New Zealanders Quietly Confident Of Chances

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28642, 19 July 1958, Page 7

New Zealanders Quietly Confident Of Chances

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 7 p.m.) CARDIFF, July 18. There is an air of quiet confidence in the New Zealand camp at Empire village on the eve of the Empire Games. New Zealand’s top hopes lie in the women’s field evqnts and the outstanding contender for a gold medal is Valerie Sloper. whose shotputting has amazed those with whom she has been practising. A rough measurement of her training throws indicates that she will better Yvette Williams’ 1954 throw of 45ft 9|in by at least 6ft. She is also given a strong chance in the discus. Mary Donaghy must be given a good chance in the high jump. She has not tried for maximum height in her training but cleared sft 4in without difficulty in a work-out a few days ago. Long-jumper, Beverley Weigel, looks as if she has a good chance too

Team officials say that the illness which plagued the New Zealanders on arrival in Wales may have the effect of reducing their capacity for a final burst, but these girls are all looking fit and cheerful. Of the men, Maurice Rae is expected by his teammates to gain a place in the 100 yards in spite of an impressive field, including the title defender, Agostini (Canada) Rae is also likely to be well up in the 220 yards. Mile Record?

The mile event will be a fine spectacle with Brian Hewson (Britain) and the Australians, Herb Elliott and Merv. Lincoln. A world record has been predicted by those watching Elliott train. Murray Halberg has had slight muscle soreness but is running very strongly and will contest the mile and three miles.

In the pole vault, Mervyn Richards who won the British title with a jump of 14ft 7in has cleared 14ft and stands a good chance of a medal. Dave Norris is looking fit and has an excellent big competition temperament

One of his rivals has predicted a second for Les Mills in the shot putt behind Arthur Rowe (England) and he may threaten even Stephanus du Plessis x (South Africa) in the discus.

The swimming team is looking for two medals —one for Philippa Gould, the other from the medley relay. The New Zealand medley team has tough competition from Australia and England, but may snatch third place from the Canadians. McFadden Improved The freestyle swimmers, Jennifer Hunter and Colin McFadden, do not seem likely to reach the finals, though McFadden now appears to be ovqr his bad period of a few days ago. The cyclists are optimistic, particularly after Warwick Dalton’s impressive five-mile win against top Australian, Canadian and English riders in a club race on Wednesday The New Zealand road cyclists fared better than any other Empire competitors in a Woking road event a few days earlier.

Jim Pirrett, singles gold medal winner of 1950. and silver medal winner in Vancouver four years ago. meets the Irish champion. Roy Fulton, this morning in the first session of the bowls.

Their trainer, John Finlay, is happy with the boxers. Of Bevan Weir he said: “There’s no stronger man here.”

Among the wrestlers, the heavy-weight, John Silva, and the middle-weight, Barrie Courtney, must be rated highly in spite of Courtney’s prolonged aftereffects from the air trip. The weight-lifters and fencers are not pinning their hopes too high, but as one fencer said, “You never know.”

Overbridge Tender.—Tenders for the construction of the first part of the Colombo street overbridge will be called on August 1.