The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 24

Page 23 The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday, August 30, 1984 Paddington proves Lord of Wyong It's high noon for Harry Croatia and mini I Mir SKSKBSffim-KSiSS A5t JKKW vW.Si-WS.Sfta.ViS' Cfr A -f ft h'1 i'V By BILL WHITTAKER Lord Paddington helped defray expenses for his widely publicised stablemate Strawberry Road's grand tour of Europe by winning the $30,000 Westfield Wyong Cup, at Wyong yesterday. Owner Mr Ray. Stehr said: "Expenses are high in Europe; this win" today will go a long way towards paying them and, even more to the point, it's a wonderful omen for next Sunday." He was referring to Strawberry Road's second German start, in a group-one Grand Prix event over at Baden Baden this Sunday. (Mr Stehr is a principal shareholder in Strawberry Road and owns Lord Paddington outright) Strapper Elizabeth Benham was the unsung hero of Lord Padding-ton's win yesterday, The pretty 24-year-old, who works for trainer John Nicholls, is the chestnut's personal valet (as she describes herself) and unofficial trainer. The race book shows Keith McCarthy as the trainer, yet he is the first to admit: "Young Liz does all the work." Nicholls transferred his team to McCarthy in May when he went to France with Strawberry Road.

Benham, who transferred to 'McCarthy at the same time, continued to care for Lord Paddington her favourite horse. "Isn't he beautiful," she said, grinning hugely as jockey Phil Smith brought the handsome little stallion back, to the enclosure. Benham. does considerably more than just strap the horse. She feeds him, grooms him and, more importantly, rides him in his work.

Benham fetched Lord Paddington from Randwick to Wyong early on Tuesday morning to ensure the horse did not have to endure the long float trip through vengeance and McCarthy will now set him for the Epsom Handicap at Randwick early in October. Lord Paddington, suited by the small Wyong "saucer" track, took every advantage of barrier five yesterday. The horse has plenty of zip from the barrier and Smith was able to use this speed, getting Lord Paddington in behind the front-running McGlinchey inside the first 100m. Approaching the home turn McGlinchey was leading and going well, followed by Lord Paddington on the rails and Ksar Royal (Peter Cook) on the outside. McGlinchey gained a half-length break with 200m to go as Ksar Royal held Lord Paddington in a pocket Smith said: "That was the only time I was worried because Peter Cook had no intention of letting me out "We brushed a couple of times, then I was into the clear as Ksar Royal got a little tired.

"It was then a matter of catching McGlinchey, and I was confident because my horse was going considerably better than him and I knew I had it won with about 50m to go." Smith declared McGlinchey a certain starter for the AJC Epsom after his fine second. "He hurt one of his hind legs at Randwick the last time he raced there on August 22 and he missed some work but there were no excuses for him today," he said. "But I was very pleased with him and I reckon he will be fitter and better come Epsom day." The topweight, Row Of Waves (Mel Schumacher), started favourite at 3-1. He ran a good race, finishing fifth, but was anchored by his weight (56.5kg), conceding the winner 5kg. Strapper Elizabeth Benham with Lord Paddington after the Wyong Cup yesterday.

Lord Paddington needs considerable attention because he fractured three small bones in the fetlock joint of his off foreleg-about two years ago. Veterinary surgeons removed three chips which broke away from his sesamoid bones, and it was feared the then colt would not race again. He has come back with a after Benham had engaged Mick Dittman to ride the horse at the weekend. "Mick Dittman told us he had the flu and would be unfit to ride Lord Paddington," Mr Stehr said. "Thank God, Phil Smith answered his phone after Mick said he was ill.

"He rode a great race, having the horse tucked away on the rails all the way to the home turn." Smith had the added pleasure of Green: maker of top jockeys and gentlemen By DAVID LEWIS Harry Noon, the jocular giant behind the remarkable resurgence of National Soccer League no-hopers Sydney Croatia, is contemplating adding his name to the club's catalogue of coaching calamity. Englishman Noon, who became Croatia's fourth coach in three months when he took possession of a highly volatile hot-seat seven weeks ago, says it would take a "king's ransom" to keep him at Croatia next season. Noon's miraculous transformation of Croatia, from virtual relegation certainties into semi-final hopefuls, has placed him at the top of a growing wanted list among NSL clubs. He has already been approached by three of Croatia's rivals and makes little secret of the fact that he is open to offers. Noon's future at King Tomislav Park has been thrown into jeopardy by his growing dissatisfaction with a Croatia committee reportedly hell-bent on selecting the team for him.

