1947-07-12 — Page 8

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, JULY 12, 1947.

SPORTS FEATURES..

AMATEURISM AND BROKEN TIME

1

THE "SIMON PURE" CODE

(By RECORDER)

So

What exactly constitutes an amateur. many are the shades of amateurism today that one of America's most widely read sports commentators recently classified all'amateurs from the simon pure downwards.

་

Yet, against this background of scholarships; special compus jobs," travel subsidies, etc. the AAU of the United States still takes a stand,

Most of Europe looks upon sport; fnday s highly untionalistic un dertaking and national training ennis are a feature of preparations for London. Let alone Continental Europe clamouring for broken time payments, this national camp systemmateurs of the 1940's. "Came more,

practically puts a man for some months on special rations,

ព

"No broken me," say

the

Important than the victory-purity. -high idealism."

The Europeans, at least, recognise the situation as it decided

exists. Broken time must eventually. come.

The British, being intent on "almon pure" code, have

that nothing special would be at tempted in the way of subsidising a training programme designed to bring the best out of a certain num- ber of promising individuals. In addition, the Minister of Food cently announced that no specint rations are to be afforded Olympic napiraints.

Examining the European atitude,

the

I am inclined to be sympathetic.

the Finns and The Sweden. French are all out for broken ilme. That is, un atlilete taken away from his job to compete in some meet of national importance, should be pald a cash compensation for money lost on a weekly--or dalty pal basis. The Flans and the Swedes inake nu bones about what they think.

THE U.S. SITUATION

It is somewhat different in Americu. The broken time contro- veray hon aroused

રી storm in Amerien to which the sporty sheets from coast to coast keep adding

Tury

une

An analysis of the situation points

less to

faci-the moru or Amateur Athletic Union of the United States is all for simon purity in amateurism. It is directed by an august body of former national and Olymple Champions of the early in

wus fir

1000s who lived and competed nn era of blossoming amateurism of athletic meetings few and far be- tween, usually not too far away from home, of transport that cheap and never called for travel. It is of interest to note also that athletics in the United States in the 1000's were largely concen trated in the East. The IC 4-A was the big meet of the year and held in Pennsylvania dachusetts.

and Mas-

With the passing decades, inter- became more collegiate athletics national In nspect and the IC 4-A

NCAA-- was replaced by the national collegiate athletic assocla- tion

comprising colleges Itom Dakota to Now Mexico. The balance shifted from the Atlantic to Const. The Midwester the Paclite

athletic "Big Ten" grew into an power to compare with, later to im- prove on the East, and this year to supersede even the powerful Pacific Coust.

With the growth of the NCAA and the distances that the furthest-away- schools had to travel, be it to Salt Lake City or. Lincoln, Nebraska, it became, necessary for the NCAA to subsidisc travel for promising per- formers.

SUBSIDIES

The question of subsidy for travel became gradually more common and the famous Eastern Indoor meets of the winter season spent treely on getting good talent to attract crowds for the huge

York and door atadia, of New

Gradually

custom reached

the

point where some of the fleetest- footed lads would not punish their weary legs unnecessarily without the promise of a travel cheque that left something aver for the little money-box at home.

some

Even track meets aro n making attraction and the was ready to roar over particular name. The boy had bo persuaded to come over

red

He's good enough

to be cocky!

◄WENTY-NINE years ago last May 23,

a Mr. Compton, of Woodford, Essex, smiled down at a Mrs. Compton, who was holding a new-born infant in her arms, and Mr. Compton (as far as can

ou remembered) said some-

thing like: "Bet he'll make a bit of a cricketer."

That's about the way 11

turned out. The younger Compton does not know how when he Brat received any inspiration in the matter, but he seems to recall that he was at it since he was a toddler. The first bat he look in his hand might well be a cricketing relie worth preserving, for there in little doubt among the pundits at Lord's that in the next five to ten years he will go on to surpass most of the records that favo already swollen Wisden.

First 100

-

OBODY ze members whether the first im- plement of his craft was indeed a bat or merely a piece of fence.

There was backyard cricket, cricket for Bell-lane cchool and tian, when the family moved over to Hendon, cricket on and off the By-pass and Soccer for' -Finchley,

He scored a hundred for Lon. don Elementary Schools and went on the Lord's staff, helping with the roller and selling pro- and Plum-Warner picked him out after another record score for the colta,

-graminea-

Monniime, the late Herbers Chapman had spotted him as a 14-year-old Boccer International and had signed him for the Arsenal ground atau,

There is nobody around to charge that the boy Deals, did not start at the bottom. Ka move into county cricket and First

DENIS COMPTON~appor alblato

right-handed and "loves a good bowland the same quality hall him as one of the great England Soccer outaldo Jefta of all time.

