1956-01-28 — Page 17

BRITAIN'S OLYMPIC HOPES

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 1956.

On track and fold,

gymnasiuma, baths, in towns and villages up and down the country, Britain's top athletes are preparing for a tili at the biggest primo amstove sport has to offer an Olympic Gold Medal" What are their chances?

This serien takes you into the dressing rooms, and shower_baths, introduces you to the men and women who hope for the honour of wearing the Union Jack on their track suits in Melbourne next year. It tells the mory of their rise to fame, their hopes and fears.

HUSBANDS? NOT

FOR ME

SAYS DIVING CHAMPION MISS ANN LONG

By ERIC NICHOLLS

I was expecting someone rather different. That's why I stood almost next to Britain's National and Empire Games Diving Champion, Ann Long, in the foyer of the Bank of England, for fully five minutes without recognising her.

We had a luncheon dute. And knowing how easy it can be to miss someone In a building as large as the Bank of England's. I spent an interesting morning Vancouver alight, and studying photographs of the attractive young Miss who set

the Union Jack a-fluttering,

A

at the Helsinki Olymple Games.

And I brought her, by way of remuneration, an Amateur Swimming Association advanced certificate for teaching. and selection na a Southern Counties Judge.

Of course, she was attractive, springboard) But not in the way I had ex- pected. In fact the trim 19.

Airways year-old carrying bag might have been just an- other member of the army of typists and secretaries marchin to

and fro during their lunch breuk

Her le gathering has had "I couldn't help feeling that to

thanks to the aded Interest try and typify this Ilford hed efforts of one Charmian (Essex) girl, would be safeult

Welsh, When Ann walks off business She seerned so out of with the highboard Champion- place among the Clly "ty L," ship, Chufman is usually a clore their black bowlers and second, and lakes her revenge pin-striped | in the springboard, Last year razor- creused, trousers.

It was the reverse, the

springboard,

Ann look and

tiri to Chummian

Yet as she got to grips with omeleite 42229) tomatoes, one highboard. could hardly describe her as a i sporty type either

IL is hard to Imagine Anu Long lying to a schedule which teaves her very little time for anything other than diving.

WEEKLY ROUTINE

Just consider this routine:

weekly

Monday Offee 9

Ther

FIRST TO ADMIT

cam

the

Lake most young sportstuen or women, Aan could never have done 11 on her GWI She as the Orst to adult that Sla dhi to me, pausing from munch- ing cheese and bisculls to Nog the praises of coach Cyril Lax- Cyril, Incidentally, READ

10.

the

Ju

W15 who trained Betty

Slade. European Chumpers before the war. Betty was also an ford gir Home to

West Hom Baths for an hour and a half's balang bed.

4

Offer

D

Tuesday:

Home, Baths for train- p.m. Ing Then sing beling to conch youngsters of the Ilford Diving Club.

Ann's only regret as she stood in Vancouver, on the rustrum inghting back those tears of joy

Union Is she saw the

Juck hausted over the Empire Gumes studium, was that Cyril and wednesday: Office 9 a.m.- her parents were not there to 4 11.m Straight to Balls for see her.

We Ilami reached the coffee

when the stupe

training

Thursday

1

Office

B

11---

be proud! Io have ព..

his daughter.

Certainly England wishes her oll the luck that is going, and above all the achievement of her heart's desire-an Olymple Gold Medal.

London Express Servies).

(COPYRIGHT)

ANN LONG

TABLE TENNIS TALK

Sponge And Yorkshire

Grit That's

Brian Kennedy

Brian Kennedy, that large slice of Yorkshire grit currently rated as England's No 3 in the cause of table tennis, gives sardonic laugh when he hears suggestions that English players lack the killer instinct.

â

"Boffins"

Can Help

Soccer; Cine-Camera Brought Cup-Tie Win

Says DON REVIE

The "boffins" who perfected all sorts of weird gadgets to help us in the war are now turning their minds to sport—particularly soccer. In Germany they are ex- perimenting with revolving goal posts and I see that a Dutchman, Mr Hofland, has perfected a machine which draws a graph of a soccer match,

I appreciate that the average fan greets all these bright ideas with a cynical "So what? All I want is 8 draws upon my coupon and I like to see the old home town team.”