"It's a constant battle between them and me," confessed Noon. "I have to be totally responsible for picking my own team or not at all. If Croatia want me to stay on next season, they'll have to offer me a lot of money. "They'll have to convince me that I'm wanted, which so far they haven't done, despite the fact that we are the team of the moment "The longer they keep me in the dark about renewing the contract they have given me until the end of the season, the unhappier I'll be. "When things are going well here they love you but I can't help thinking that if we started next year on a losing note I might go where Danny Clark said he "I could have ridden below a group of riders who were riding high on the banked track but I thought they were going to fall." The Tasmanian had told the Australian Cycling Federation that he did not want to compete in the Keirin despite his successful record.

"They told me that I had to so I came, but after that crash I'm not ready for the barging and shoving of Keirin racing," he said. Octavio Dazzan, of Italy, took the leading metropolitan team and the next best team from the championship will receive invitations. "It is one of the few ways they would get into the field," the association's executive administrator, Mr Peter Picken, said yesterday. "The Pro-Am has a field of about 140 players." The NSW Open will also be played at The Lakes from October 18-21. the same way as Atti Abonyi who was shown the door only a few weeks after the season began." lured away from Brisbane Lions seven weeks ago by a committee desperate for success, believes Croatia have the ability to be the team of 1985.

"I have drawn up a short list of four players and with their help I believe we could be unstoppable next year," he predicted. "The club are not short of cash and the supporters deserve success." When Noon took control Croatia were wracked by internal strife, defeat had become a habit and the team's collective egos were battered beyond recognition. But did Noon have any reservations about joining a club whose coaching turnover had gone into frenzied overdrive? "Not really because I knew they had to settle on someone sooner or later," he explained. "I took a gamble that it would be me. "Things were a shambles.

The team had forgotten how to win and were just going through the motions. "There was no tactical sense or organisation. I almost had to start from scratch." According to Noon, crestfallen champions St George are in a similar state these days. "They are the worst team we've faced and I can't see them escaping relegation," he announced in the aftermath of last Sunday's 1-1 draw with Croatia. "If Frank Arok Saints' coach thinks they can escape the drop then he is living in a dream world." In the light of such comments, it might be fair to assume that Saints are not one of the clubs vying for Noon's services next season.

'chickened out', the silver and Urs Freuler, of Switzerland, the bronze. Tom Sawyer, of Melbourne, did not qualify for the final. Australian chances of medals on the track are down to the Sutton brothers, Gary and Shane, of Sylvania, in today's points championships. Gary has won a silver and bronze in. the past two world titles.

Hockey semi still open Olympic goal-keeper Kym Ireland saved Queensland again yesterday in the Australian women's hockey championship when she clawed away a penalty stroke from Olympic team-mate Lianne Tooth in the 0-0 draw with joint leaders NSW. Queensland play the struggling Australian Capital Territory in the last matches of the round-robin series today. mer in difficulty would pray his rescuers possess. "Really it is not a race but a personal challenge," he said. "That's why there are no major prizes.

The winner gets a surf ski worth S610. "It would be easier earning that type of money by working behind a bar at night" While Braund's ski-ing feats are renowned in the lifesaving world, so are his eating habits. "In one book which detailed the history of the lifesaving associav; tion, they talked as much abour my eating as my ski-ing," he saidll "Sure I love my very much so. As I use up so much 1 energy, I do possess quite an i appetite. And I suppose I have to confess that my wife sometimes gives me my evening meal on two plates." Beat that, Mr Selleck: -x i 9mP, Tag: SS1I .3.

'x IS A I i ,1 'I 'i 1 -i 1 sis The world-championship track in Barcelona pep beating; the Brian Smith-trained McGlinchey (Peter Losh). Smith was stable rider for the trainer at Wyong until dismissed about a year ago. "Yes, it was good to beat McGlinchey but I must say that the first man to congratulate me after the race was Brian Smith," the jockey said. "Time heals all wounds, doesn't it?" But it is his talent for training jockeys, for which he is most famous not only showing them the fine art of good horsemanship, but also teaching them to become gentlemen. Green has the ability to spot the right qualities in a youngster.

