THE CHINA MAIL,
BRITAIN'S GREAT CHANCE
S
IN THE DAVIS - CUP
Likely Victory Over France And Other Fields Of Conquest Ahead Of Her
7
By JOHN COTTRELL
Britain's women tennis stars have beaton the United States to win the Wightman Cup for the first time since 1930. Now Britain's men can boat France to reach the European Zone final of the Davis Cup for the first time since 1933. The thirteenth Davis Cup tie between Britain and France began last Thursday at Manchester and will end today. I back Britain to win, and almost certainly earn a trip to Italy for the zone final.
Last year Britain rather un- Davies, but failed in the Davis, Socialist expectedly beat France 3-2 in Cup singles, Paris and then fell in the semi- Anul round at Brussels to the battling Belgians Joeques Brichant and Philippe Washer,
This time I anticipate another clnge-fought tie against Frure,
bas even though Britain
the advantage ut. home and on grass,
The Frenchmen bave had I month's play and practice em Mochcoter #russ before the meeting, for they have wisely remained in Britain after the Wimbledon Championships to play in other tournaments.
SATURDAY, JULY 19, 1958.
P. C. 385 Aims To Catch His Man-It's Kuts
'NOTHING WILL STOP HIM'
SAYS Mrs STAN ELDON
By ALAN HOBY
British athletics, sighing for the lost glamour of the great Roger Bannister-Chris Chataway cra, has found a new crowd-puller, He is 22- year-old Stan Eldon - the galloping "cop” from Reading, the stor from suburbia. Time and again this year, P.C. 385 Eldon is an £8-a-week próbationary constable in the Berk- shire force has had the stop-watch statisti- cians groping for their record books.
He has four victories over Eldon at 10st, just about the Cordon Pirie in the mile, one lightest policeman in the coun- and a half mile, three miles, and try-has missed fust one day's
Tunning since
spent his honeymoon in Guernsey last
NP. Hi Davis Cup colleague, Austin, wna a Repton dour resistance against and Cambridge man.
But thanks to the far-sighted- Cooper after being two sels
night pess of the LPA in developing down shows that he can
behind, Anul if he Canfrnining schemes, lack of money from
The or social distinction no longer show much fortitude in
I believe he could need hold back a player of real Davla Cap
to the natural talent, not only take Britain
The LTA have spent thou-era-country. European Zone final but to even
sands of pounds on helping to further Aelds of conquest.
Davis further the career of the "Four Swansen-born Michael
Davies, fits the true lighting spirit of a Musketeers"-Wilson, Welshman. Last year, he almst Becker and Knight. Now their
Britain to her thini carried
semi-Anal. It succosive zone Paris he beat 1nillet after being lave-two down in the devising set of the last match.
can
to
The British Team He is Britain's No. 1 player
be relied upon The British team are Michael and Davies, Bobby Wilson and Billy Bght hard, though with more 17 1a0 Knight,
twenty-two-year- primitive "new boy" Tony artistic Wilson,
Roger Berker is Britain's No.
absence 2 and its
from 100
olda, and Plekard. The Fresh team ure
and Jean-Claude
weapons
Pierre Darmon, Robert Hallet, Davis Cup tema-4e Manches
ter meeting clashed with his
Paul Romy, Molinari
In Paris last year, 24-year-uidhneymoon-might seem to be a
dark and hanne Darnion
scored France's only victory in
the singles, beating Wilson
Ave sets. But now
severe blow,
Deplorable Form
£12 But I don't think so. Although
I belleve ho has defeated Davies wire
Haille muy prove the more dan-this season, he showed diplor
gerous threat to the
players.
Halot hes
Wimbledon being Britable form at
the beaten 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 by
Frenchman, Ponking isplayed great fourth
In Molinari, Becker sppeared to fighting qualities this year.
Budge Putty, Wimbledon
the
champion, being love-five ami
love-forty
the French Championships heave other things than tennis t In the circum- Ecored a fantastic win-beating his mind and,
fomerstunees, he would seem to be a
atter risky Davis Cup proposition.
