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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 7 (October 1, 1936)

Panorama of the Playground — Notable New Zealand Sportsmen

page 61

Panorama of the Playground
Notable New Zealand Sportsmen

New Zealand, far removed from the scenes of the greatest sporting encounters, has made some notable contributions to world-sport, but it is an unfortunate fact that our sportsmen must leave their own land and live abroad before they may secure a place in the headlines in the world's sports press.

No participant in sport has had more publicity in recent years than has our New Zealand-born and bred Jack Lovelock, yet he never won a New Zealand track and field title. All his success came when abroad.

Clarrie Grimmett, recognised as the master of the batsmen when he bowls the “wrong ‘un” in cricket, is just another New Zealander who had to shake the dust of his own land off his boots before he could get a footing in international sport. The world now knows of Grimmett and his deadly bowling, but few sporting papers chronicle the place of his birth—he is invariably recognised as an Australian.

And writing about cricket and cricketers, brings forward comment that Stewart Dempster, New Zealand's dashing batsman, has been doing a mighty fine piece of work in the Old Land. Figuring sixth in the batting honours with an average of 45.7 at the end of August, Dempster has brought distinction to New Zealand. In like manner, the all-round ability of a former team-mate, Ken James, has caused much favourable comment in England. James is recognised as a most capable wicket-keeper in a land where there are several fine “Aunt Sallys.” Not much has been heard, recently, of Bill Merritt, who went to England with two New Zealand cricketing teams and then returned to take part in League Cricket. In his first two seasons he established new records or broke old ones. The nature of cricket in which he participated called for all-rounders, and he was a distinct success.

One of the new first-class recently built for service on the Wellington-Napier line, North Island, New Zealand.

One of the new first-class recently built for service on the Wellington-Napier line, North Island, New Zealand.

Giants of the Ring.

In boxing circles New Zealand has supplied more than one boxer who has won acclaim abroad. Tom Heeney, who fought Gene Tunncy in a world's heavyweight title bout a few years ago, did much to advertise the big-hearted type of athlete produced in the Dominion. “The Hard Rock From Down Under,” “Honest Tom” —these were the “titles” conferred on him. And to-day, a comfortably retired ringster, Heeney is a much-respected citizen in an exclusive New York district.

Before Heeney carried the New Zealand colours into the ring in America, several other boxers from these shores had made invasions, and to one of them, Billy Murphy, fell the distinction of being the only New Zealander to win a world's professional boxing title. This veteran of another era is still alive in Auckland. A “grossly exaggerated” report a few months ago stated that he had died as the result of a motor accident but, from his hospital bed old Billy gave a vehement denial. He had “taken a count,” but it was not a “knock out.” American sporting papers, on learning of his “death,” published eulogies of the man who came from “Down Under” and won the world's featherweight title.

Dan Creedon, at the time of writing a very ill man in Melbourne, is another New Zealander who went abroad to gain ring fame.

It is to the credit of New Zealanders that they have never claimed Bob Fitzsimmons as one of their own stars. Fitzsimmons, one of the ring's greatest champions in three weights, was born in Cornwall but came to New Zealand when less than five years old and was bred in these Isles. He had his first boxing or fighting matches in Canterbury, where he came under the eye of the famous Jem Mace who was touring New Zealand. Mace was responsible, in a way, for setting Fitzsimmons's feet in the direction of world's championships.

A Great Track Walker.

In a previous issue of the “Railways Magazine” reference was made to the sensational career of Joe Scott, the youthful “midget” who beat the best walkers in the world and emerged unbeaten in a tour of England. There is another New Zealand walker who has won recognition abroad, too. To-day this athlete takes a prominent part in amateur sport in Auckland. His name—Sammy Gudsell. Gudsell was originally a harrier at Wanganui but later took to track walking and was successful in winning the New Zealand mile walk championship in the 1928–29 season. Following this he went abroad and before long had been selected to represent Canada against America in a walk of 50,000 metres. He filled fourth place, and his time was better than most of the placed men in the Olympic walk of the same distance a few years later. It is unfortunate for him that long distance walking has not been encouraged in New Zealand—he had all the makings of a real champion, but like many others he had to go abroad to get recognition.

page 62

E. G. (“Buz”) Sutherland did not gain selection as a New Zealand representative at the Olympic Games, but the honour of representing a country at that great international gathering was bestowed on him by South Africa when he was residing over the waters. It is more than likely that Sutherland would have eventually been selected by New Zealand had he not gone to South Africa, but he was just one more of a band of New Zealanders who have done better abroad than at home.

