PAT ON THE BACK

A salute from the editors to men and women of all ages who have fairly earned the good opinion of the world of sport, if not its tallest headlines

RITA HOLMES
Rita Holmes is a pretty tap and musical-comedy dance instructor from Leyton, near London, who never took much interest in snooker (a variant of pool) until she saw a championship match three years ago. Rita was impressed, took a year's coaching from a local expert and in 1953 won the British women's amateur title on her first try.

MEG DAVIS
Meg Davis, 8, of Philadelphia is the latest member of the famed Kelly family to enter competitive sports. Granddaughter of Olympic Oarsman John B. Kelly Sr., she makes her figure skating debut this month.

THE LEBELS
Skaters Leo Lebel, 24, and sister Aldrina, 23, made off with the world barrel jumping championships. Leo's best (28 feet 7 inches) broke a world record after Aldrina made 18 feet 3 inches for a new women's mark.

THREE PHOTOS