Becker was not selected for the Cup matches last year At Wimbledon he went out thanse he was under suspension
first
another by the LTA for unt turning p round-le
County doubles match, Left-handed Billy Knight did
down in the unal set.
the
former Wimbledon champion, for it
bow
Jaroslav Drobny, But he CX- Scr.ded the "Old Fex," who was not play in a Cup match because he didn't quite inade the grade.
In brillant form, to five sela. This year Blity has returned
15
har
British
SUP-
BOBBY WILSON
investment is beginning to pay big dividends.
course, Britain cannot, of match the strength of Australian
Darmon who recently be.
to form, winning the come engaged to the Mexican Hard Churt title with victories tennis star, pretty little over ach
players
Budge the Maria Reyes, was
only Paity and "Beppi" Merlo, But, the last he is stronger to reach Frenchman
Wimbledon. But he face and at Manchester Britain Eixicai reached that stage with a walk-may rely entirely on Wilson und over, his prospective opponent, Davies.
1937. Tony Mlekard, fourth member Don Candy uf. Australia, having
strained
after his of the British party, gets Davis leg marathon battle against Billy Cup selection for the first time Knight.
El
Strange Fellow
because of Becker's refusal to piny unless his wife could stay in Manchester with him during the match. Pickard, also on his honeymoon, yalues the honour of playing in the Cup more
may
Ife is the international cross-October, country diampion during the cross-country season he wan 17 out of 18 races.
-
And two weeks
ago he be carne the fastest six-miler in the world when he coldly shattered the A.A.A. six-mile champion- ship record at Chiswick with a time of 28 min. 5sec.-8.8xec, better than the previous best.
Head wobble
success of P.C.
So spectacular has been the 385, with his now-familiar head wobble, his piston-thrust, arm oclon, and his deadly short sprints, that he Jus been called the British Kuts or Zatopek.
"But," said his attractive wife, Marion, when 1 called on the Eldons, "uch comparisons do
He has not please him. own way up from scratch. just wants to be him, if you know what I mean!"
I knew exactly what meant...
ho
"Even then he went running round the Guernsey coast,” said Mrs Erkan with a smile,
Since October, 247 days have by-247 days in which gone Stan Eldon has averaged B miles a week in the winter, and 50 miles in the summer-a total of some 2,750 miles.
for
When he had to report periodic stints at Workingham, Beven miles from home, he ran
there and back The superin tendent gave him permisedon to keep his uniform at the station.
Here's Stan Eldon on his daily run -accompanied by Simon, his young refriwwar.
A
third.
Page
tabil
Rain, snow, ice, sleet, oun -- the moods of Nature are all the same to Eldon, the patient per-
He finished
The following the Thorough--that is Eldon, he goes Eldon, who unlike fectionist. Frequently
middle-has the compulsive urge of the year he won..... home drenched. When the roads majority of British
champion. This "urge" Fidon's probationary period Are jey he wears his studde, distance men-is a tront rudastruc
a "rookie" constable does keeps a detailed dossier of every was apparent even when he was Hls cross-country running shoes.
training session. He enters his a kid. As a skinny 13-year-old not end until August 13.
luc not Grommar-and Even on Christmas Day he form, progress and times i
before-will County at Windsor minutės went out at five
to notebook "Eldon's bible" School he found that the annual have to decide whether his police
which goes with him she midnight.
cross-country race was open only career is a bandicap, as some ex- to boys over 15. where.
peris maintain, to his track am- Tuitions.
But whatever
He
P.C. 385's No. 1 fan, of course, For this youn: Windsor-born is his 52-year-old wife. His No. polleeman is no cosseted, state-2 supporter is his dog Simon, a pampered athlete. He lives in bounding, nine-month-old black
large but old police-owned retriever, house and, with his dog, his chickens in their garden coop,
And Simon often runs with ard his home background, he isis muster when he pounds out back as English 05 his "bobby" the mileage round the
streets of Reading. uniforts.
Eldon aso helps his wife by loping down to the shops shorts and vest and picking up the groceries. Naturally. Simon accompanies him.
Lightweight
He covers a 20-mile beat at men's tennis, but it is not im Sanning on his bicycle-just possible that her players
He like any other "copper." reach the Duvis Cup challenge does his eight-hour night shift round for the first time since plus his normal quota of mobile and C.LD. work-just like any AND Some Good Fortune other police probationer.
