1958-04-24 — Page 7

THE CHINA MAIL, THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1958.

SPORTING SAM

by Reg. Wootton

THE OLD STORY OF JACKS AND GIANTS

Toughness Is Not

Enough When

When The

Always Enough

Scales Are Against You

Says GEORGE WHITING

It must be admitted that history and procedent are usually on the side of the big battalions. Boxers who seek points and profits against the top men of a heavier division rarely come through with either. More often than not, their share is a shellacking.

Blacksmith Eric Boon was a pretty smart lightweight, a venomous destroyer of opponents from the age of 16. But look what happened When he sought to impose his might on welterweight Ernie Roderick.

Henry

preacher-as

T

+

MOST GRUELLING OF ALL

South Africa

Africa Claims

CARES OF CAPTAINCY

CAN MAKE OR BREAK World's Toughest Marathon

Run Over Hilly

Says BERNARD JOY

Enter a Football League club's ground after the kick-off and the chances are that you will not be able to Identify the captains. They lead their teams on to the field, they loss for ends-and there, for many of them, duty ends.

Yet here is an odd thing. Spurs half-back John Ryden asked to be relieved of the captaincy because he felt the responsibility caused him to lose form-and hle first-team place.

He tells me; "When I was having a poor game I felt that I was in no position to correct or urge on my colleagues. In fael, I was looking for guidance and help from the more ex- perienced players around me."

wed by his fellow wing-half he says. "He is the finest wins- half with the ball I have ever seen."

Blanchflower Ja the live-wire akipper of Ireland but gave up the captaincy duties with Spurs after a dispute iwo years ago

his team mates and directed toetles has been missed even more than his playing ability,

While Ryden'e form hai suf- tered, captaincy has broadened the game of Johnny Haynes. He is more responsive this season to

himself unsparingly in order to

Hilly Road

By SAM MIRWIS

Johannesburg.

About 100 runners will line up at Durban on Saturday morning, May 31, when the City Hall clock strikes six to start off. a journey of 56 miles over the winding, hilly road to Pietermaritzburg.

Those 56 miles constitute South Africa's greatest and most gruelling road race the world-famous "Comrades Marathon," conceived in 1919 and staged every year since 1921 except during World War II. The race has been called the, at the age of 41 and again won

In 1922 a frail-looking,

most strenuous in the world. It with great case, this lime slanh- obscure former from the Hard-

about changes he made in the term selection. A good captain described FA

I bollove Ryden, was over-the needs of others, and he gives

Danny Blanchflower, of whom set an example.

la certainly the longest, and the ing 19 minutes 31 seconds off ing district in Natal slippet the 88 runners and, over the strenuous "up" record held among Fulham's ability to fight back runners climb 7,000 feet

also shuffling off rather in the style as they did against Bristol the colourful and scenic course by Rallington Later ho

of a Red Indlan, drow away Hovers recently after being through the Valley of a Thou- broke the "down" record with a

time of 5 hours 52%1⁄2 minutes quickly to win in 8 hours 40 two down-partly

stems from and Is.

When it was first organised in the first man to break 6 hours minutes. Haynes,

To the duties of a captain I honour of those who had fallen in the race, a feat considered in would add another-a hand in in the First World War, it was long-distance circles as great as

19 "magnificent the four-minute mile. Today many people knows his team bolter than the key.

still hold that view. Yet, it at- manager or trainer.

Tho Marathon was inspked traels every year a large feld

tho famous London to of leading athletes who try to by wtr try for a place or try Brighton 12-Mile Road Race, the merely to finish in eleven hours gulding hand being that of Mr coveted Vic Clapham, organising secre- in order to gain the "Comrades" medal.

tury until two years ago. After Tremendous Interest is grouned he was discharged from the cach year. Thousands of spec-ormy, Mr Clapham looked about Lators line the streets to applaud for a sponsor, but the response

scoffed was poor. People and encourage the runners on

Cup semi-final Dgainst Manchester City.

