ENG-1952 — Page 215

SPORT

During the second half of the year there was a decline in the amounts which were invested in sweep- stakes and through the totalisator. This can be attributed to the recession in the Colony's trade, but nevertheless very considerable sums of money continue to be attracted.

Some 400 ponies are stabled in the Club's stables and trained and raced on the tracks. The two out- standing performers amongst them were "Firefly" and "Knock-down"; the latter was the champion griffin, and won six races in succession before being overtaken by "Firefly". Ninety new ponies arrived from Aus- tralia in August, and are being trained to compete at the annual meeting in January.

Mr. Kwok was the leading rider for the first half of the season, but in the autumn Monsieur Samarcq rose to prominence and achieved the remarkable feat of riding four winners in succession. Other riders who continued to ride successfully are Messrs. Ostroumoff, Chaung and Pote-Hunt. The greatest keenness is shown by novice riders.

Swimming

The Colony's Olympic representatives Miss Cynthia Eager, Miss Irene Kwok-Kam Ngor, Cheung Kin Man and F. X. Monteiro continue to hold their own, but they are being pressed by many promising younger swimmers.

The annual cross-harbour race was swum in June, and it was probably the last time that the course will be used, for it may be changed by land reclamation next year. In the absence of the Olympic representa- tives times were slower than usual. At the Olympic games Hong Kong had the fastest swimmers from the Far East, with the exception of the Japanese.

175