He plays golf to a handicap of -10. His tennis is good club standard and so is als squash,

Berving soldiers sill talk of 1 day in 1044 at Mhow in Central India when he scored most of the iries and Kicked all the goals in a seven-a-de Rugby compet tion-never, by the way, having played Rugby before,

The

Compton has many of Hendren's characteristics. same cockiness on the Reid, the same friendly diffidence of t Ask for him before the start of a match at the Middlesex dressing rooms, and they will before

tell you: Denis No not

yet. There's 15 minutes they start yet.

by JOHN MACADAM untrais was the incre

Division Soccer wna simple and automatic, Just as his selection for his country ni both games has been, International selectors are na keen-eyed na Warner and Chapman.

Unspoiled R

EMARKABLE

fact 15

about Compton that his potentialities were spotted as a youth, were dis- cussed in the public prints and argued over in his presence withs- out making the slightest dit- ference in his attitude towards not only games but also.life.

His playing attitude is carefree to the point of cockinesses L ho feels he is so good he does not have to try as hard as the others. This conceals the true concentrated rhythm of artist.

AD

You see him stroll along the outfield between balls, throwing the odd grin to the kids squatted against the ropes, tossing back the odd crack is the fan behind him pretty much as his mentor. Palsy Hendren, used to do..

Again, half an hour setoro Waterloo on the recent Austra

lan Test series, he was at Lord's.. runimaging out his cricket Rungs and asking: "What's the "orst way to get to the station 7"

It is this nonchalance that makes hit,so great an athlete. No ball game ta any trouble to him, AS Alex Jameя say of him in wolf: "He hit walks un and hits the ball." There is no strain. No trouble.

Likes Chopin W

KK THEN thè snouting Mus died and no has showered and dressed in his Impeccably neat dar serge, he gets back home through the barrage of autograph hunters, sinks down in his easy chair and listens to his wife. Doris, play Chopin on the plano

Doria Wag student of the Sadier's Wells Ballet, gave it up because of a damaged ankle and confines herself now to plano- playing, attendance on Dents and their 64-year-old son Brian.

*Ela'a crazy about cricket. 100.* Bays Denis, Just like IP father. My father will still spend the whole day watching." Last cricketing function of the Compton day a when Brian goes to bed. Denis eays The bats man ̈plays forward to a ball, For controlled and co-ordinated miases it and while he is out of nervous and physical there la probably no living athlete

his energy

crease the wicketkeeper whips off tila balig. What's anywhere near him today.

that

"Out. stumped, dad Brian.

"That's right," and Brian tukes one "inst 150k says 'Denta

at the little bat in the corner of the room and settles down to sloop,

Then the bowler begins his run and Compton crouchca, watchful a plece of living whipcord, ready. to go off at full gallop.

He is received as the best all- rounder in cricket The Anest Judges any that apart from his superlative batting and delding ho is the best left-hand bowler we have at the moment-he bowls and throws left-handed and bats

A Correspondent Has Some Ideas Why H.K.'s Sports Standard Isn't Higher

An

After reading "Recorder's" com- Now lets look back to the tocat short and long distant events. money-ments in the Telegraph last Satur-sportsmen and see if we can't und example of this unfortunate practice

crowd day on the possibilities of local out what is renlly wrong! Most

was seen at one sportsmen, I feel I must stress a few sportsmen in Hongkong start off

number of inter- to points as to why the standard of right from their school and college Services track and field meets when for sport in Hongkong has never been days with the one idea of being an competitors, with little training and another few spins around the ovali, as high us that in the Malay States "all-rounder." Unless one la fortu a remote iden of how they were go-

The colleges, alto, discovered that and the Phillippines.

nate enough to be one of those "born" "tracic" was about third to football

sportsmen, the idea of being on "ating to win an event, were seen en- The absence of any high standard rounder" will in all probability lead tering one event after another with only one Idea, and that was to win, where a young man not too likely of achievements by local athletes is one to be a "Jack of all trades and

not

no matter how.

and basketball as a big altriction

easy courses

and

were designed

to

could still take

Kappa society course in some equivalent of domes tic economy that wouldn't be too hard on his intelligence.

