The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-21
American Athletes Triumph
in Many Record Break
ing Events
POLO CONTEST RANKS
FIRST IN INTEREST
Golfing World Startled by Marvellous
Victory of Ouimet-Davis Trophy
Brought Back-kolehmainen
and Jones Prominent

New York, December 20.-Internationa
competitions heightened the interest IN
many branches of sport during the past
season and the prowess of American ex-
ponents was well sustained. The season
lacker the glory of the Olympic games,
but there were many competitions to en-
gage the attention of American sport fol-
lowers and to maintain their enthusiasm
at concert pitch in probably as wide and
varied a programme of contests as the
history of games and recreations in this
country has ever vouchsafed.
From the international viewpoint in all
likelihood the most sustained interest was
In connection with the arrival of a chai-
longing team from the Hurlingham club
Of London to compete for possession of
the international polo cup, which had
been in its keeping for % years until re-
gained by America by the Meadow Brook
team under captaincy of Harry PAYNE
Whitney in 1909 The match was won in
straight games at Meadow Broow by a
defending team selected by the American
Polo association, with Mr.. Whitney again
playing as captain. Large crowds of spec
tators saw the games and cheered the
United States representatives for their
victory.
Golf was also distinguished by an in
ternational interest The amateur it'll
rested safe in the possession of Jerome
ID. Travers, who this time did not have
formidable rivalry from across the At
lantic, but both Great Britain and France
had representation in the open champion
ship. But for the marvellous success of
Francis Ouimet, a practically unknown
player, in gaining the title, after a triple
tie with Vardon and Ray. the Britishers.
the open championship would have been
lost to the United States. All golfers
naturally hold this to have been the
greatest event in sports of the year that
Is nearing Is close. Great Britain and
Canada had entries in the womans cham
pionship and Miss Gladys Ravenscroff
of England was successful in gaining the
coveted honor from one of the strongest
fields that ever appeared for the compe-
tition.
Baseball passed through its most
successful year in the history of th.
national sport. There was nationwide
enthusiasm over the worlds champion
ship series, played at the Brush sta
dium between the Philadelphia Ath
letics, winners of the American league
pennant, and the Giants, leaders In the
National league race. The result was
a decisive victory for the Athletics byf
four games to one.
America was successful in regafnine
rhe Davis cup from the Britishers. who
won it from Australia in 1912 The.
American team was captained by n. III
Hackett, but the honors of the con
test were gained by Maurice e. Nc
Loughlin of California, who was the
chief factor in the triumph Of tho
Americans. Mclaughlin retained tho
Amqrican a nj m oh bf,>
he had won for the first time In 1912.
and with his western partner T. c.
Kundy, he also gained the championships
doubles. Miss Mary Browne OF Cali
fornia remained in possession of the
womans championship.
There was a revival of racing on the
tracks in the vicinity of New York.
The most successful horse in the classic
events was Harry Payne Whitney,s
WhislS Broom ii, which gained a per
manent place among the stars of the
turf by winning the Suburban handi-
cap when carrying top weight in the
record time of minutes for one and a
quarter miles.
There was unusual activity In row
Ing. Syracuse won an unexpected VIC
tory over the hitherto invincible Cor
nell oarsmen at Poughk eepsie, and
Harvard easily won from Yale in their
annual races at New London In the
American single scul1s championship
OF the United States the United States
carsmen had to bow before the skill
ce Canadian, r. Dibblee, who defeat
ed the title holder, e. B. Butler.
Among the amateur sailors the high
est honors In Watching circles among
the schooners were awarded to Morton
E. Plants Elena, and a similar d'stinc-
zion was bestowed among the sloops to