N.Z. EMPIRE GAMES TEAM

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27400, 13 July 1954, Page 13

N.Z. EMPIRE GAMES TEAM

Strike Inconveniences N.Z. Cyclists EQUIPMENT ON SHIP DELAYED AT SYDNEY (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, July 12. The delayed arrival of the Waitomo at Vancouver from Sydney will seriously inconvenience the New Zealand Empire Games rowers, fencers, and cyclists. Some of their equipment is in the vessel, which was expected to reach Vancouver about the middle of this month', but because of a Sydney waterside strike it is not expected to dock until July 31, the day after the opening ceremony. The cycling team today had to do considerable borrowing and buying of more equipment so that its training plans will not be affected. The manager of the cycling team (Mr A. W. Gooder) said that all the best equipment was in the Waitomo.

A. J. Gittos, the fencing captain, said that most of the team’s gear was in the ship, including his own two epees, a sabre, a new mask and elbow guards. The only rowing section to be affected is the four, which is without its boat. Although the West End rowers are not likely to go short of training it means much for a crew to have its own racing boat. The New Zealand team assembled at Auckland this morning. It was quickly organised, and by lunch all knew each other. The section managers had had their meeting, and the team manager, Mr Alec Ross, had completed the first of many team talks.

J. C. Daly (one and three miles running) contracted influenza during his journey from Canterbury to Wellington on Saturday night and was unable to make the train trip last night. The team will leave New Zealand for Vancouver in two groups, the first one of 30 on Wednesday morning and the second of 33 on Saturday afternoon by air from Whenuapai. The first group will arrive at Vancouver on Thursday and the second on Sunday. A civic reception will be given in the Auckland Town Hall tomorrow.

AUSTRALIAN TEAM TOTAL OF 77 TO GO TO VANCOUVER “YOUNGEST AND KEENEST ON RECORD” (Australian Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) ■ SYDNEY, July 12. All the members of the Australian Empire Games team have now assembled in Sydney for their departure for Canada tomorrow.

Australia is sending a team of 77 athletes to the games, which will start on July 30. The team is the youngest and, according to all reports, the keenest on record. The average age of the team (excluding the bowlers) is 26. The “baby” of the side is the Queenslander, Jan Grier, the Australian breast-stroke champion ,who is 14i years. Sporting writers here are tipping Australia’s younger champions to carry off events in almost every section of the. games. Fifteen-year-old Lorraine Crapp is rated by her coach, Frank Guthrie, “a living certainty” to win the 440 yards frestyle race.

Gary Chapman, 16 (440 yards and 1650 yards freestyle), and Jon Henricks, 18 (110 yards) appear to have these events well in hand.

And Australia has a host of other apparent winners. Four world record holders, Olympic Games champions and Empire Games titleholders are in the Australian team, which is the second largest ever sent to an Empire Games meeting, the biggest being in 1950 when more than 160 went to Auckland.

Nearly £48,000 was subscribed to meet the cost of the team. World Record Holders

The world record holders are John. Landy (mile in 3min 58sec), Marjorie Jackson (100 yards in 10.4 sec and 200 yards in 24sec), Lorraine Crapp (880 yards freestyle in llmin 0 2-ssec), Hector Hogan (100 yards in 9.3 sec). Hendrick’s time of 56.25ec for the 110 yards freestyle over the 55-yard long course,; equals the world record. Those who will be defending titles won at Auckland are Marjorie Jackson, Dick Garrard (wrestler), and the double-scullers, Mervyn Wood and Murray Riley. Marjorie Jackson and Lionel Cox (cyclist) are 1952 Olympic Games champions. In Australia’s team there are 18 men and eight women track and field athletes, six men and four women swimmers, six rowers, seven cyclists, eight boxers, five wrestlers, three weightlifters, four men and one woman fencers, and seven bowlers. In addition are the general manager, three headquarters officials, six section managers, and two women coaches.