HE GOT THROUGH

There was the remarkable caso a

few years ago of one of the best

+

probably the main reason for this is that there are little or no facilities It Is the advice of most ex- By so doing a promising athlete in the Colony for serious training perienced athletes that for one who may spoil his chances of ever be and there is an acute absence of any sporting fleld he must

has the ambition to excel in the coming a champion through burning experienced trainers to give first-

concentrate cluas advice.

on one particular sport.

up his energy by entering events which are in all probability unstalt Now that we are on the subject of has not had its aliare of champions

Another reason why Hongkongable for him.

proper

facilities when and should the is thut there is a Jack of whole- In order to prevent this unfortu- coloured high-jumpers of the decade Government elect to build a stadium hearted, encouraon. There are, nate practice, athletes In the Colony

let's not have one for the sole pur-

and training,

ovent should be run or

who had managed to pass his

only one subject in pose of football, but one in which I am cure, many promising athletes should be given training or advice examinations in four years of coast-to-const travel can be held first-class field and track where he attended every big meat. meets, with swimming pools, tennis rect training and encouragement, how an

in the Colony who, if given the cor- from the "old hands." Advice on This is not meant as a reflection courts, a baseball pitch, and other on coloured athletes. Some of them, aporting facilities-comewhere where would surprise us with their capabl- swum, the time, stride or stroke, like Phil Edwards and Jimmy Lat the

Colony's sporting fans cun Valle, to mention but, two, have gather to watch Interport meets and distinguished themselves academi-Colony championships for every cally, as well.

„SPORTING SAM

field of sport.

ties.

"

and pace that should be adopted in You'll find that in

arry particular event, is extremely most cast, whether it is # track or swimming important. meet, competitors entering both

By

Reg. Wootton

The adoption of a 'pacing partne is also important to an athlete in training in order that he may judge -his own. capabilities and adopt the

correct pace In the event for "which"] ho is training

I fully echo "Recorder's" senti-` ments that with the correct train- ing and encouragement given to local athletes, there is no reason why Hongkong should not be able to turn out some worthy champions

And here is a little advice to those who wish to become tree-style, back- stroke and breast stroke champions all in the same year-don't try All By all means have the ambition of becoming a champion but concen- trate on one thing at a time,

SPECTATOR.

Split--second action at West Ilam as Eric Chitty, star of the home arena, broadsided round in the lap that gave his team a last- round win over Harringay.

TONIGHT'S SWIM MEET

Five Boxing Stars In Unique Family

(By:MERY WILLIAMS

Five Sands brothers, all fighting main events in Australia, are a unique feature of boxing today. The implicit, faith these boys put in their trainer, Tom Maguire, and the working arrangements between them, is just as rare. Their motto is "all for one, and ond for all."

any

Maguire, who brought these lads Dave made his debut in 1943, In from the country and put them into 1946 he won two tities and today the game, is now their guide, philo- would hald his own with sopher, and friend. He banks their middleweight in the world. He ring earnings in a pool account and hasn't a mark to betray his trado. Issues each boy with a nole in which | He's more like a movie star than a they sign for everything he gives | Bighter.

them. He also keeps their total:up to dule In ench, book. He buys their clothes and advises thera ot all matters.

The boys keep to themselves. When one has a big wad of money he stakes those who might be short. They all.contribute weekly lo .the upkeep of their widowed mother,

HE'S THE STAR

|

HE IS RUGGED

George, now 20, was the, next to make his appearance, ut Maguire's gym. He sinrted in 1944 and was fighting months.

main event within 12 He's a ruggel Sghter with a hefty wallop but lacks the boxing ability of Dave and Ritchie,

nt

this

Clern, the eldest, now 20, was the fourth Sonda "boy to turn up Maguire's gym. He arrived a few Dave Sands, aged 21, is the star. mouths after George. How this fel He holds the middle and light- low made good is a mystery. heavy les of Australia, and if any timber cutter, Clem did not have a one would promote a match between sound knuckle on either hand. They him and the heavy champlon, Dave had all been damaged In the course would hold three titics. ife has of his work before he ever donned beaten Johnson to quickly in non- a boxing glove. In spite of title bout and again for the light-handicap, Clem has won nearly all heavy

title that no one will

put of his fights inside the distance: But Johnson on with him again.

he will never be a champion. The first to break into boxing was Ritchie, now about 24 His father, a native of Porto Rien, had been lightweight champion of country districts in New South Wales and was well equipped to give the Ind

As was to be expected this. Ind good grounding in the art of lilt took to fighting as a duck takes to and-mirs, before a boxer

first 12-round Arst Saturday

family,

Aitle, only just 10 and baby of the

then followed In brother'n footsteps. He came 10 Maguire a mesave, just as Dave had done for Ritchie.

