Sportsman’s Notebook BARBARIANS SURF TEAM TO MEET AUSTRALIANS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29388, 15 December 1960, Page 19

Sportsman’s Notebook BARBARIANS SURF TEAM TO MEET AUSTRALIANS

The two teams selected in Wellington last week-end to meet the touring Australian surf team at Lyall Bay and Titahi Bay towards the end of the year, should meet with general approval. A Wellington district team consisting of eight seniors and bne junior, and a Barbarians team, have been announced. With a blend of experience and youth, the Barbarians team is the first surf team of its kind to be selected in New Zealand. A number of well-known surfers have been included in it and the contest between it and the Australians will be as close to a test match as any other contest during the tour. The Australians have requested that no tests be held as the tour is a goodwill one with emphasis on meeting the individual club member. Included in the Barbarians team are Johnny Watt and Bruce Oliver, who were both members of the 1950 New Zealand test team which defeated the Australians. Another member of the team, A. J. (Bert) Cotterill, was in the 1956 New Zealand team which visited Australia. M. Haxton was also a member of this team. Haxton has won three national surf race titles and has been well up in other races of a similar nature. He was the outstanding surfer in the middle 1950’5.

Two other membei-s of the Barbarians team, B. Crowther and K. Ryan, have won national titles in recent years. The Barbarians team is:—J. A. Watt, A. J. Cotterill, B. Oliver, C. Billing, M. Haxton, ,T. Allan, K. Ryan, B. Crowther, M. Harvey. The Wellington district team is as follows:

M. Haxton (Maranui, captain), K. Ryan (Lyall Bay), C. Billing (Worser Bay), R. Charles (Island Bay), J. White (Titahi Bay), J. Glen (Titahi Bay), B. Crowther (Maranui), C. Lake (Lyall Bay), C. Blakely (Lyall Bay, junior). Local Canterbury clubs will meet the visitors in competition on Saturday, January 7, at New Brighton. The next day at Taylor’s Mistake the Canterbury provincial team will compete against the Australians in an all-day carnival. Professional Tennis The departure of the young American Davis Cup tennis player, E. Buchholz for home immediately after the inter-zone final at the week-end indicates that he will not be playing in New Zealand as a professional

later this month. It had been suggested that both Buchholz and B. Mackay would turn professional at the conclusion of the Davis Cup matches, Mackay is the only member of the United States team still in Australia, and this may indicate that he will join Kramer after Christmas. If so. he will play in Christchurch on December 31. Sanatorium Day The Cashmere Bowling Club held a successful sanatorium day last Monday. Eight visiting rinks participated and the majority of clubs in Christchurch were represented. Dr. T. O. Enticott addressed the gathering as did Mr M. A. Le Cren, president of the Christchurch centre and Mr R. Featherston, senior vice-presi-dent of the New Zealand Council. For the patients the sum of £5O was collected. Surf-Fire Engine A 1922 fire engine, formerly owned by the Lyttelton Fire Brigade, has been purchased by the club captain of the Waimairi Surf Life-saving Club (Mr I. Graham) with a view to using it to carry gear to the national'surf championships at Warrington next February. The transporting of gear can be very expensive, so Mr Graham was delighted when his tender of £5O was accepted by a city motor dealer. The fire engine can carry three reels, paddle boards, surf skis, and should be able to tow the surf canoe on a trailer. The engine has done only 1900 miles. Club members are at present working on the vehicle, preparing it for the long journey to Dunedin. It is expected to be ready for the road early in the New Year.