Essential

In Russla there is no doubt as to why is captain. He wears

Quote me Ted Kid Lewis an a As I recall that bomb-happy, have so often induced all sorts night in Liverpool 18 years ago, et Jacks to tackle all sorts of ghtang fury who made light & Doom suffered airnost as much Giauty, you could cite

the pounds and ounces--and rll give damage from Roderick's pene-linmortai

Armstrong-you the similarly named Johnn arm band.

. I would prefer to see our trating left jab as did the eigh= { now a lay

Henry Lewis, who lasted les bouring docks (rum Germany's featherweight who strode fear- than a round against his pai Joe incendiario. While the wharvestessly and successfully

the hostlle ranks of the light- turned Bonn was pleking him-

And welters. the flour four times, weights self of lowing on polate, and submitting Armstrongs of this world, how-

ever, come all too infrequently, to plasters on a broken hand and a swollen eye,

was

Freddie Mills

good enough a cruiserweight to win the Championship of the World but not good enough to win a British heavyweight title off Bruer Woodcock. Önce again the lighter

Toward himself man wrestled around in the clinches prior to being flattened and eventually stopped.

among Lous.

The

18

Sugar Ray Robinson, true, was only a welterweight when he tipped over full-blown Jake

Chicago, to LaMotta in | begin his irridescent career 45 middleweight champion but even the incomparable toy tried it once toe often,

Rock-Hard

with

a

Riotous

natural leaders encouraged to blossom out so that by their bearing alone they make it clear who is the boss.

I would even go so far as to co-opt Billy Wright, who has the experience of nearly 00 behind him, to internationals

Cup matches in Sweden,

The

Hamstrung

England's attempts to rebulid their aide following the deaths of Roger

Duncan Byrno, The fact is that a good cap- Edwards and Tommy Taylor in tain is an essential factor in a the Manchester United air crash Make a point about middle- team's success. He needs to have been hamstrung by the

Harry

game, to spot the League clubs, Greb slupping read the weight

weaknesse

Under-23 International of opponents and heavyweight Gunboat Smith in

parry counter their strong points to against Wales, and the practice Iwo minute and 1'

reminder of what encourage hia colleagues, and match against England the day to make adjustments in his own before had to be cancelled lost happened to the present world

because clubs month

Incon- cruiserweight champion, Archie team's play.

All this he must do in addi-siderately played Moore, when he dared to set his

postponed sights

the оп

heavyweight tion to his own job as team League games on those days. domain of Rocky Marciano and member. consider such good Now I am! surprised to see Floyd Patterson,

captains as Derek Utton, Billy that two League clubs, Burn Sixteen months later, 03 0

Wright, Hay Barlow, Jimmy tay and Grimsby, are to provide middleweight, he grown ไ

We can argue the big-man-Dickinson and Alt Sherwood are tuning-up games for Dritain's one steamy New York

versus-little-man isaue till the

worth an extra mau. They World Cup rivals. forca disprove the large right the cruiserweight crown of cows come home. We can even

the equivalent of an Burnley meet Austrin, who Eclipse and ex- reminisco over that rlotous

player out of their are in the same Kroup s besis-little pricept. While all Joey Muxin.

occasion when welterweight additional

England, in Vienna on May 21. champion of all the middle-haustion come to Ole Sugar in

after they had Mickey Walker, having last a

They

meel Czechoslovakia weights, the Leamington Licker Round 13

carried away a collapsed referee bilstering middleweight" engage made light of a 121b. disadvan-

who are in Ireland's group a few end the cruiserweight Lage lo

daya later. Czechoslovakia are ille career of Don Cockell.

also to meet Grimsby. On the World Championship American dollars scene, where

British

Of our post-« war

Terpin t

experts it Look H Randolph sought

Your Last

few chances for

nominating

· Hongkong's Footballer

Of The Year.

Fill in crupon Jehuw

and sent it in

not later than

MONDAY,

May 5

in a bath of fever-hest perspinu- ment against Greb, continued

on.

colleagues.