What separates one rider from another? "Balance is the main thing," he said. "Like a tight-rope walker or anything else, you have to practise these things to get better, but some people are gifted with balance, like Malcolm Johnston." Green does not prefer a particular age for teaching whip riding. "The best riders in the land don't have to pull the whip, only on the odd horse they ride hands and heels," he said. "Kevin Langby rode five one day, and never hit one of them with the whip." One of the most important things for a young jockey was to build his strength. James Innes, one of Green's latest and most promising was an example.

"He had two years before he was apprenticed," Green said. "He was only 28kg when he was 15 years old. I kept him till he was 17 until he got up to 40kg. "It's very important, for all muscles, bones, strength in every respect. "Mucking out the stables is a very important job.

The lads get to know everything about the horses. They get a close association with them." In the past 10 to 15 years, training methods in athletics, swimming, football and most other sports have been updated greatly, but what about horse racing? "Training has not changed a bit," Green said. "Tommy Smith, the best trainer in the world, does exactly the same as he did 30 or 40 years ago. And he's still the best trainer" In 1965, she became a member of the State journal committee, rising to editor from 1967 to 1981, when she was elected vice-president of the NSWWBA. The GIO State singles championship has been brought forward, to accommodate live television coverage by the ABC between 1.15 pm and 4.30 pm on Monday, October 1.

The championship, at Ryde, now will be contested on September 28 and 29 and October 1. The retiring executive officer of the Royal NSW Bowling Association, Ron Wiseman, revealed that in his 26 years' service, his greatest disappointment was the failure of I've lost my nerve, says Clark By MICHAEL COWLEY What do jockeys Malcolm Johnston, Ron Quinton, Sid Spinks and Darren Beadman have in common? Apart from being exceptional riders, they all started their illustrious careers with the man known in racing circles as the "Master Theo Green. They are just a few of the numerous apprentices Green has "turned out" in his long career as a trainer. Even Brisbane's latest sensation, reigning champion Neil Williams, had a six-month stint at Green's Clear Day Lodge. Another thing that all of them share is admiration and respect for a man they have, at one stage or another, called Quinton, Sydney's premier jockey eight times, the past six in succession, once said of Green: "A tot of trainers exploit apprentices by using them as cheap labour, but Theo is one in a million." Green thinks highly of Quinton: "He is a real expert horseman." Johnston referred to Green as "the greatest man there is with teaching a boy.

He is more of a father to An opinion many of his "boys" would swear by. An apprentice indentured to George Price, Green rode only nine winners and just over 30 placings, so he didn't earn enough money to start as a trainer immediately. He became a "trifle too heavy to be a jockey" when suspended for a year for not allowing Lord Ivan to race on its merits at a Muswell-brook meeting. His first winner as a trainer came in April 1959 at Gosford, with a filly named Dorothy June. The owner of the horse was Dr John McGirr, the former manager of Australian world boxing champion Jimmy Carruthers.

He has put the finishing touch on many more winners, including this year's Golden Slipper Stakes winner. Inspired. the race-day traffic. Lord Paddington, looking fresh and fit, showed the benefit of this special care as Benham led him around the enclosure before the race. He was confidently backed at 7-1, and leading bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse wrote one bet of 821,000 to $3,000 each way.

Former New Zealand jockey Smith made the best of his opportunity as substitute rider sent his successful brood mare Raadisi to be mated with Marscay last year. "When the people at Widden heard that the foal was due to be born they rang up and said it would be Marscay's first," Mr Hayes said. "They were very excited and have been on the phone every day this week." Mr Hayes said he would not like to put a value on the foal, who is a half-sister to the Guineas winner, Storm Tide. If Australia is to improve on its World Bowls 1984 performance, it is imperative that specialist lead bowlers be chosen for the triples and fours teams for the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games in 1986. A record 21 countries will compete in the fifth women's World Bowls championships at the Reservoir club, Melbourne, from February 13 to March .2.

Jean McKinnon, manager of the Australian squad, has arranged a series of practice matches at North Sydney (today, tomorrow and Saturday), Marks Point (September 11), Wallsend (September 12) aBd The Entrance (September 13) before travelling to Melbourne for a final practice run against a strong -Victorian contingent. BARCELONA, Wednesday: Danny Clark finished last in the world cycling championship Kei-rin final last night. Although he has won two world-title gold medals and two silvers in the past four years, he admitted: "I chickened out" The Australian professional, 33 tomorrow, did not want to ride in the Keirin championship because of injuries he received in a crash 10 months ago. After Switzerland's Robert Melinda Hayes, 12, with the Mars cay foal and her dam yesterday. First foal to Marscay Lift for NSW teams' golf PERTH: The arrival of a filly foal at a thoroughbred stud farm in Serpentine in the early hours of "yesterday morning was awaited with all the expectation of a royal birth.