But I am all for the boffins in | Bushy. present manager of I was delighted my old club, sport. Modern coaching methods Manchester United, are among Leicester City, managed to boat and a scientifle approach the the greatest players of any ago. Luton, They must have a great Job have produced our record But no sooner had my mind chance of going into the Fifth breaking spartan breed of pondered on the skill of these Round at the expense of Stoke athletes like Gordon Pirie and two than I saw in action two City, Roger Bannister. So why should of their proteges, Eddie Colman soccer lag behind in the bright (Manchester United) and Ideas?

fley (Sheffield United). clubs-ko Many

Sheffield Wednesday for instance--aiready their matches. And when I was make use of the cine camera at Lelcester City player a cine cameraman played a big part in Cup

Д

helping us to get to the Final in 1949.

GLARING MISTAKE

It is interesting to recall that Jim clubs who beat Luton In the Cup often get through to Wem- It is the dismal truth,

bley. When but

I was at Leicester beat Lulon ола many great players haven't then 1949 we ledge to the youngsters coming pool in recent seasons.

So did ability to pass on their know want on to Wembley.

Bolton Wanderera and Black- into the game. Joe Mercer and

Then Matt Busby, however, and Stan City's turn to beat Luton and last season it was Manchester Cullis of Wolves, Oro the few exceptions.

Mercer must be

among

proud of

go on to the Finall

ACTUAL MATCH PLAY

Iley, who seems to have listen- Like most professional foot- ed attentively to his chief. Yes, ballers, I was amazed

to hear

ley looks as though he is go-that despite all the intensive in to be a power at wing-half, training we do, in actual match

Colman is a lad who, with tuck, cannot fail to reach the of the ball on average for less play footballer has posacsalon

ed on it and in the actual cup-top. He has all the calm cul- than two minutes out of the 90. tured approach_to wing-half

He took shots of one of our Cup opponents and when tho film was run through we could see o glaring mistake which the goalkeeper kept repeating. We spotted the weakness, play-

tie we scored through this goal- keeper's error. That's only one case where science has helped a soccer

team to win. But the introducing of soccer graphs will no doubt baffle the average player-particularly the youngster who is only out to enjoy himself in a virile way.

Yes, let's face the facts, A graph may look a serles of squiggly lines to the uninitiated but they can tell a lot to the Intelligent manager.

isn't it? But

been

play that Matt Busby had in Incredible,

playing days. In the whole Puskas of Hungary has 90 minutes I watched him, Imed, and he actually touched don't think he made a bad pass.

It is not necessary for me to

that point out

good football usually begins with the wing- half. When we have strong and in these posi- ciever players tions, you can be sure that the game in England will prosper.

Foolball forecasts have a high

but I think mortality rate, young Colman is young enough and good enough to

as the great many caps the Wright And that's strength and weaknesses of the something.

plus shots ot goal, passes back to the goalkeeper, etc, etc.

I

gather that Mr Holland's machine draws A groph for every five-minute period of 1

And it indicates game.

"It's utter nonsense. Of course we go out to win. Every time we lose to a It's possible to foreigner, someone

out and says that we aren't trying. comes love for a lot of reasons.

altack Your opponent might be the better player; or you might just feel off form."

op-in the South of England Cham-

plonships.

Track salter Brian

konven his was chat-įrmsh, which North Westponent standing. He doesn't hit subject orting to me at the

Kent Open Championships last so

he hits consistently, but $2.1. Aternoon of. But marriage came up. The news,

week-end. To back tu his harder. not

from training. To the for all eligible bachtiors, is that

argument, he smashed his way Buthe Evening off

Ann has Do irons in the

through the defence of bright matrimonial fre

Mickiiesex star Derek Jokingly she told me how she

Burridge lo win his fourth plans to settle down with *** 'Open' title of the season. When

of purrols and a dog-later in the evening couple

Inte cuts and my own with Belly company.

Friday. Ulice 4 p.m. more training,

Straight to Balls for

Saturday Morning,

training. practice. Allena presanded dinner or be guest at sporting function

Evening, more diving

Sunday: Rest day Quite

J hectic, business before-pleasure week alnce 1950 it has brought her Un National

the

four

National Highbouri

lour (inties,

the

Springboard Championship three times; a junior Open Spring- board

schools national

and diving title; and, of course, that Empire Games Gold Medal, a fifth (highboard) and seventh

Answers To Sports Quiz

1. Dempsey, Tunney.

Rod Hoer.

2. All of them.

3. Yes.

4. Bobby Locke.

3. Laltic Dod.

6. Horace Ashenfelter.

It's not that she doesn't enjoy other people's company-she is one of six children. But diving comes first, And Ann feels that to get married would force her to give

up the sport she loves so much

“I'd never do that,” she says,

DORIS DAY FAN

And it is not, again, that Anu bas

Interests

outside swimming. Despite her rigor ous roulme, she is an honorary member of the local Operatie Shakespeare,

Society: enjoys

Is choosy and modern Jazz; about us, she is સ Doris Day fan and likes a good musical, or comedy.

