ATHLETICS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27213, 3 December 1953, Page 9

ATHLETICS

POSSIBLE VISIT BY FINN

(ftew Zeaiana Press Association/ WELLINGTON, December 2. "««is Johansson, a 25-year-old Finnish midole-distance runner, will tour Australia next year ano may visit New Zealand afterwards. He has accepted an invitation by the Amateur Atnletic Union ol Australia, and expects to arrive in Australia on January 23. c 'TA 11 have no major competition before the Australian championships at Sydney on February 11 and 13 and will later compete in Victoria and Tasmania. • 1 i Australian body was unable to say, A\i a i l ette * r to the New Zealand Amateur A / Yi etlc Association received at a meeting ol the management committee last nigm, whether Johansson would be able to extend his tour to New Zealand. Johansson holds both the Finnish records for the 1500 .metres and mile, with figures of 3min 44.8 sec and 4min 4sec respectively. the former I.Bsec outside the world record. The New Zealand association is tentatively planning up to six appearances for him, including the New Zealand championships. Reports to the committee last night on other tentative tours by overseas athletes were not promising. The Australian Athletic Union said that it was unlikely that the crack Australian miler, John Landv, would be available to tour New Zealand, although the New Zealand invitation had been forwarded to him. It also replied to an inquiry about a tour by Mrs Fanny Blankers-Koen, m which New Zealand asked to be included. It said that she would like to accept the invitation, but could not give a decision until late December, as she recently suffered a leg injury. The administration committee of the association was left to conclude arrangements for a tour by Mrs Blankers-Koen. providing that the arrangements and dates are suitable and do not clash with the period in which Miss Yvette Williams may be touring Australia. ST. ANDREW’S COLLEGE JUNIOR SPORTS A large number of parents attended the St. Andrew’s College junior school sports, held at the college yesterday, under ideal conditions. The rector (Mr L. W. Stewart) presented the Wanty Cup to M. G. Smith, winner of the open section. E. R. Hayes was second. Other results were:— Five years: lan Millar 1, David Winfield 2. Six years: Rodney Dowling 1, Geoffrev Hiseman 2. Seven years: Ross Millar i, Anthony Jarrett 2. Eight years: Anthonv Blackett 1, Murray Calder 2. Nine years: David Farnsworth 1, Alan Donaldson 2. Ten years: Martin Howman and George Mac Gibbon (equal) 1.

AUSTRALIAN TOUR BY MISS WILLIAMS

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 2. New Zealand’s Olympic gold medallist, Yvette Williams, will make a brief Australian tour next year. She is to compete by invitation at the Victorian State championships on March 20 and 27. Miss Williams had to decline an invitation to compete in Sydney on March 13 because the date clashes with the New Zealand junior and women’s championships at Dunedin on March 12 and 13. It is likely that a Sydney appearance will be fitted in the present itinerary. She will fly to, and from Australia.