Athletics W.D. B AILLIE’S CLAIM

Press, Volume C, Issue 29523, 26 May 1961, Page 5

Athletics W.D. B AILLIE’S CLAIM

Games Team Place “Meant For Me”

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND. May 25 The Auckland athlete. W. D. Baillie, has said he is “finished with athletics” after missing selection as one of four New Zealand representatives to go i to Finland. > It appeared impossible for him to gain major selections, : he said. x Baillie, who claimed that be had been virtually promised selection for the squad to compete in the second world games at Helsinki early in July, described his non-selec-tion as the biggest disappointment of his life —“and I've had a few, too “I know that the fourth position was meant for me.”| he said. “All that happened. was that the Finnish author!-, ties forgot my name when: . forwarding the invitation. “I also know that the national selectors had been told that the invitation was intended for me. “This has finished me. IT! just run for my health’s sake now.” Chairman's Comment Mr H. I. Austad. chairman of the New Zealand Amateur Athletics Association, commented in Wellington tonight: “I know nothing about Baillie's claim that he had an understanding. We were asked only for an athlete. “I must stress that the original request was for the three Olympic place-getters. When the Finnish people came to light with the invitation for an additional athlete we treated it along our recognised lines. ‘‘As no specific athlete or event was named, the choice was put over to our national selectors (Messrs J. Borland and C. J. Thompson). Their job was to sort , out the best athlete available and they recommended Philpott. “Having full confidence in our selectors, we named Philpott.”