Tonight's swimming fete between Maguire's stable went to the Sands water. He had his

from

| rout the VRC and the Lat Tsun Swim-home town, Kempele, to 8ght Rit-night and created one of the greatest

in Melbourne ming Union promises an exceptional-chic

sensations

boxing

to

thnt ring seen in

for in the second round, he came back

Knocked down three times

Fletcher, twice in succeeding rounds. and flattened his opponent Billy

Although

in his swaddling only clothes as fighters go Young Alfe gave the seasoned, and well-equip-

When he returned to Newenstle. years. ly entertaining Lime for visitors. Maguire's fighter urged his trainer Seventeen events are on the pro-to bring Bitchie to the city and teach him. But Mac didn't give the mat gramme with chief interest centred ter another thought until one day on the 100 yards men's free style at a country fair he had a and the 400 yards free-style.

troupe on show and a lad come up and sold his name was Ritchle ped Fletcher, the fight of his lito learn how to fight; he said. Sands. He came to Maguire

before losing narrowly on points.

His was one of the most impressive Maguire's fame as a teacher is displays I have seen and I would be Australia. He has surprised if he does not eventually about 20 national cham-wear the shoes of his brother Dave. as Australian middleweight cham- The ladies' events promise some the rude. He lived with Maguire

Well, Richie Sands quickly made plon.

Is it any wonder I sold this family thrilling finishes.

and spent his days in the old moes-is unique? tro's gymnasium. Pretty soon he sensation in the ring? He his frst 10 fights on a knock-

These races will bring together stars such as Wilfred Lawrence, Lau Tal-ping, Chan Chun-nam and F. Monteiro.

4

pions

was a

out.

The programme will wind up with a water-polo match between the won Veterans and the Youngsters, after which dancing will take place in the main hall,

HE WAS LONELY

Dave, the slur, was the next of the family to break into the game. Ritchie, at the time, was carning big money, but was lonely in the big

Teams taking part tonight are: V.R.C.-G. Saunders, G. Roza Pereira, A. V. Lopes, F. Monteiro,

J. Yvanovich, walong for company. A. K. RumJahn, Lawrence, J. Gomes, T. Bayat, Misses

Guterres, C. Mon- teiro, Therese Yvanovich, Vivienne Rull, Mrs Elle Benn, and Mrs M.

city, so he brought his young brother

Celeste

Like Ritchie, Dave spent his days in Maguire's gymnasium sweeping up the place, tying gloves on fighters and handing them water bottles or

them

their generally In tending training. In between times Magulre put young Dave through his paces and taught hiss all the punches Lal Tsun Swimming Union: the text book of boxing.

Soares.

in

Arthur Peall says:

ANTRIKER, after pocketing brown, la on blue as shown on lett of diagrams He cannot pocket blue and has no choice except to snooker his Tula can be done by playing Diue very thin with loft alda to leave

P

BLACK

PINK.O OBLUB

in

| Chan Chun-nam, Lau Tal-ping. You The lad was too young to allow Sal-Itwan, Ko Wal-hung, Chan him to fight, so Maguire kept teagh- Cheuk-wah, Yeung Kwok-bon, ing Rim for about three years. Then one night when Maguire was away Wong Chouk-wing, Leung Hin- Melbourne with a fighter, Ritchie yuen, Leung Hin-kin, Mak Sing- was fighting in Newcastle. Ilo took chuen, La Sul-fook, Chan Fol-nom, Dave along, as was customary,

and Misses Ko Min-ling, Mok Sum-lan, when one of the boys fighting a pro-

Ilminary bout failed to put in Tsang--kung-kwan; —Wong~~~Yuen- |

appearance, Dave took the chance of ching, Wong Yuga-san and Kan filing the breach. That was hia Yuct-ngor.

In professional Aghting.

baptismi

Booker bohind pink ofI the fac

ing otdo

Alterna tivo 17. thoro

tho

through to

teave bluo K- b

grad

black.

favour 12 you swing, your cue to avold a Ruh.

If in doubt about this try the ather stroke, The fine contact de tween sub-ball and object ball offers Icks rink of a push.

Plenty of right side, on cus-balt and a Treo swing of the cuo 120, oksential when piöying the spectaqu« lar cannon off rod shown at spot ond ............of diográm...... Strength must be suff;

elens to send cue-ball in and out of

od baulk so complete the cannon tour, cushiona.

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