Q & A: A tale of two knock-outs . . . and young Butch in furs

Has a Japanese driver ever won or had a first-three placing in a grand prix?

Of the few Japanese drivers to have competed in a grand prix (Masahiro Hasemi, Kaguyoshi Hoshino, Ukyo Katayama, Satoru Nakajima, Aguri Suzuki, Naritake Takahara and Kunimitsu Takahashi) only Aguri Suri Suzuki has stood on the podium, when he finished third at his home grand prix in 1990. Satoru Nakajima (the most experienced Japanese driver in Formula One with 74 starts) has finished fourth twice, at the British Grand Prix in 1987 and the Australian Grand Prix in 1989. No other Japanese driver has scored a point. - Richard Argent, Coventry.

When Suzuki finished third in Japan, Nakajima finished sixth. This was the first time two Japanese drivers had finished in the points in the same race. - Peter Nethery, West Haddon, Northants.

Have two boxers ever simultaneously knocked each other out? In such an event, would the result be a draw or would it go to points?

Whilst serving as a Physical Training Officer in Chatham RN Barracks (HMS Pembroke) in 1952-55, one of my responsibilities was Manager of the Nore Command Boxing Team; I was at the time a Class II boxing referee. In either 1954 or 1955, I requested to be examined for upgrading to Class I referee, and this was to occur in front of three examiners the evening that Nore Command was matched with either Kent County or Southern County ABA.

I arranged to officiate for the last four or five bouts. The last bout of the evening was between two enthusiastic civilian novices. From the first bell both boxers threw punches continuously, many incorrectly, for which I warned both, but none deliberately so.

By roughly half-way through the last round both boxers were exhausted and almost out on their feet. In desperation each swung a right cross at the other and one boxer dropped in a neutral corner. After a count of four, the other boxer collapsed in another corner. I finished counting out the first boxer then turned round to the second and gave him an additional four seconds.

The MC stepped into the ring a little nonplussed and I told him to collect the three judges' voting chits. The hall became silent and a wag at the back called out: 'That's got you ref]'

When I had collected the chits, I instructed the MC to compliment both boxers on their spirited display but, before announcing the winner, to tell the crowd that the result was determined as if all three rounds had been completed, with the boxer ahead on points declared the winner. I am pleased to say that I passed for Class I and was referee many times for Combined Services fixtures and Army v RAF. - Alexander Goldsack, Portsmouth.

In the Rugby League in the 1930s there were three teams which have since disappeared: Broughton Rangers, Wigan Highfield and St Helens Recreation. How long were they in the Rugby League, and what happened to them?

Broughton Rangers were founded in 1877 and were founder members of the Northern Union in 1895. They changed their name to Belle Vue Rangers in the 1946-47 season and folded in 1955 due to problems with their ground. One of their former grounds, The Cliff, is now Manchester United's training ground.

Wigan Highfield began life around 1880, disappeared around 1895 and were reformed in 1902. They joined the Rugby League in 1922-23. In 1933-34 the club changed their name to London Highfield and, although still based in the north, played their 'home' fixtures under floodlights at the White City stadium in London. This bold venture lasted just one season and London Highfield became Liverpool Stanley from 1934 to 1951.

In the 1951-52 season another name change led to Liverpool City, who lasted from 1951 to 1968. From 1968 to 1969 they were known as Huyton, finally leaving the Liverpool area at the end of 1983-84. From 1984 to 1991 they played as Runcorn Highfield.

Wigan Highfield are now known simply as Highfield and play their home games in St Helens.

St Helens Recreation: St Helens Recs were formed in 1879 as the sports section of Pilkington Brothers Glassworks. They were admitted to the Northern Union in January 1919. The Recs played their final game at the end of 1938-39. In 1947 an amateur team was formed named Pilkington Recs.

On the honours side, both Broughton Rangers and St Helens Recs were successful. Broughton were champions in 1901-02 and won the Challenge Cup in 1902 and 1911. They also won the Lancashire Cup in 1906-07 and 1920-21. St Helens Recs won the Lancashire Cup in 1923-24 and 1930-31. The Recs were also Lancashire League Champions in 1926-27. Under the guise of Liverpool Stanley, Highfield were Lancashire League winners in the 1935-36 season. - Les Hoole, Rugby League Heritage, Bradford.

