“HAPPY FAMILY”

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22344, 7 March 1938, Page 8

“HAPPY FAMILY”

N.Z. ATHLETES IN SYDNEY CANTERBURY RUNNERS’ REPORT reply to complaints about , EMPIRE games “Any complaint made was simply sheer ingratitude to the Australians, who did everything in their power to make us comfortable and happ\. said Mr V. P. Boot, in replying to a wlome gwen to himsel, l and Empire Games athletes, C. • thews, A. T. Anderson, and Miss U. Strachan, by the Canterbury Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association at the Pioneer Sports Club on Saturday n *Sht. “It must be remembered that this tj s the first time that Australia has embarked on a project of such magnitude. and the management of the Empire Games left nothing to desired The New Zealand quarters were very comfortable and if thef caterfng was foundla IrtUe want ing that was only a minor defect, Mr Boot said. - . “The whole trip was very mstrucy live, and I suggest that ™°re moving pictures of international athletes m action be shown to our younger athletes We should start training the boys' when at school, but.we must not let them over-tram themselves We see so many annual school sports in which the boys’ contest, every event. These boys, once promising, simply fade out, and we hear no 3of them. I advocate a rest after a school career for all young runners. When Matthews and I left school we had a year s before entering into senior athletics. The action of schoolmasters who • force boys to compete in all events is to be deplored.” “It was the largest team that New Zealand has ever sent away, and. during the trip we were one temPY family,” said C. H. Matthews. The standard of athletics m New Zealand will be raised through the experience gained at the Empire Games, as it is only fair that the representatives who were given such a wonderful trip shoula attempt to pass on any knowledge they learned, and should do everything in their power to foster their sport in the Dominion- The standard set at the Games was very high, and the Empire need have no fear of the competition of foreign countries. I wish to pay tribute to my team mates, without whose assistance Boot and I might not have been as successful as we were.” Short-distance Runners’ Faults

“What impressed me most at the Empire Games-,” said A. T. Anderson, “was that I cannot run fast enough. The times put up in the quarter miles were astounding. Our long-distance runners, in style, relaxation, tactics, and speed, had nothing to learn from any of the other athletes; but in distances of up to 880 yards there is something radically wrong with them. lam unable to detect the fault. I do not know whether it is in the style or the physique, but it must be rectified if we want successes in future overseas competitions.” Mr R. C. Symes presided over the gathering, which included the Mayor (Mr J. W. Beanland), Mr C. S. Thomas, Mr J. J. Brownlee, president of the Canterbury Centre, and Mr C. Taylor.