those thero are always one or two outstanding piayeis who have been specially invited to compete, in order that they may attract spectators, and in many cases they claim to have-all their own waj. They go on to court when they want to ,or lather they do not play unites it suits their convenience, and in other ways they dictate to those in charge. Having attained a certain position in the game, they stuly only their own interests. Again in Ihe actual play, they are a law unto themselves. If they do not agree with the decisions of the umpire, they have not the slightest hesitation in openly questioning them. Indeed, there have been all too many instances in which they have demanded the removal of an umpire who has ' considerately got into the chair to discharge a thankless task. Displays of petty temper, too, have been frequent Indeed, it is recorded that one woman left the court in tears owing to the way her partner in a mixed doubles had addressed her. Every one deplores that this unfortunate side of the game should bave i>een given prominence, but the authorities rightiy j thought that the sooner they tackled the trouble the better. There is nothing wrong with the gieat majority of players, but there are "black sheep" in every game, and it is they who have been reminded that they must behave as gentlemen.