Not strangely perhaps one of her intentions is connected with water. She wants to try her Carnera luck at water ski-ing.

7. Table tennts, Rugby Union

and Yachting.

8. Bil

Edrich. The others have all captained England. 9. Striker and pitcher, 10. Crowns of laurels.

TUE

PEX-END

With in anxious glance at her watch, and polite "mustn't

keep the coach waiting." Ann went off to what she describes as her dully dip.

What kind of person, then, 15 Ann Long?

This attractive bank typist, with the engaging personality, is modest yet ambitious; Champlon, yet humble; the sort of girl whom any father would

GAMBOLS

AND HERE'S THAT NEW BLOUSE AUNTIE GAYE BOUGHT IN THE SALE LAST WEEK

WELL, THAT'S SEEN THем)

OFF TO SCHOOL I

THEY'VE WORN

STATION

ME OUT,

SUN GCN

SHE'S GOING TO BE AWFULLY CROSS-

COULDNT HAVE STOOD [THEM RUNNING ABOUT THE HOUSE ONE MORE

SC

1

SPONGE MISS, TOO!

world Is the reign of the famous Rowe Twins coming to With Ros the singles an end? 191 | expert--now Mrs Rosalind Cor- Kennedy nett enjoying

temporary hent Len break, and Diane more suited to Adams and Elsie Carrington in doubles than

play, H the Mixed Doubles final. Brian could well be. retained his unbeaten record in this Henson's English fouran- ments,

and

singica

Hodson's chop was of no avall Realist the wilv Landry, who hits, hits and hits again.

That brought Laurie's total of Juntor titles to eight this year.

outside His only other defeat the South of England was by a

the German in

Kent Junior

"Open".

out

It can also be utilised to follow the movements of any one player during the game.

the ball 74 times in une match and had possession of it for 138.5 secs. all told. Billy Wright was timed on the ball at 60 seca, and actually touched it 34

I think these figures provo one important

the aspect of game, it is that most of a play- or's stamina is needed to rot about the field. His skill in win as posluoning himself is just as

Billy important as

his skil

when saying, actually manipulating the ball.

No wonder lapping portant a part of training.

STAMINA QUESTION

It's on with the Cup again this week, and with the defeat there of Bedford by Arsenal, lan't a non-League club left in Facts and figures like these the competition. Many people are bound to be of use to the who saw Bedford's gallant show soccer manager when he is try- on TV have asked me it these ing to pin-point weaknesses in Cup giant-killers would make a his team. It is easy to form an show in the League. opinion of a player whilst the

Frankly, I don't think match is in progress, but often

they you are only going on what would. They play superbly

and not actual facta, the Cup because they have all For instance. the graph would to gain and nothing lose. show not only that the player They can pack everything into was continually in the

B0 minutes. Zama

But wo mustn't but whether his final passes lose sight of the facts, were accurate or not.

non-League Many

players these bave had ther day with big

full Intoclubs; others cannot train

you see

JUNIOR TRI LS Suid 1 disappointed Eddie If that is the sad truth (and Hodson before going off to get the departure of there g.5.3. serne rest-both were playing in who have done su much for the England Junior trials the And it's all with the ald

England, can only be described following day- knew I was in When the sponge.

ladies

as sad) who better to step

However, in bringing in trouble as soon as I got geulleren

mathematical from the land

there. of than Ann Haydon, the 17-year-

just couldn't get the Nippon swept through yet an-old Birmingham

soccer we must remember that time. If they had to play at top feel of the ball." girl.

current other jack-pol season last year, older of the Wimbledon

All-

"Ithey are there to help and not speed week in and week

to be the anal adjudicator of 24-year-old Kennedy, the gland Junior

League Lawn Tennis

opposition, aogalost hardest hitter in Britain's top

obility. player's

a think they would soon fall Soveer set, decided that anything the

game of chance as well as skill, the wayside. Japs could do he would try to

Inevitably errors creep in and do better.

SERIOUS PRACTICE

has

e?

In chipped modest Laurie: had the luck early on, and Eddie never seemed to recover."

Aan is another top-liner who But modesty will not prevent taken to sponge. In the Landry from chalking up some same North West Kent Cham-impressive wins in the future.

-London Express Service). she hurled herself plonships.

(COPYRIGHT) into the fray with gay abandon, and took the women's title in two straight sets from Diane

So during the close-season, Brian armed himself with

the necessary sponge rubber, and Rowe, got down to some serious practice.

