THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.
"TUESDAY," JANTAN
12, 1987.
WHEN THE GREAT W. G. GRACE CONTROLLED HONGKONG YACHTING
CRICKET AT THE CRYSTAL PALACE
Famous Sportsman Added History
To A Famous Place
It was inevitable, of course, that the grounds of the Crystal Palace, so conveniently placed for Londoners should became a cen- tre for sport. There were, indeed, few sports that did not take place there at some time during the 80 years of the history of the Crystal Palace, and veterans in games always go back there for memories of some of the more notable sporting events of 30 or 40 years ago.
As it happened, a lille trouble, I was, amongst other things, the centre of Soccer, and for years the which had nothing to do with cricket, Cup Finals were played there. The had developed over an officlul part at Bristol, gates at these matches were some of his medical practice times even bigger than those at and in cominon with several other Wembley to-day, reaching 100,000 of the parish doctors, he had re- on one occasion.
signed. He decided, then, to accept the offer from the Crystal Palace, assuming that he would continue to captain Gloucestershire.
The county managers thought otherwise. So. In the middle of the 1880 season, W.G. disappeared from the skie It was a regrettable end
Tennis was old-established at the Crystal Palace, and international bowling matches were held there. The famous cycling track was one of the pioneers of pneumatic tyres, and the hardy cyclists of the '90s were paced around the track "quads" or "quins"-long machines to his famous Gloucestershire career. specially built to carry four or five men at a time.
by
However, he formed some admir- able sides at the Crystal Palace, and his especially he preserved there
Years ago polo was played there, though not for very long. Grahame outstanding conception of cricket us. White was there in the early days of a game to be enjoyed and laughed nying, and he took his heavier-than- over, not fought solemnly out. air machine around the north tower. There were boxing matches and bad- minton, and in later days the speed way.
ENTER W. G: GRACE
But of all the sporting memories of the Crystal Palace the most role ble must always be its cricket. For it was there that Dr. W. G. Grace himself organised and played for his famous London County side.
more
He had given up Gloucestershire, the side "with which he is usually ancorinted, and although the Crystal Palace did not see "W. G., very last matches, it was there that he spent most of the last days of his
VERY JOVIAL
There are still several cricketers living in London who played with WG, at the Crystal Palace, and they all emphasised this point to me, the Jovialness of the Old Man, his love of a joke, and the spirit of good fun in which the muteles were played on the Crystal Palace ground. Inel- dentally, W.G. made the wicket there. one of the finest in England.
He brought with him from Glou- estershire the old professional, Billy Murch, to do all his xd jobs."
"By was very dear," Mr. R. M Bell, ane of the early members of the London County, told me, "co the doctor used to carry about with him a police whistle, on which ke It was in the summer of 1893 that
world blow loudly every time he people began to say that W.G.'s prime was past, and that he ought wanted Billy Murch,
than
great career,
to leave first-class cricket. He was growing heavy, even for a man of his colossal size, and he could not get to the ball as fast as he used in the Beld,
He played in the Arst Test Match
against the Australians at Notting
זי
More often
́Historic › picture of W. G. Grace, walking. out from the pavilion on the formar Crystal Palaco cricket ground with P. F. ("Plum") Warner, who later became one of Eng- land's greatest Tost captains. Graco play. ed some of his finost D thin
Janings ground.
not, illy didn't come, but The Old Man put slow bowlers on County, and he and Grace were great day he knocked up 166 against the
wander up would
later with in when he was keeping wicket! friends sometimes the people down M.C.C.
and "In fact," as Mr. R. M. Bell de- never heard уси, "He had his little idiosyncrasies, there called Grace "father," innocent,
clared to me, "from what I remem- but everybody down there loved Murdoch "mother." doctor."
Grace was interested in many ber of the Old Man, I am convinced Mr. Bell had many more memories him. I know I did. He was such of W.G. at the Crystal Palace, a splendid old fellow, and always other sports besides cricket. He took that he was the greatest cricketer
was very fond of beagling, full of jokes and laughter. If he did readily to golf, for instance, and have ever seen. If he wanted to stay and often went out with the Worces have a bit of a sharp temper, a row he loved bowls. He was instru- in, there was nobody in cricket who ter Park Beagles," he said. "Once always blew over at once he never mental in starting, bowls at the could get him out."
Crystal Palace, with the help of Mr. meant it.