Why do modern batsmen make a pointed acknowledgement to their team- mates after completing a half-century, while ignoring the spectators?

This is a topical point, with the Aussies back in town, for it was their 1989 touring side that popularised this inelegant practice - one that manages to achieve a rare combination of belligerence with piety. The 1989 team, in their determination to avenge the defeats of their immediate predecessors, adopted a tribalistic machismo that was exceptional even by Australian standards: opponents were verbally abused, beards were grown, and the players voted by secret ballot to ban their wives and girlfriends from the tour. Most visible to television viewers, each time an Australian batsman passed a milestone (and this happened roughly twice a session throughout the summer) he would disdain to thank the crowd for their applause in the traditional manner, and instead would choose to scowl, retain his headgear, and brandish his bat towards the pavilion. - Ian Smith,

Oxford.

When was the first instance of a streaker at a sporting event?

It was not in an England v France Five Nations match in 1974 that the first streaker displayed himself, as Gareth Evans writes (13 June). The Five Nations matches at Twickenham that year were against Ireland and Wales. The match against France (20 April) was a charity match following the air disaster near Paris on 3 March, in which so many rugby fans were killed. - H O Dovey, Thetford, Norfolk.

How did Ray Wilkins get the name 'Butch', and what was the name of his footballer brother?

In his early career, Ray Wilkins expressed a flamboyance on and off the field. On it he showed an arrogance and aggression. Off it he was often interviewed wearing fur coats and outlandish dress. Perhaps this was why he was nicknamed 'Butch'. - David Balcombe, Northwood, Middlesex.

Accused, as I often am, of living in the past, I recall that he had a brother called Graham, who I think played in the same Chelsea team in the late 1970s at left-back. - Michael Ward, Stockport.

Djamolidine Abdujaparov, the Uzbek cyclist, has nine syllables in his name. Can any leading sportsman or woman boast more?

The full name of Brazil's well-known captain in the 1982 World Cup is Socrates Sampaio de Sousa Ferreira Oliveiro, and Spain's excellent full-back in the 1934 finals was Jacinto Francisco Fernandez de Quincoces y Lopez de

Arbina.

As for nicknames shorter than Pele's (6 June) - Brazil's current captain (Socrates' brother, no less) is known as Rai. Others capped by Brazil include Ado, Biu, Ely, Ivo, Jau, Ney, Rey, Tim, two called Gil, three called Ari, four known as Edu - and, last and least, De and Sa. - Cris Freddi, London W12.

The Bulgarian gymnast Dilijana Vodenitcherova, who competed in the Barcelona Olympics, has 10 syllables. - Miss Janet Liddle, Wolverhampton.

Kapila Wijegunawardene, the Sri Lankan Test cricketer, has 10 syllables. His name, like that of his colleagues Anguppulige Wickremasinghe and Chandika Hathurusinghe, is not hard to pronounce if you think of it as a faintly nonsensical question - 'Would you gurn a wardener?' - Hugh Jacques, the Mound Stand, NW8.

ANSWERS PLEASE

In golf, has anybody ever had a hole in one on a par-four hole? Has this happened in a professional tournament? Or in domestic play by an amateur? - R Gregory, Longstanton, Cambs.

Fred Everiss is credited with the longest managerial reign in the Football League - he was at West Bromwich Albion from 1902 to 1948. In world football, has any manager been in charge for longer? - Philip Greenwood, Newcastle, Staffs.

Which footballer has scored against the highest number of League teams in his career (not necessarily the most goals)? - Spike Denton, London SW9.

Has the Vatican State ever taken part in sporting events? Do they have any sports facilities, stadiums etc? - Kevin Maguire, Batley.

My bookshelf contains The Dying of the Light by the football writer Brian Glanville, a 1976 novel recounting the bittersweet days of Len Rawlings, 'hero and victim'. Other than their sportswriting, do any of our other professional observers write fiction? - David Willacy, St Albans.

When was the last time the Formula One world championship was not won by the driver with the best car? - Mr B Douglas, Hayes, Middx.

If you know the answers to any of these questions, or have a sporting question of your own you would like answered, write to:

Q & A

Sports Desk

Independent on Sunday

40 City Road

London EC1Y 2DB

Fax: 071-956 1894

(Photograph omitted)