Commemorating Lovelock's Victory.

There have been suggestions that Lovelock's great victory at the Olympic Games should be commemorated in New Zealand in a manner befitting the occasion. With a National Art Gallery now available for the housing of national treasures, there is a suitable niche in the hall of fame for a bronze statuette of the “world's greatest luiler.” Lovelock has been acclaimed as the world's greatest miler, and also the most perfect runner. Surely a statuette of him in action would tend to instill enthusiasm into the minds of the young citizens of New Zealand.

Then there is, too, the possibility of inaugurating a “Sports Section” in tlie National Art Gallery and Museum at Wellington. There must be numerous fine trophies hidden away in private homes—trophies which testify to the skill of New Zealanders in overseas sport. What better resting place could be found for them than a sports section in the Capital City? With a statuette of Lovelock as the centrepiece and a collection of sporting trophies, too, such a section would attract the youths of the nation.

When a. dock labourer appeared before a Whitechapel magistrate charged with assaulting his wife the poor woman pleaded for him. “He's a good husband,” she told his Worship, “as long as he ‘as his pipe, but it won't always run to it, and then he sometimes loses “is temper.” The magistrate nodded understandingly. He evidently knows the value of tobacco as a peacemaker. It certainly makes for domestic happiness, as a famous novelist told us long ago, and probably does more to prevent “angry passions” from rising than all the drugs in a chemist's shop —always provided that it's as pure and good as it ought to be. If it isn't it may play up with you! The safest of all tobaccos arc the genuine toasted brands, Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead), Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Cavendish. Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold. The toasting they get at the factory (the manufacturer's exclusive process) absorbs the nicotine, while for flavour and aroma there's no other tobacco to approach them. Connoisseurs say they compare favourably with anything from overseas.”*

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“Beings fresh from the source of light, with something of its universal lustre in it.” —Douglas Jerrold. Our Children's Gallery.— (1) Raymond, Doreen and Ronald Wesley (Chrtstchurch); (2) Cushla Peterson; (3) Dawn Peterson (Frankton Junct.): (4) Dawn Spencer (Lower Hutt); (5) Heather Meyrick (Carterton): (6) Douglas Peach (Johnsonville); (7) Francis Meyrick (Carterton); (8) Marie O'Brlen (Orari); (9) Trevor and Doreen Asker (Lower Hutt) (10) Bertha and Roy Halifax and Joyce Hallwopd (Otahuhu); (11) Dorothy, Rupert, Elsie, Wilford and Lydia Meyrick (Carterton); (12) Joyce Robertson (Waverley); (13) Kenneth Meyrick (Carterton).

“Beings fresh from the source of light, with something of its universal lustre in it.” —Douglas Jerrold.
Our Children's Gallery.— (1) Raymond, Doreen and Ronald Wesley (Chrtstchurch); (2) Cushla Peterson; (3) Dawn Peterson (Frankton Junct.): (4) Dawn Spencer (Lower Hutt); (5) Heather Meyrick (Carterton): (6) Douglas Peach (Johnsonville); (7) Francis Meyrick (Carterton); (8) Marie O'Brlen (Orari); (9) Trevor and Doreen Asker (Lower Hutt) (10) Bertha and Roy Halifax and Joyce Hallwopd (Otahuhu); (11) Dorothy, Rupert, Elsie, Wilford and Lydia Meyrick (Carterton); (12) Joyce Robertson (Waverley); (13) Kenneth Meyrick (Carterton).