"He
hom, and although he scored 28, for the Arst time in his life he heard a a year he would arrange a match be man was amazingly good with S. E. Yelland, and international
In 1005 the London County ceased few people in the crowd criticising tween the Beagles and the London him. He was not chosen for the County. The Old Man played for young cricketers, and he could pick matches were played there, in which to be a first-class side, mainly owing to the lack of public support. After once. Ite Grace took part. a promising boy ut second Test match,
the Beagles, and at the same time out.
The bowling greens were alongside it finished. Grace, who had moved Now, there had been cricket at selected the London County side taught then the spirit of cricket too. the Crystal Palace for 30 years be- and you could be quite sure that the I remember one boy who was asked the cricket ground, and often when house to Sydenlum, moved again to Grace had been bowled during a Mottingham. It is gratifying to re- fore this W.G. noted in his own best London County men would not where he would like to go in.
"Well, I've never made a ducks, cricket match he would fill in time member that, at his last match of autobiography that the first im- be playing that day!
wiib
or all, for Eltham against Grove Purk a game of bowls. Once it was the same when the Old doctor, he replied. portant match there, Kent v. Nolts,
"The Old Man turned round to twice, indeed, he interrupted a erle a few days before war broke out, he was played on the same day that he Man was keeping wicket. He never made his first appearance at Lord's was a very good wicketkeeper, you Billy Murdoch, and called out, 'Hey, kel mutch, so that they could all go mado 31 runs on an extremely dif
and ficult wicket, and in spite of all the in July 1804. Latterly, however, know, but he rather fancied himself Billy, here's a young fellow who's over and see the Cup Final
bowlers could do he was not out. He's going in continue the match afterwards. ericket had not been highly success at it, and occasionally we would see never made a duck.
14 was during
the ful at Sydenham, and the directors him putting on the pads when we laat." offered the post of paid secretary were going out into the field. Then INTERESTED IN OTHER SPORTS Crystal Palace, so one old cricketer |
Billy Murdoch, the old Australian Informs me, that Grace achieved a and manages to Dr. Grace if he would turn to the fast bowlers, would form a club at the Crystal and tell them they would not be put captain, was the other veteran who remarkable-feat.-le-colossal size. Palace.
on that day and they never were, played regularly for the
At the HONG
This Week's Week's
a match at
London is legendary by how-everybody
KONG HOTEL
Dinner Dinner Dances
TO-NIGHT in the GRILL ROOM
With:-VERA LOVE and her FESTIVE FOLLIES
MAURICE DUFOUR and his ACCORDEON NORMAN BROOKS' BAND
WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY and FRIDAY
In the ROOF GARDEN
Featuring the above Artists. Admission: $1.
SATURDAY in the ROOF GARDEN (Extension till 2. a.m.).
Entertainment by the above Artists.
Dinner $7. After Dinner Admission, $2.
AND on SUNDAY, 17th JAN. (from 5-8 p.m.). SPECIAL FAREWELL TEA DANCE
to VERA LOVE and her FESTIVE FOLLIES with NORMAN BROOKS' BAND Admission: $2 per person
THE HONGKONG & SHANGHAI HOTELS, LTD.
knows the picture of the genial ginnt, with his huge hands and feet, and his great black beard.
One day a swallow swooped low over the Beld, just where Grace was fielding. Out shot his hand-and he caught in flight.
LAST NIGHT'S. BADMINTON
(Continued from Page 8.)
Diana & Joss Win Ladies'
Sweepstake Races
Yesterday's Ladies' Sweepstake Races were won by Diana, solled by Miss M. Whitham in the II Class and by Joas, salted by Mrs. L. Stan- ton in the A and Y classes.
The course. over a distance of 7.6 miles was: Channel Rocks Mork (P), Holls Wharf Mark (S), Kowloon Rock Mork (S), Club Line.
Full results were as follow:
"I" Class Started 14.40 Yacht No. Finished Corid, Pen. Diana
10.45.55 10.45.55 1
(Miss M. Whitham)
Rolia
H3 D.N.F Dorothea.. 11 17.01.08 10.50.40 2
(Mrs. S. D. Reid)
"A" and "y" Classes Started 14.45
ang Carpenter A 1 17.07.10 17.57.10 6
(Miss P. R. Richards)
Lobo
A 2 17.30.10 17.39.19 5 (Mrs. E, R. Edwards)... Artemis...A 4 17.30.50 17.30.50 4
(Mrs. Sheldon)
Joss
A B 17.15.36 17.15.30 1 (Mrs. L. Stanton)
True Blue All
D.N.F.
