New Britain herald., 1927-11-05
RANDALL REVIVAL
 PICKING UP SPEED
Ancient Irish Game Gains in
 Popularity at '. M. (. A.

While the interest Of sports fol lowers in New Britain is being gradually centerod on the resump- ton Of indoor activities, with the approach Of the fall and winter season, and especially on the revival of roller hockey after several years inactivity locally. q considerable amount of attention is being directed towards the ancient Irish game of handball, which is enjoying a great CT degree of popularity at the Y. ". C. A than ii has ever had in New Britain. It is interesting, also, 10 note that in Hartford, interest ln handball is being revived and recently club was organized there for the purpose of conducting tour- Daments and in other ways to en- courage the playing of the game.
 To veteran players in this city, the sudden rise Of the game ln the pub lie eye is amazing, and the athletic authorities of the Y. M. C. 4. are so pleased at the condition that steps are going forward for the building of two new courts on the top floor of the association building, which will give the association four courts, each with four Walls. This will assure the members of ample opportunity to play with a minimum of delay, even when tournaments and match games are scheduled. and it is felt that an even greater number of enthusiasts than is at present following the game will be attracted by the improved facilities.
 Prior to the present year, hand ball at the Y. M. C. A. received no attention from anyone with the eX- ception of q dozen or more players who conducted tournaments among themselves and occasionally had matches with players from Meriden, ITolyoke and other places. Now and again new played would be intro duCed to the game but on the whole. the reports of the contests included the same old stand-bys, principal among them being rom" Grove, Bert" Loomis. the Unterspan broth CTS, the Walther brothers, 'Bill' Greonstein, Charles Cook, Joe" Hergstrom. Henry Dressel, the Mag brothers and some others.
 17 Teams in Tournament
 This year, however, there are no less than IT teams entered in the doubles tournament, which means that thirty-four men are playing the game at least once weekly and most Of them appear on the courts two and three aftcrpoons q week, with the result that the standing of the teams is unusually close and practically every team has chance for the championship. The changing of the standing has been lkened 10 the race in the National Baseball League during the season recently closed. and everyone who is inter- csted is having grca. sport trying 10 forecast the winner.
 Physical Director IIergstrom has said he has never seen such inter est in the game since he took charge Of the gymnasium here several years ago. As soon as announcement was made Of the tournament, more than ten teams entered. and sine" then the others have joined. The teams their own games, the only being that each must play every other team onc" and every match must consist of there games, with at least one match weekly. At the present rat" of play, |, is believed the schedule will be completed in December. and in all probability another tournament will be started early in 1928.
 One of the reasons for the close Uoss Of tho race Is believed to bo ibe system Of croditinS percentage. h. he past the custom wae 70 count matches instead of games but this year the percentages are figured on games won and lost, similar 10 the baseball leagues. Thus, q single days games can upset th" standing, and a team on the top Of the ladder can not afford 10 bc careless ro GarIlcsS ol tho caibre of the opposing team in any particular contest. So evenly arc the teams matched that only two or three combinations ar" con siercd "Sot" and even these teams have furnished upS,ts,