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ALAN HOBY'S COLUMN'
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH,
IS BRUCE WOODCOCK A WORLD-BEATER?
As the vast, floodlit bowl of the White City emptied the other night one qucation was on everyone's lips: "Who put the hate into Bruce Woodcock's Boul?"
Perhaps they didn't express It quito that way but that's what they
meant.
Last December we had seen a nervous, apprehensive, back-pedalling character we could scarcely recogniso na Woodcock toss a flurried stream of powder-puff punches at the American, Leo Savold.
We had seen the Englishman win writhing on the canvas. And wo didn't. like what we saw.
And Solomons Bays: "People saw the eighth, ninth, and tenth wonders of the world all rolled into one.
TRANSFORMED
Not so Jong ago Woodcock rat blindfolded for six months in a chale, grimly nursingt un eye injury.
On Thursday, June 2, the Anmo 17121 WOS transformed into a cold, scowling killer.
Here was a man with murder in his heart and a poleaxe in
his right glove.
г
A
man who on the form which bludgeoned and battered tough Freddie: Mills nearly out of his senses can be the next heavy-weight champion of the world.
How? Why? What has got into ilm? Why is a Oghter who is written off as finished one moment a world-beater the next?
LEN HARVEY'S TIP Sanc, sensible
Len Harvey, one of the cleverest champions 11108 country ever produced, spoke what I thought were the wisest words on the Woodcock chigma.
Pherson's radio commentary well over to Wimbledon this month me it was brilliant,
"Stew" bad to rush by special car straight to the ringside from hls **Twenty Questions" broad- cast.
Ho had 15 minutes to do it, and was still wearing make-up when he enthralled you all over the air.
who is the most exciting player
personally have ever watched..
Ted Schroeder is the name, I've already tipped him to win the men's singles."
IN BARE FEET
Rigga, who was on the tablo being massaged while we talk- ed, suddenly sat up and added:
Finally, here's my personal menio on an unforgettable even-
"Take it from me, Schroeder Ing. Forecasting fight results these days is about as easy as a the greatest overhead shot- getting a glass of water in amaker in the world. He'll beat Gonzales." According to Riggs, night club.
Schroeder is also "the most man and begging gallant Fred-1 when he
1. confess I pleked the wrong bombnalic pinyer I know. Once
die Milla's pordon,
was playing Dinny
#ghted to have been
I am de- Pulls in the Davis Cup he first
wrong.
proved took off his shoes and played in his cocks. Then he took off socks and played in his Will his we see the Wildent Woodcock bare feet. "Then he got a bit ex- agains Savold next September cited, and threw his racket in
or will it be the baffled and bewildered Bruce who faced up to him last time?
Now I up to Bruce.
On the answer to that pay chological question depends whellier Woodcock will be the first Englishman to win the world's heavy-weight crown since Bob Fitzsimmons turned the trick 62 years ago.
WATCH SCHROEDER As Bruce ducked out of the ring with the cheers of a
greatest Jawn delighted crowd echoing in bls tennis players in the world me today are the American trio, Jack Kramer, Bobby Riggs, and evergreen Donald Budge. Wembley's World Professional Championships have proved this,
nothing else.
cars,
Len
Bold
to
"Druce always had the boxing, And when he got In that ring and fought an Englishman he has never to to
Englishman, only to Americans-all his out! conf- dence returned.
"Woodcock hou everything. As an old boxer I can tell you that every fight is 70 percent psychological.
"If Woodcock goes into his slam with Savold in the right mood he can beat him and put British boxing and dear old Britain right back on the map" IT TOOK TIME
WES
Significant of the reincarnated Woodrock's new outlook his remark to promoter Jack Solomons when he got to his dressingroom :-
"Well, are you happy, Jack?" "Yes," said Solomons. "Are you? You should be for on tonight's form.you can lick anyone in the world."
ទង
On Thursday, In contrast, we don't realise what it is like to back into the same ring where you had your jaw broken, Bruce had to do that against Lee Oma. Most men wouldn' have allempted it at all.
"Even the finest driver in the world drives a little more' care- fully when he passes the spot where he had a bad smash. It took Bruce time to come back." What Woodcock needs now in for some stic faith-healer lo keep on telling him that he can beat any Yank, just as he whipped MIlls,
BRILLIANT COMMENTARY
The
I
three
asked the good-looking, niercurial niggs whom he thought would win if profes- compete in one slam-bang free- slonals and amateurs could
for-n at Wimbledon,
"Kramer or me," he replied promptly. I agree.
by: "But there's a guy coming Then he added, more serious-
the air.
