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race no records were broken. After the excitement of the race things concluded on a more mundane level with a Police check on the number of those who had faltered on the way and been picked up by launches etc. The lists tallied.
The Colony Championships proved equally successful and such record times as had been regarded as secure for several years were bettered by convincing margins, bringing the local standard still closer to international marks. The swimming season was prolonged to afford maximum training for the interport contest with Manila. Hong Kong's young team did remarkably well by winning all five events for ladies in record times, while the men did well to win two of seven races, also establishing a new record and equalling another.
Softball
This American game which started as a healthy and delightful way of spending Sunday morning in the open has developed since the war to such an extent that to cope with its heavy fixtures the It is a Association now arranges for games during the week as well. significant sign of its growing popularity that the leagues attract sixty- six teams with almost 700 men, women and children taking part. The ground which was allocated to it in 1950 has now temporary bamboo stands with a seating capacity of 500. In line with other local governing bodies, this Association has joined the Amateur Sports Federation, in addition to securing
to securing recognition from its parent organization in America.
A notable feature of its programme in 1951 was a visit of about 100 players and supporters to Macao to play exhibition matches, the entire proceeds of which were donated to refugee relief in that city. At the end of the year, member clubs of the Association were engaged in a series of matches for the Olympic Fund.
Lawn Tennis
Evidence of the popularity of the game in Hong Kong can be gauged from the fact that sixty-three teams entered for the eight divisions of the Tennis League.
The Championships conducted under the auspices of the Hong Kong Lawn Tennis Association attracted considerable support and the Open Grass Court Colony Singles Champion, Ip Koon Hung, took part in Wimbledon and other national championships, annexing the titles of Wales and Malaya.
The interport matches with Saigon were all won by Hong Kong and at the end of the year a team of schoolboys visited Macao as part of the policy of the Association to encourage the younger players.
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