He

But the time is coming when Ann must decide which it is to Your be-lawn or table tennis.

guess is as good as mine.

•

Champions Without Fighting

formulas

out

by

no graph could show how Nevertheless, for the sake of

0

will take on their own

up the interest in the Cup It is a team linked smoothly

up, neither could it recapture the pity none of these "outsiders"

in left in. blood tingling thrill of a dar-

Of the remaining ing, diving header-such as Nat longshots York City

some holding Lofthouse frequently does.

Let's have the soccer graphy pitch, despite the brilliance of and diagrams by all means but Sunderland's star-studded team. in so doing we mustn't take all But nothing I have heard

early seen since the

rounds the fun out of the game,

causes me to change my opinion EVERLASTING BOUQUET that this season Bolton

and Burnley are going to go a long way. They are still my fancies for the Cup.

Resulta speak for themselves.

through run

International class opposition in the North of England, the North East of

Billinghum Sythonia Boxing England, the Yorkshire

North 'Open'

have two

East Laurie Landry, 17-year-old Club and ne

Kent William Eilis (London), school-Divisional Junior ABA Cham- boy who aims for a degree to pions in Malcolm Richardson mathematics. had no difficulty and Edwin Cookson and they in totting up the points against won their ties without fighting fellow Middlesex Junior Eddie

soccer friends. for them. They were the only Hodson in the Junior boys Anal two entrants in their геврек- Landry won 21-12, 21-12, and tive weights, and automatically walkovers Into the so gained revenge for his defeat received

now the North West Championships.

When I saw Kennedy, plus ordinary rubber, defeated in the nternational against Japza In Leeds last year, he was hitting more often, but with less accuracy.

Now, by varying his attacks, by Hodson-the only defeat by Northern Counties Champlon- Kennedy builds up to the killer an English Junior this season ships.

by Barry Appleby

YOU MAY AS WELL GO J THE WHOLE HOS AND USE BOME OF HER NEWF SPECIAL PERFUMEJ

LETS CELESIZATE BRINKS) (ON OUR OWN AGAIN. IT'LL BUCK YOU VR

AFTER THIS WE'RE NEVER LIKELY TO BE AGVEO Tr STAY HERE ABAIN M

NOW WHATS THE MATTER

AM GOING TO TËMI09 THEM

:

So Tender

and

Tasty

FRANCIS MILLERD'S

GREAT NORTHERN

FANCY RED SOCKEYE

SALMON STEAK

Bala Komtar

SWINE & MACLAINK

LTD.

For the most refreshing THIRST QUENCHER

Try

This talk of science in soccer has set me thinking of the sort of presenta (some of them I know impossible) which I would like to give to some of my

To Bert Trautmenn, Man- chester City's goalkeeper-a pair of electrically "heated"

"gloves" for also cold days which would have a magnetic influence

on

the ball.

To Billy Wright, Wolves and England captain, an everlast- |ing" bouquel for the charming way he always receives bou- quets from Continental teamst

Το Nat Lofthouse, Bolton Wanderers and England contre- forward, a goal-scoring record for his example of courage and sportsmanship on the football feld.

To Roy Paul, Manchester City Captain and Wales, another cup- chance of winning that winner's medal which ho richly deserved last year.

50

To Stan Matthews, Blackpool and England, another 20 years la soccer because football with- out Matthows is unthinkable,

To Tom Finney, Preston NE and England, freedom from that nagging injury in the back so that he could silence all the critics who haven't been giving him a fair crack of the whip these last few months,

To footballers overywhere, lots of luck and may you en« joy your gains.

To football fans the patience to endure until Great Britain once more is."No 1 soccer team In the world-and-with. It the luxury conditions which

Gaymer's ball arts so richly deserve.

CYDER

·SERVED ICY COLD.

Sale Agents! Swire & Macaine Li

foot-

I bumped into Joe Mercer and Matt Busby at Old Trafford the other day and I couldn't help thinking/what a tremoci dotis amset wing-halves of their Füllity would be to any sOCORT club today. For Marcari somidald" United manager) and

док

or

Ja to im-

Kung Hei Fat Choy!

The

KOWLOON

CRICKET CLUB'S

annual

Chinese New Year's Eve Danca

will be held in the clubhouse

on

Saturday,

February 11th, 1956 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

It will take the form of a

Fancy Dress (Optional), Dance

Prizes

Special Decorations

Supper

Admission $10 per head

TABLE PLAN NOW OPEN

AT THE K.C.C.

Have a beer - you've carned it!

Carlsberg

Sala Impartort).

THE, KAST ASIATIC COMPANY LIS

of course!