"When he made some more und shots he got down on the grams and took the blades be- tween his teeth. He also beat his head on the ground,
"Afterwards he asked me if I thought he hnd behaved badly, I replied: Actually, Ted, outside; of eating grass and bowing to the West and North and beating your head or the ground, I thought your were perfect!'"*
court mptiners
WIMBLEDON EIGHT
Maybe Biggs was laying on the "colour with a trowel. He swears not, but somehow I don't visualize Mr Schroeder "doing
Falkenburg" at Wimbledon. Meanwhile Riggs has already seeded his Wimbledon eight. Here they are
Schroeder. Parker, Bromwich, Drobny, Gonzales, Falkenburg, Sturgess and Patty, Best out clder, Sedgeman.--London Ex- press Service.
-*London Express Service)
Baseball Grows More Popular In Britain
Baseball, has a growing popularity with the British public and there are thousands now playing and 'watching the American game. Go to Hyde Park, London, for instance any evening and you will find several matches in progress and hundreds of people watching.
Moreover, permanent equipment in the shape of stone boundary walls and wire notting have been erected. The American Embassy staff turn up there in full force three or four evenings every week. There is in being a National Baseball League and it will surprise you to know that it boasts one hundred clubs,
lad very
SATURDAY, JUNE 18, 1949.
BREATHING SPACE
With his head bent low between his knees, his gloves resting on the canvas, Freddie Mills, the cruiserweight champion of the world, sits on the ropes and snatches a few moment's breathing space during his fight with Bruce Woodcock, the British, Empire and European heavyweight champion, Nearly fifty thousand spectators at London's White City Stadium saw Woodcock retain his titles by knocking Hills out in the fourteenth round-Daily Express Photo-
graph.
GOOD EARLY SEASON PERFORMANCES AT BRITISH GAMES
By "RECORDER"
Looking over the summaries of results at the British Games at the White City on Whit-Monday, one can only remark at the wealth of good performances turned up, by British athletes among others, at what is, for Europe, about a third of the way through the athletic
season.
The United States won the international match with 63 points. One could hardly expect the Americans to lose and they turned out first stringers from the point of view of their winter indoor season, the team consisting of the National AAU Indoor champions.
Britain, except for the sprints, and the jumps, also turned out her cham- pions and finished second with 62 points. The four other European countries, it is curious to note, remained, except for an ocensional star, content with turning out teams of their second and third bests.
One British All-Comers; two British National and one English Native record were set.
'High Jump
They finished. In the order- With competition from Cey- ] France, 38 points: Belgíum, 32 ton's Duncan White, Olympic 1. D. Phillips (USA) 6 feet & points; Holland, 28 points; and silver-medallist now at Lough-Inches; 2. R. C. Pavitt (GB) 0:2; Norway, 17 points.
borough College, Whitle should 3. A. Paulson (Norway) 0:1; 4. improve to the point where he 1, Heinrich (France) 5:11; 5. G. will be an Olymple finalist of van der Hoeven (Holland) 5:8; the future iz noi a champlon, 6, W. Herasens (Belgium) 5:0. Nankevillo has already gained
Long Jump With a wealth of good perfor-that distinction. mances by British athletes, the outstanding one surely was that of D. O. Finlay who, at 42, run the 120 Yards 11igh Hurdles in 14.8 second for third place,.
_______THE_SUMMARIES
100 Yards Dash 1. W. J. Dwyer (USA): 10 seconds; 2. F. Linssen (Belgium) Finlay ran for Britain In the 10.2; 3. J. Kleyn (Holland) 10.3; Olympic Games at Los Angolbes 4, J, A. Gregory (GB); 5. R. In 1932 and he has now, at one Litauden (France); 0. M 11., time or another, run ngainat Hansen (Norway). nearly every hurdler of inter- national repute in the history of modern athletics.
220 Yards Dash
flung centres as London, Car-like Ike Williams
They operate in such widely| softly-spoken
much
1. W. J. Dwyer . (USA) 19 seconds; 2. L. C. Lewis (GB) dir. Birmingham, Glasgow, He has had 107 fights, lost Except for Canada's Earl 22.0; 3. F. Linssen (Belgium) Liverpool, Hull, Leeds and Manchester, to outs. He kayoed Willie Pep for was of the standard of his era 5. R. Litauden (France) 6. M. H, Edinburgh, Dundee, only soven and won 70 by knock-Thompson, nono before him 22.3; 4: J. Lammers (Holland);
quote just a
a few. As each club the world title in seven It was certainly one of the as an average membership of but just over three months later ly good American to beat him.
