EMPIRE GAMES TEAM

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21285, 3 October 1934, Page 15

EMPIRE GAMES TEAM

<»— NEW ZEALANDERS NOT AT TOP OF FORM BRAINSBY'S IMPRESSIONS OF TOUR ABROAD [THE FSE3S Special Service.] AUCKLAND, October 2. Returning home after their four months' trip to England to compete in the Empire Games in London, the three Auckland representatives—H. K. Brainsby, N. Crump, and W. Whareaitu—arrived by the Marama. Two other members, T. G. Broadway and L. Smith, reached Wellington on Monday, while F. J. Grose, the cyclist, remained in Melbourne to compete in the Centenary Games. "No member of the team was at the top of his form when the games came oil," said Brainsby. "This was due to having a six weeks' sea voyage, followed by only slightly over two weeks in which to train in England. Had the team been in better condition they might have made the results a little more interesting; but the general standard at the games was exceptionally high. There could have been no excuses made on climatic grounds, as the weather throughout had been exactly like a New Zealand summer. "From the point of view of experience and athletic education, the trip to the games has been of infinite value. We earned a great deal about training methods, particularly so as we had the services of two of England's bestknown coaches —W. Thomas, the Oxford University athletic coach, and W. Howcroft, a leading authority on swimming." Brainsby paid a tribute to Dr. A. E. Porritt, New Zealand Rhodes Scholar and Olympic Games finalist, who managed the Dominion team in London.

On the subject of brilliant young runners who could be looked to uphold Britain's prestige, Brainsby mentioned the performance of a 17-year-cld schoolboy, S. R. Wooderson, who was only a few yards behind Lovelock when he won the mile in 4min 12 4-ssec. Lovelock was very popular with the English crowds, and during the last season had maintained the form that had earned him his place as the world's leading miler. The White City stadium, at which the games were held, was exceptionally well equipped. At the opening day of the games, tlier" had attended the largest crowd a\ any athletics meeting in England since the Olympic Games in l!)0fl. It was estimated that between 40.000 and 50,000 people had been present, and the enthusiasm throughout had been wonderful. During their stay in England (he New Zealand representatives had been accorded the greatest of hospitality, and had been cordially received wherever they had gone.

Perhaps Ihe two most notable events in their trip had been their reception by the Prince of Wales at St. James' Palace, and the flight, over London in one of the large Imperial Airways aeroplanes during a visit (o the Croydon Aerodrome. At the former function, the Prince had met them all personally, and had taken the keenest interest in their particular countries. The three swimmers had been taken on a special trip to the North of England, where they had given exhibitions end had been given the opportunity of fraternising with .sportsmen. A tribute to the courtesy of the Japan ese holder of the hop, step, and jump record, Chuhei Nambu, was paid !>y Brainsby. The Japanese, who was over in England as the trainer to a term ccmpc-Tinu in the women's games, lvid come to Brainsby at Wembley and had given him most valuable advice. As a partitiß i;>'ft he had given him his training sweater, suitably autographed.

NO EXCUSES

BROADWAY DISCUSSES HIS FORM AT GAMES

A suggestion made in Christchurch recently that he had been prohibited from telling his friends in New Zealand of his condition was discounted by the Canterbury middle distance athlete, T. G. Broadway, who returned yesterday from the British Empire Gaines in London. He said that a failure to strike his top form robbed him of his chances, but although, with othi r members of the team, he signed a contract that he would not give interviews to newspaper reporters without the approval of the manager, he .was permitted to say whatever he wished in his letters to friends in New Zealand. 'Die Canterbury Amateur Athletic Cluo, of which Broadway is a member, decided at Its annual meeting to protest against the short time allowed the team in England, and it was alleged that Broadway had been "muzzled" in commenting on his form. Broadway said that he was by no 'TJC-i'is "muzzled." He did not wish to excuse himself for riot having, apneareel in the finals. He had competed in both the 440 yds and the tißOyds, but in neither had he qualified. He and Brainsby had found themselves rapidly affected by the cinder tracks. and each suffered injury to a heel, although he made light of this. The cinder tracks were much harder than they had anticipated, and the time they had in which to prepare for the Karnes was not particularly long. They had arrived in London on July 17 and had competed on August 3. Every facility had been provided on the ship for training on the way to England, and they had arrived there as fit as possible after a sea trip. They enjoyed excellent hospitality while they were in England. Five days had been spent at Exeter College, Oxford, at the invitation of J. E. Lovelock, who competed for New Zealand in the mile.

Broadway was impressed by the thorough study Lovelock made of athletics, and particularly of the mile. Lovelock had read everything possible about his distance and made a scientific study of athletics. The climatic conditions probably did affect the athletes from New Zealand, Broadway said, but he did not notice it to any extent.