This year, Britain has had HE TRAINS ONLY IN HIS some good fortune. Washer, the SPARE TIME. man who helped to end Bri- taln's Davis Cup campaigns in 1053. 1954 and 1937, retired from International tennis and Delgium, with only the Hon- hearted Brichant, eliminated surprisingly by Ger- many.
The draw has given Britain three successive home Cup ties, zone final, she though. In the
were
Britain's Davis Cup hopes rest chiefly, I believe, on the narrow shoulders of Londoner, Bobby Won. This year he became highly. The first Englishman to reach Pickard deserves this selec- the men's tion. This year he had made the quarter-finals of singles since Tony Moltrum in great progress, beating. among 1948. He was unseeded and he ethers, Jaroslav Drobny and the Swede. Seven than any other top-ranking nearer man to beating the champion, Davidson. Ashley Cooper.
Wealth Of Talent would have to play in Italy, no-
сата
Wilson is a strange fellow.
He is the greatest arust in
"Bunny
Austin" who
At no time slage the war has Britain been able to draw on
British tenÁN Loday. In style such a wealth of talent and It and appearance we resembles la reflection on the social played changes in Britain that Wilson, such a great part in Britain's Davies and Knight nee former while grammer school boys, Becker is the sun of a London the driver and Pickard,
Davis Cup triumphs In the 1930.
In the golden era of British
torious for partizan crowds and dubious line decisions.
Wilson's Wimbledon triumph over Nicole Pletrangeli will raise hopes of a British victory, even on Italian hard courts. And then Britain could look forwarth, with some hope, to meeting the much weakened Unlied Stales team in the inter-zone final.
Wishful thinking? Perhaps. But the Important thing is that British fans can reasonably speculate so far ahead. At last
But Wilson, who has all the taxi strokes to make a great cham-son of a plumber. pton.
the appear to lack necessary fighting spirit for the tennis, the 1930's, much com- big international occasions. Last ment was evoked by the fact year he formed an excellent that Fred Perry was a grammar It is really GREAT Britain in doubles partnership with school product and the son of a the world of tennis.
TUE
WEEK-END
GAMBOLS
TRY A PIECE
Pow!
Answers To Sports Quiz
1. Bobby Jones. A putler. 2. (a) Lacrosse, (b) Cricke
3. Kuri Nelisen of Denmark, 4. They are all Welshmen,
5. Four times. 0. Six.
7. Arthur Milton.
8. (a)
(b) Ashley Cooper, Mervyn Rose, (c) Rose, (d) Mal Anderson,
9. Bob Fitzsimmons, Marvin Hart, Jack Sharkey, Max Baez, James Bradlock.
10. Angela Mortimer,
by Barry Appleby
IT'S HOT!
OF COURSE
IT'S HOT
THATS A PIECE
OF CHARCOAL
Fittest dog!
in
f fact, if Simon could talk he would probably say he is the Attest dog in Britain,
Crazy? The self-cotexous and the foolish might call it "crazy"; but if you are a working man living in England, and you want to be a world-beater, this is the only way to go about it.
Eldon "doesn't say a lot him- seit. He leaves most of the pub- le relations work to his wife who told me:
عار
"Hard work that's how Stan
That and has got there. cross-country running last win- ter. My husband is very deter mined. He is going to get there and nothing will stop him"
Yes, Stanley Edward Eldon 'wants to get "his man"-- none other than Vladimir Kula, 5.000 and 10,000 metres gold medallist al MelbouTTI", (The English police constable and the Soviet sailor will almost certainly meet at the European championships In Stockholm next month).
But first comes the six miles. in the Empire Gaines in Cardiff {today.
Cooking Problems Solved
ย
every
At present it Is telling him
not to rush things. "I had! a cold when
Ago Barrier
Then
happens, Stan Most lads would have accepted Eldon will continue to Fun I broke the xix-this age barrier. Not Eldon, He until he reaches the summit.
much He has that touch of ego that
mile record," he told me, "and pestered and pleaded so I aim to reach my peak in about that the whool authorities gave all world-beaters must have it
in. They let him and he they are to prosper, fortnight's time."
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