rounds and it still takes an exceptional- Hansen (Norway). .. nights of the century. People about 50, there are 5,000 players was persunded who listened to Stewart Mac-Ten
into a return
440 Yards Run League and club organisers fight and lost it on points. never expect the gome to cx- He and his manager are con- and much more but those who fident they can regain the world follow it ure quite satisfied at crown after Saddler has had three
warming-up fights in London,
Arthur Peall says:
getting their own enjoyment out RANTHAM amateur J. 8. Thomp- by son began a game of billiards of it. Nevertheless a publicity Paris and Dublin.
cutting "red into the left top i campaign is to be started to sco Pocif more recruits can be enlisted, then made
the 28 hazarde
ilmil with
SANDY SADDLER Coloured Sandy Saddler of New box York City, who hold the world's
5 break,
zak
1 friends
this Feat
I can only
say that it
i most u 20 (18), although 15 time been done before.
My father, W. J. Feat, once werowed in off red with the opening atroke of A game and went on to win with an unfinished 600 break.
Challonged to repeat the perform• ence, he returned to the table and succeeded again, thus, scoring 1,200 points without his opponent playing
shot.
Present rules and the **28 nazard iimi do not tend to big, red ball broska. A spell at this old-fashioned "spot-troke," ainking red siternately into the top pocket, will, improve
your poving.
(London Express Service),
-REMEMBER-SCORSTONG- HAVE
FOUR BARS OF LEGO.. THAT LEANDA TAIRES TO
FIND AND THE BRA 'SCORPION'
HIMGELE
This White City programmo was the biggest ever put on in London and Jnek Solomons was at war with the BBC over its broadcast.
to
The BBC offered £250, which
cach baxer. It was
Bill Nankeville in the Milo 1. A. 5. Wint (GB) 47.2 and Harry Whittle in the Low seconds; 3. D. «Dolen (USA) Hurdles turned in the two most 47.3; 3. O. Soclewacy (Belgium) promising performances of the 49.7; 4. H. de Kroon (Holland) day,
Unusual Honour
Scottish Athleto
50.0; 5. Gay (France) 50.8; 0, J. Svendsen (Norway) 51.0
880 Yards Hun
One Mile Run
:::
For. Fox (USA) 1 min, 53.0 Becs. 3. M. Clare (France) 1:54.0; 3. H. J. Parleit (GB) 1:55.2; 4. J. Brys (Belgium) A young Scottish athlete, 150.4;. 5. A. Boysens (Norway) featherweight championship for Solomons says gave about £40 Ronald MacLennan, of Edin 1:60.6 0. A. Klat (Holland) exactly 103 days earlier this
not burgh, who is completing 1:50.8. year, flew into London on May though. He was willing however year's course as a physical train 24 to full his engagement with BBC did, the same.
to give £500 to charity if the ing instructor at Fredensborg, Irishman Jim Keery
1. M. Hansenne (France) 4 Denmark, has received a rather Woodcock-Mills
bill at
unusual honour. He the
has been mins. D. necs.; 2. F. Wilt (USA) White City on June 2.
given a place in the team which 4:10.7; 3. G. W. Nankeville (GB) Black as the Ace of Spades,
is to represent Denmark at the 4:13.2; 4. Everaert (Belgium) his name ja really Sandy,
Lingiord, the Scandinavian gym 4:14.8; 5. Von Royen (Holland) christened thus by his parents
nastic gathering, run on Olympin 4:15.2; 0. F. Eckhof (Norway). worked for a Scots
Games lines, which will be held | 4:25.2. Henley
at Stockholm in July. Mac-
Two Miles Run
on the
Henley Royal Regatta
Britain's popular
when they man in the West Indies where Royal Regafia”
Sandy was born.
will take place Lennan, who
this year on the following four served as a staff-sergeant with 15.6 secs.; 2. C. Stone (UBA) Je only 24, hus 1. D. G. Wilson. (GB)' ↑ 'mina. 29, the Physical Training Corps of 9:15.7; 3: J. Vernier (France)
That makes him eligible for days: Wednesday, June
the Empire title held by Ronnie Thursday, June 30, Friday, July. the British Army, and was 18 9:17.0 4. F. Herman (Belgium) Clayton, He is a quiet, modest, and Saturday, July, 2.
Mister Conquest
NOW I CAN GIVE YOU THIS
months in West Africa.
9:30.0) 0. 11. Harting (Holland) 0:20.4; 6. R. Haglund (Norway).
Ons Mile-Medley: Relay (880, 440, 220 & 220 Yards)." 1. United States (Bolen,, Fox, Douglas:& Dillard) 3 mins, 25,4 - secs. 2. Grent Britain ́(Purlett, Wint, Gregory & Lewis) 3 mins. 30 secs. 32,, Holland (Kist, de Kroon, Klein & Lammera); 4. Belgium; 3. Franco; 8. Norway,
120 Yards: High Hurdles 1. H, Dillard (USA) 14.4 secs.; 2. A. Marle (France) 14.0; 3. D. OK Firrlay -(GB) 14.6; 4. G. van der Hoeven (folland); 6. P. van de Sype (Belgium); 4. En Arno» berg (Norway), LA.
