EMPIRE SPORTS CONTESTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 134, 7 June 1911, Page 5

EMPIRE SPORTS CONTESTS.

WOODGER AND OPIE OUT OF FORM. (Received 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 6. W. A. Woodger and R. Opie, the New Zealand representatives for the sprints in the Festival of Empire sports, are both out of form. Opie, who has strained a tendon, expects to be able to resume training within a week, but Wopdger, who has contracted illness, does not anticipate being able to compete in any events prior to the championship. * Woodger, who arrived in London at the end of April, is Australasia's first string at the Festival sports, is 27 years of age, is 6ft high and weighs lOst 101b. He is of the greyhound build, has a determined face, and gets fit with little training. He is a public school boy, having been educated at Wellington College, and is now in the Civil Service. Woodger, who won the last Australasian 100 yds championship in lOsec and 220 yds in 21 4-ssec, missed this year's New Zealand championships. In the Australasian championships he beat Nigel Barker, and at the present time is regarded as the best sprinter in Australasia (says the "London Sportsman") . Outside the Festival of Empire games it is Woodger'e intention to compete in the A-A-A. championships and a few other races, but as he wishes to see the country his racing programme will not be an extensive one. Opie, the second string, only got away at the last minute, his father at first refusing him permission to travel. j