Personalities In Sport

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 351, 11 May 1928, Page 10

Personalities In Sport

Professor Mux Walker. A lick lander, is Dominion’s . Most Stylish Bozcler

The name of Maxwell Walker in New Zealand bowling is like the name of Jack Hobbs in English cricket—it never needs introducing. And rio wonder. Bor nearly quarter of a century now Max Walker has ranked as one of the Dominion’s most briTTtant exponents of the ancient English game. In fact, there are some who say that he has just claim to take his place with the elect of the world. It was away back in 1906 that he first took up bcAvling as a pastime, joining the Ponsonby Club. That season he won the club’s first-year championship. and ever since lias continued on his winning way. Not a year has passed during the last 22 seasons without Max Walker winning some important event or other. If looked at in this light alone, his record is a truly remarkable one. and testifies to the marvellous versatility which he has maintained over so many years. It is a record which few men in New Zealand can approach, and certainly one which none can equal. THREE TIMES CHAMPION Three times Walker has won the Dominion singles championship, five times the Ponsonby Club championships, and three times in succession the Auckland Club championships—a record for that club. On two occasions he won the Auckland Centre’s champion of champions tourney, and twice he has been runner-up. The Auckland Centre pairs title has come his way several times, his partner on one occasion being G. Pelham. Then in 1926-27, with A. Brackebush, he pulled off the Dominion pairs championship, held at Auckland.

the match in which England beat Scotland by two tries to nil, and so won the international championship and the Calcutta Cup, a London critic says: “The English forwards played a superb eas ily the best of the season. While Scotland had a dour, hardworking pack, it was rather outclassed in every phase of forward play. W'e have not witnessed such a glorious exhibition from an English pack—a sustained effort—that extended for so long a period, for very many seasons, especially since the war. There was not a single one of the pack who did not come out of the game with the highest possible honours.’’ ONLY A TRADITION? W’retched tackling has been responsible for the defeat of several League Rugby teams this season. The old tradition—and a worthy one—of going low, seems to be a tradition and nothing more. If the tackling does not improve the English team will have little opposition.

The only bowling Xew Zealand worfh win Walker has not ve t clLT'** Dominion fours. 'i : * ti. Of trying. for several ti™' tor *£- ha ~, Ecme dangerously close?, "*■ Thrlce llas He annexed the aV?* 3 Christmas pennant four times the Auckland •* He has competed at anv t,, country tournaments. t Rotorua tournament three £2* «» the Wellington. Wanganui ** ton championsh ps once eac?* recorded several wins at Thames. Te Awamutu. To Kui,? L TW a "" ual tournament?* M That, very brieflv is tl„ „i, record in first-class bowling " lns •" other clubs and "aments have come his m scores. Although his ear?,®? been remarkable for , ;s hi ’ year after year, it is but he should have done better ”1?' 011 seasons than in otln>s. *”*• TWO PEAK SEASONS Records show that 1925-26 and lo stand out as Maxwell Walker*. *1L 4 years. In 1914-15 he won five rink tournaments out of the six enfl? for. winning the New Zealand pionship. the Auckland Centre w nament, Te Kuiti tournament. Row tournament. Cambridge touraam? Onehunga tournament, and tootV in the semi-finals of the New Zest, championship fours.

In 1925-26 he won the Auckland Hn. championships. Auckland Club JnWu: Cup. Auckland Club Anzac Cud. Aw land Club handicap pairs the An.” land Centre champion of tourney. Auckland Centre chamno. ship pairs, Auckland Centre Ear. tournament. Rotorua tournament x c 1. while once again he played in 0. semi-finals of the Dominion chamnioT ship fours. For some years also he served or the Dominion Council, and was chic* responsible for the introduction of fe present system of running Domini: and centre tournaments. Max Walker is an Auckland Gnus mar School old boy, who graduate M.A. at Auckland in 1902, and B.Cotr in 190 S. He then went* to Europe loa year for Continental experience ir languages, and on his return in IH'was appointed professor of moderr languages at the Auckland University College. This year he is chairman o! the college professorial board. In public life he does a good d«! of reciting in connection with the Orphans* Club. “ONLY A GAME" In these days,” says Max' Walker "too many bowlers take the game a* seriously as a business. With me i: is never anything more than a gamr pure and simple—win or lose, it make? no difference. If I lose, I just smile That’s all any loser can do.” Asked if he liad ever toured abroad. Professor Walker replied: “No: the present method of organising tours prevents all but men of means froic going. Xew Zealand touring teams are always far from representative strength. The New Zealand Bowline Association should run tours like tb* cricket and football authorities, aac pay the teams’ expenses.” In his younger days Professr Walker played both cricket and football. He gained some reputation as a swerve bowler in Auckland senior grade cricket. In fact, for a time htried to. keeD both cricket and bowling going together, but gradually thlure of the lawns overcame 1 im, and he devoted all his energies to bowls His winter sport is golf. One could find no greater tribal* to the prowess of the man who fo ’ more than two decades has dominate Xew Zealand bowling as a prnce o: stylists than that contained in a recent isue of a Southern paper: “From what I have seen of his gen* ral all-round play. Walker stands ou-pre-eminent among New Zealand bowlers. He has skipped the winning pa“ once, won the singles three times, br the rinks never. But tell me this! 1‘ there another skip in New Zealanc who has pushed his way so far *> often in the post-section play? Always he wins his section, always h* wins his way well forward among tl* chosen of the section. I have see' Max Walker play beautiful shots * every description, drive, cut o’J anything you like, and hardly evrhave I seen him play anything Yes, hardly ever! If he doesn't **■ what he goes for. he goes so michr close to it that you don’t feel zvr* until the miss is absolutely registered-