440 Yarda Low Hurdles 1. R. Ault (USA) $3.7 seca, 2 HE. Whilus (GB) 11.72 3. 7. Cros (France) (1,3; 4. A. Klem (Norway), 39,2% B. Van Eden (Belgium): 0. J Bakel" (Hol-
Is Any Player Worth £15,000 Tax Free?
By PETER DITTON
Dennis Compton, England's cavalier of cricket, is losing some of his popularity, and through no fault, of his own.
As usual, monoy is the root of all evil. This is his benefit year and the "collect for Comptón” cam- paigners are aiming to raise £15,000 for the Hendon born lad who has done more, in the post-war era, to maintain the traditions of English cricket than any other player.
You might ask "well, why should Compton lose some of his popularity Just because this is his benefit year?" The answer is that so much publicity has been attached to his benefit that people are becoming. a little weary of it all. They have read or heard no much about the £15,000 target which must be reached that they are becoming a little narked.
Remember,' a erickster's beno-į
It would do away with all tho
it is tax frog because it is a small minded attitude of, "I'm gift. Therefore overy penny not going to give anything to that Denis Compton receives Dents Comptori. He gets more will be his to spend bank, than I do onyhow." Further- Sir Stafford Cripps can make more it would tond to create a no demands upon it as he does team spirit and would ensure when football receives a that equally hard-working, but bencft. And if Denis receives less effective players than Denis £10,000 that will represent an Compton would receive their due earned income for the year of acknowledgment, £445,000.
It
D
Heavy List Of Golf
Fixtures
is of course completely wrong to work on this basis because Denis will probably only have a benefit once in his career. Nevertheless that is what people are doing. They are asking themselves why they should contribute money to a man who stands to make more in one year than they can hope to make in a lifetime. And it this attitude prevails, the Middle- sex player is likely to get of golf_fixtures has been n much smaller sum than was at arranged in Britain. One of Arst anticipated.
the highlights of the golf
An unusually heavy list.
But the point remains, is any calendar is the Walker Cup sportsman worth £15,000 tax match which will be played free? When this question is put on August 19-20 at the thus bluntly. there are few
people who can answer "yes" Winged Foot Club, New Once upon a time, if a player York, when Britain sonda received a £560 benefit, he was a team to play against tho considered extremely lucky.
With
Times have changed and money United States." values decreased. Last year, Cyril Washbrook, the Lancashire and England opening batsman received £8,000 for his deeds on the cricket feld.
view
to giving amateurs in Britain first-class playing experience and to pre- pare them for their Walker Cup experience,
the
Professional Golfers' Association has already SUPPORT FOR HUTTON
offered to throw all tournaments under Jurisdiction open to Next year it is Len Hutton's
amateurs to a maximum of benefit. His supporters, so it is cialmed, have made up their ments which will be played in Among the 30 leading tourns- minds to better the amount
20.
which Complen will receive will be focussed on the Ryder Britain, the greatest interest When this sort of thing happens Cup Professional Match versus of course, the position becomes
farcical. No one begrudges the USA at Ganton in York- professional cricketer his beno-shire, England, on September 18. fit. He is an entertainment
bring #
artist and compared with other For this event is expected to entertainers, a poorly paid one
large number or
golfing stars at that. But when it becomes a American
to question of "Whatever you get Britain. On July the Open we will better" then it is time Championship will be played at to draw the line.
Deal, England, and this event, too: will probably bring challen. gers from oversens countries,
It?
Can anything be done about I say yes. Why not allow each club to have a benefit for all players once every five years, Individuals as such would not be considered but the ability of the team would still be recognised.
Where Football Is Hard Work A player good enough to hold
African prisoners In Northern hope to qualify for perhaps tour 5 inches; 3. H. E. Askew (GB) or five benefits during his career, work, says the Colonial Office in 22:1114; 3. R. Bobin (France) A player just coming into the London, quoting the Northern 22:04 4. M. Naakigeboren side for occasional matches could Rhodesla Prison Report, 1947- (Holland) 22:04; 5. M. Wauters be given a percentage but such When the prison stall organised
20:11
6. (Belgium)
Ka player in any case could not games, a team of prisoners: loksund (Norway) 20:01⁄4, hope to quality for a beneft asked for pay.
1. H. Douglas (USA) 24 tone his place in a county eleven could | Rhodesla regard football as hard.
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