She is the first foal of the former "champion Sydney racehorse Marscay, who was retired to the Widden Stud in NSW last year in 'a syndication deal valued at $1.26 million. The chestnut foal is owned by prominent Perth thoroughbred breeder Mr Jeremy Hayes, who Dill-Bundi had snatched a surprise victory, Clark said: "I have never felt so good and ridden such a bad tactical race. "I've lost my nerve because of that crash. There were things I should've done but I was scared. "I should have attacked but I didn't, and I should have knocked the Japanese out of the way but I didn't I should have stayed at the back of the field and attacked with Dill-Bundi.

Then I could have been in the medals. annually in conjunction with the National Panasonic NSW Open, and gives every State golfer the chance to play in the NSW Open through the preceding Pro-Am. A district elimination competition is held in country areas, with the three-member winning teams from 20 districts combining with 12 metropolitan teams for the State final on October 16. The Pro-Am will be played at The Lakes Golf Club on October 17 and the leading country team, Hooked on From Page 24 244km South African ski marathon. After finishing fourth, he vowed to his wife that he would never do anything like it again.

"After six hours your backache turns into screaming pain, the tenderness in your palms warns of developing blisters," he said. "A dazed stupor might be broken by a lazy black fin cruising towards you. "At the end, you try to stand but your legs are numb and won't work. Tears fill your eyes as the pain floods to the surface and the exhaustion weakens your defences." But on the flight home, he had a change of heart and drew up plans to hold a similar event in Australia. Copying the South African event, he soon devised the 260km course from Forster to the Sydney the pursuit of pain World title expose need for specialist leads NSW golf has received a shot in the arm wiih the announcement that Dunhill will sponsor the NSW club-teams' championship this year.

NSW Golf Association president, Mr Lionel Clark, said his association welcomed and appreciated the support of Dunhill and their long history of golf involvement The teams' competition, to be played at Pymble this year, is held the association to buy 10 acres of land on the corner of Epping Highway and Herring Road, Ryde. The executive had planned to establish its headquarters on this site, which cost $12,000 an acre at the time. Unfortunately, delegates decided by a narrow majority against the purchase and a golden opportunity was missed. Jack Ball was elected by a huge majority at the annual meeting of the RNSWBA last Thursday to succeed Laurie Fraser who, in March, will become the' next president of the Australian Bowls Council. Tom Monaghan, 80, was reelected for his 12th stint as chairman of State selectors.

Monaghan received 212 votes, Phil Kemp 111 and Charlie Frost 103. Opera House, got the necessary sponsors, and it went ahead in September 1982. Braund was 10th. This time around, Braund has shown some common sense. He will not compete in the second challenge; he is the full-time contest organiser.

"Last time 1 competed and also organised the event," he said. "It was a bit too hard and now, with a young family, I find I haven't got the time to do both." Instead, he will make sure that the 72 hardy competitors, including one woman, are properly directed, handled and cared for, from September 5-8. He is quick to point out that this event is not based on seeing how much pain the body can take. the Challenge will encourage and develop the strength, perseverance, courage, and self-confidence that a swim The importance of having a specialist lead in a triples or fours -team was never demonstrated more -convincingly than in the World Bowls championships in Aberdeen last month. The six Australian selectors chose as lead in the triples and 'fours championship bowlers who had not played in that position for more than 20 years Bob Middleton, of Victoria, and Peter Rheuben, of NSW.

Both have played only as captains in that time. At Westburn Park, Aberdeen, last month, Rheuben was expected to deliver his three lead bowls close to the jack and then retire from further participation in each end. This was too much to ask of a man who is a fierce competitor and who has become accustomed to directing the game as captain at interstate level. Alan Olsen, the North Sydney president, has organised parking for spectators at nearby St Mary's Church and Marist Brothers College at the nominal charge of $1. On Saturday, the highlight should be the singles contest between State men's singles champion Joe Amos (St Johns Park) and Merle Richardson (Corrimal).

The new president of the NSW Women's Bowling Association is Dot Johnson (Port Hacking) who succeeded Jean McKinnon (Cheltenham), who is to become the next president of the Australian Women's Bowling Council. Johnson was first introduced to administration in 1960 when she' was appointed publicity officer of her club..