Arsenal date their decline to that April day four years ago when Joe Mercer was carried off at Highbury with a broken leg. The way in which he urged on

Inspired

at

the lines of the Boston Mara-him and the press opposed the then in the United States, schame, saying the race was too Competitors are attracted from severa and incompatible with every part of South Africa and Natal's humid dimate. as for afeld as the Rhodesian Federation and the Belgian Congo.

His name was Arthur Newton. He decided to run in order to draw attention to what he con- sidered to be a grievance against the then Government which tod proclaimed his farm to be in native territory. His name later rang around the world because ago of his athletic feals at in when most men prefer a' less strenuous life.

Newton won the "Comrades" four more times, a record of dive wins he shares with Ballington and Hayward--and he still has the distinction of being the oldest warner at 41, although Hayward won the event when he was 45,

Newton's

In 1950 a Beld of 100 com- petod. Thus was Lagoly becaus it was held in honour of New- tea, who was on a visit to South Africa at the invitation of the Marathon Runners' Club. New ten started the race which was named for that year The Arthur Newton Comrades,"

But Mr Clapham persevered and later the Camrades of the Great War-an ex-servicemen's organisation-agreed to sponsor Connected with the race KUTO It and they donated £1. And some of the greatest noms in en May 23, 1021-Empire Day South African athletje history 34 rainers fined up. The race won By W. Rowan of Arthur Newton, Hardy Badling was ton, Johannes Coleman, Wally Transvaal in 8 hours 58 minutes Hayward, Gerold Walsh, Jackioincidentally, still the slowost Mekter, Sid Lurt, and Mercer wianing time recorded.

"Comrades" Davies.

Gradually the gained prestige and stature and With Great Ease

today it is the premier distance Aiden and la Hayward holds the record for event in South

frat ron the almost a national institution. Ining in 11 hours or under. both ways, He

July as a stripling of 20, and Netal it crouses elmcat es much raced away from the field of 93 interest is the "Durban

years handicap-the most famous race later, In 1950, he entered again | track avent in the country.

raco

to win easily. Then, 20 the battle without restraint in a

alwaysBroadway bar.

Toughnes s not enough when the scales aro against you. Welterweight Car- men Basilio, the onion grubber_ from the swamps of Syracuse, is rock-hand all through hard enough to have shared verdicts In two fights with Robinson in The last six months.

But you should have seen his face at the end of each of those orals Erguments.

Basilio, methinks, wil

Carmen

be an

eld. old man before he is 50.

Gabuh Hops Over Games Record

Sandakan. Apr. 23. North Bornco Champion Gabuh ula Piging belleral the Aslan Games.record for the Hop. Step and Jump when he retched 40 feet 10 inches (15.20 metres) here, at the North Athletle Cham-

Borneo Police

pionships.

The Gaines record la 49 Jeet 011⁄2 inches.

Gnbuh will represent Borneo at next month's Asian Games in Tukyo-Reuler,

Nominate YOUR

Hongkong Footballer

Of The Year

Members of the public are invited to nominate Hongkong's Footballer of the

Year for the current season.

It is a popularity poll organised by the China Mail, and nomination coupons

will be accepted until the closing date to be announced later.

The two qualifications for nomination are:

(1) Footballing prowess,

(2) Sportsmanship on the field of play. Nominations should be addressed to the Editor, China Mail, Wyndham Street,

To the Editor, China Mail,

My nomination for Hongkong's Footballer of the Year, laking Into account his playing shillity and his sportsmanship on the Gold of play is:

of the

7

London Express Service),

MANDRAKE_THE_MAGICIAN

MANY FAMILJAR

| THINGS FALL

FROM THE SKY, LIKE RAIN, SNOW, HAIL-

FERDINAND``

NANCY

BANG BANG

BANG

BANG

BANG BANG

LESS FAMILIAR THINGS--LIKE AN OCCASIONAL METEORITE-

BANG

BANG BANG

JOHNNY HAZARD

I MUST ADMIT, MISS JAMISON, YOU CERTAINLY KNOW HOW TO GET TO THE HARDCORE OF A STORYŻ I'D HATE TO FACE YOU IN WASHINGTON-

EVERY DAY!