Heron ....Y 3 17.25.00 17.22.46 2
(Mrs. E. Moore)
Widgeon..Y 5 17.26.30 17.23.28 3
(Miss H. Crawhall-Wilson)
A. J. OSMUND
Osmund WillTMTM Defend His Billiards Title
M.C.C. TEAM WINS POOR ENTRIES ·
Good Englishmen's
Form in Tasmania
Launceston, Jan. 11. The maich between the M.C.C. cricket tourists and Tasmania con-
cluded here to-day in a victory for the English team by an innings and tour runs.
In reply to Tasmania's score of 104, the M.C.C. hit up 317 runs, adding only 34 to their total of 283 for seven wickets at close of play on Saturday.
Leslie Ames carried his score from 85 not out to 109, made in 130 minutes. It was a bright display, featured by crisp driving, and in cluded two aixes and 11 fours.
Putman, a slow left-nrm bowler. captured five wickets for 07 runs.
Faccu with the task of getting 213 avold an innings defeat, Tasmania scored 209. At lunch they had 40 on the board for one wicket, and by fea-Ume they had 152 for five. At
to
one time they were 179 for six.
Putman contributed 77, made from shots and off-driving. He was at the wicket for 134 minutes and hit six boundaries,
George Duckworth's wicket-keep- ing was outstanding; he caught three and stumped two.
J. Sima returned the fine figures of
ve for 39.
The Billiards Championships of the Colony organised by the Hongkong Amateur Billards Association this year have drawn a comparatively poor response, only 10 players having entered for the Senior and 32 for the Junior Championships.
A. J. Osmund; the Colony cham- plon, is again in the competition, but W. Hong Sling, the runner-up ́inst year, has not entered.
The draw was made by the Com- mittee at the Club Lusitano yesterday, evening and resulted as follows;
SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
P. A. Yvunovich v. G. M. P. Re-
medios; Lam Cho-cheung v. E. L. Barros; M. N. Rakusen v. M, K. Lau; E, D. da Roza v. R. F. da Luz; A. P. Pereira v. Pong Shin-piu; E, A, dos Remedios v. U. S. Suntos; H, W. Osmund v, W. H. Andrews.. Staples v. Strn Hon-ynt; A. J.
JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
F. P. Sequeira v. R. Dodge; Wong Yui-chee v. J. F. V. Ribeiro: C. Strange v. Lim Howah; G. A. Low v. Mul Chan-ted; C. M. Xavier v. Yuen Hong-liu: W. Wong v. J. C. Remedios; A.. A. Lewis v. 5. A. Y.. Remedios; A. C. Rozorio v. Leo Chi- choh; D. A. Montalto v. K. F. Tel: R. G. Xavier v. Wong Poon-chi; Ma Chun-man v F. Mara
Marques: L. V. An- tonia v. Fus. R. Evans: M. A. Bap- sta v. C. Wellings; Chan Hon-shu E. Zimmern; Ernest Lamb v. W. Anderson; J. A. da Luz v. T. F.
CLUBHOUSE CHATTER Jordan.
BY "VERITAS"
The prelimary rounds in the Senior Championship will be 500 up; semi- anal 750 and the final 1.000.
Preliminary rounds in the Junior Championship will be 300 up; scmi- Ann 400 and the final 500.
Matches will commence on Mon-
SPORT ADVTS.
Continued · from Page 8.)
Japanese have been anything but im- pressive in front of goal, and in day, January 18 and the programme will be announced in the course of addition do not appear-to-uppreciato the tremendous. value of fast pene- this
week. irative movements. Secondly their tactics have not compared too favour- ably. They insist upon exploiting through-the-middle
attacks,
and leave their wingers wondering whether they are at all connected with the gume. The Colony sides, adopting wing-to-wing methods have revealed themselves to be very much At Kowloon Tong last night, Kow-more progressive and potential. loon Tong "A" beat St. Andrew's Possibly the Japanese will learn tricks" by 6 games to 3 in the "B" useful lessons from a comparison of
Division:
these tactics. The answer appears to be writ in large letters in the results. clude a
The best story to illustrate the Old Man's attitude towards cricket that of the wild ducks. Grace liked to win, and in an unimportant match he would be up to all sorts He was bowling hard one day at the man who Crystal Palace against a just would not come out. Suddenly Grace pointed up towards the bright sun, and said to the batsman "Look at those ducks up there. Can you see them?
"B" DIVISION
K.T. "A". ST. ANDREW'S "B"
THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB.