BANG

BANG

BANGING

WOULD YOU CARE

TO PUT THAT IN T WRITING, SENATOR? |

I CAN USE IT ON MY SPONSOR WHICH OPTION TIME KOLLS AROUND!

I'VE SEEN ENOUGH! YOU CAN TURN OFF THE MONITOR MON,

MIAMORY!

-(London Express Service).

By Lee Falk and Phil Davis

·SOMETUAES MAN-MADE THINGS-

BUT NOTHING FROM THE SKY BEFORE-

OR SINCE LIKE JAMIY

There's More than Magic

about CADBURY'S

They're

By Mik

By Ernie Bushmiller

I'M KEEPING A RECORD OF HOW MANY SHOTS HE MAKES WITHOUT

RELOADING

WHATEVER YOU ‘!! SAY, MR, KENDALL!

BANG BANG BANG

BANG

BANG BANG

By Frank Robbins

I'M CONVINCEDÍ IF ANYONE.

CAN HANDLE THIS ASSIGNMENT- IT'S AUSS GINGER JAMISONZ

Tomorrow: "INGIDK INFO!"

Wonderful

AIRBORNE RADAR

Sinco the inaugural race, some 1,500 runners have taken part and more than 600 have been awarded medals for frisk-

The moat medals won in the race ts been 17--by 49-year- old Lelge Boulle of Johannes- burg Twice he received gold medals for finishing in the frut eix. The other 15 Times he was awarded allver modaly for "besting" 11 heurs. Boulle, who „le_called “Mr_Comrados", weighs less than 80 lb and stands only 5 feet 4 inches.

Over the years the race hom accumulated statistics and legends which add to its charm, "Uke", Ihose of cricket, ̃ ̄Two women have entered (unofficial- |ly) and completed Uo course.

They were Miss Frances....... Hog................ word (no relation to her famous namesake) 1923 and Miss Geraldine Watson in 1932 and 1933.

To test whether a man could beat a horse over the distance, M. C. C. Robinson In 1925 mounted a pony and raced the athletes. The pony finished 70 minutes in front of Newton, the winner.

Overdose

One runner" was 'so "nervous before the race that to ensure that, he got proper sleep the arisht before, he took a sleeping drought. Unfortunately he toold an overdose pod fell asleep during the awor maxi clay,

Bil Payne, the Rugby Springbok, in 1922 consumed en route.a lozen eggs, 30 oranges and three gallons of various liquids including beer and ginger brandy. He also sat I down to a lunch of steak, and

SWISSAR chips at the half-way mark,

DAIRY BOX

BOX

with the wonderful centres

AUSTIN!

THE CAR

for your HOME LEAVE

METRO CARS (HK) LTD.

then carried on to Bnish tha

race.

The race has been remarkable for attracting several of one family. On one occasion four brothers-Carey-Smith-rari - std on another occcalon two sets of Chree' biolkers-the Sultono ani the Savises. Another year a father and a son competed. Today, sun wear the

same numrik omm allocated to their fathers · years

| before, to encourage the family tradition of taking part in the

mice.

In

-1930 Edgar

Marea of Johannesburg finished well within! hours at the age of

82 (sirictly speaking the ogo limits of the suce are over, 18 and under $0).

Last year's race was won by the Springbok Mercer Davie at his fifth altempt. "And It was | while watching the race-for

years ago that he decided to inke "up running, Athiolios, particularly, long-distance run- ning, had had no appeal for him unti saw the "Comrades" So inspired was be by the sight of the rtainers battling courage- ously over the hills" that bg Įdėtérmined to try it himself.

what makes a man want to ruh 150 miles over the most gruelling country In Bouth Africa

Chim asked frequently, Hia reply. was: The race is a challenge to manhood-When he has com plated the course, whether he is a pemminent athlete or a novice, he feals he has accomplished somethifig - rare. The medal be pocalyanji As his bedanzot mana hood which is

Special, Ben

Mr