Annual Race Meeting, 1937,
dividually the visitors In-
Entries for the above will close of highly skilful at 3 p.m. on SATURDAY, 16TH know more
than JANUARY, 1937, at the Secretary's of tricks Ofice, Exchange Bullding.
By Order of the Stewards,
players, whose good and who stick technique ig
R. E. Lee and E. A. H. Castro (Kowloon Tong "A") beat A. 5. Bliss and G. A. White 21-8; beat 1. E Kirby and J. P. Dawson 24-21; lost to M. Weill and S. A. Broadbridge the average number the
pass an opponent. A more open type of attack, together with better shoot-
The batsman stared up at sun, trying to see these quite ima- ginary ducka.
"Oh, they're gone now," etnickled
Grace.
The batsman turned back to the cricket, his eyes dazzled by staring at the sun. The Old Man bowled him next ball.
FAMOUS CONTEMPORARIES
12-21.
10
K. C. Yeo and J. J. Alvares (Kow. loon Tong "A") lost to Bliss and would quickly make the Varsity White 22-24; bent Kirby and Dawson side strong enough to beat Hongkong 21-13; lost to Well and Broadbridge 22-24,
N. A. E. Mackay and A. Chan (Kowloon Tong "A"), beat Bliss und
Mr. Waller Brearley, the famous White 21-12; beat Kirby and Dawson was 21-8; bent Wefl and Broadbridge fast bowler, told me that he
once playing for the London County 21-7.
sido at an away match, and it was snowing.
"Can you stand, sonny?"
asked him.
Grace
LEAGUE TABLE
"A" Division
-P.. W. D. LA F. A. Pts.
He replied that he could, as he | Recrelo "p" had his long-spiked boots on. But Recreio "A" 5 5 as it happened, he slipped on the
first ball, the batsman clumped it St. Andrew's
and it whistled almost through the
* 4 Q 2 24 30 8
0041 4 10
7 3 ด 7.3 0
4 27 36
4 30 33 0
D 17 I 1
Old Man's beard as he stood fielding. Chinese.....
"Hey," he shouted, in an og- Y.M.C.A. 2 2 grieved voice,
"If you can't stand University "A" 6 2.0 0 18 we're going in."
Free Lancers ..7 0 0 7 14 40
Bonny
Contemporary issues of Wisden University "B" 2 0 0 2 0 16
show the progress of the London
County side at the Crystal Palace. Although famous cricketers played
"B" Division
0
7 5 02:43 5 4 0.1
සපු පස පබ්
3 3 0 2 24 21 02-04 14:40 -- 4.
there, including, besides Grace and King's College 6'6 0 48 8 12 Murdoch, C. B. Fry, P. F. Warner, Kowloon Tong A.:0. Jones, C. J. Burnup, C. L.
LA Townsend, Braund, Quaife, Robson, V.R.C Lilley and Tom Richardson, and the St. John's Australions, the M.C.C., the South S. & S. Homo Africans and several county sides St. Andrew's ` were among the visiting sides, the "B" 7. 1 0 20 43 2 public did not attend in any great Kowloon Tong numbers
"B" ....... 0 0 0 0 13 14 In 1000 Grace had an aggresate of
nz runs,
0
Chinese Y.M.C.A. having
teams..
LEET FOOT
C. B, BROWN, ·
Secretary, Hongkong, 11th January, 1987.
Spruce up your game!
TENNIS
FLEET FOOT SHOES
Experienced players wear FLEETFOOT tennis shoes for their flexible freedom and unqualified comfort.
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and the London County beat the West Indians, In the transferred to the "A" Division, their following year he made 132 against record has been expunged).
the M.C.C., and during the season
took 39 wickets for 21 runs each.
In the 1003 season, the Enning
County beat Gloucestershire, Grace's
Coral Gables, Miaml; Jan. 10.
old ride, and in that match he made In the final of the Tennis Doubles 180. The following year Wisden re-Championships played here to-day. corded that both Grace and Murdoch; Donald Budes and Arthur Hendrix
(115-inch wheelbase)
HK$4,000.00
HK$4,100.00
THE DRAGON MOTOR CAR CO., LTD.,
Avery proclive a little old, but even tolested "Blisy" Grant and Gene 31261 Telephone 31201 no tlin Old Man had perfodle roturns; Sabin by scores of 6-4, 4-0 and 6-4.
to his old form. On his 60th birth-| -United Press.
33 Wong Nel Chung Road, Happy Valley.