Masterton's 'Golden Games

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30209, 14 August 1963, Page 11

Masterton's 'Golden Games

Asporting festival without precedent in the history of New Zealand will be held in Masterton from October 19 to October 28, inclusive, by the Masterton Public Relations Office. Virtually every major sport in the Dominion, as well as many relatively minor ones, will be played at the festival, to be known as the “Masterton Golden Games.” All the various sporting bodies will arrange and control their own programmes and will arrange for their top performers from throughout New Zealand to participate. Awards of gold, silver and bronze trophies will be presented to individual place-getters and stick pins will be awarded to other competitors. An unusual feature of the games will be the playing of winter and summer

sports at the same time, or at least within a few days of one another. Cricket, Rugby, harriers, hockey, golf, soccer, archery, swimming, croquet, badminton, tennis, gymnastics, ballroom dancing, wrestling, weightlifting, softball, skating, cycling, model aeroplanes, brass bands, surf lifesaving, athletics, wood chopping, highland dancing, pipe bands, table tennis and live chess will all be catered for on a large scale. A cricket match between a New Zealand eleven and an invitation eleven including recent national representatives and possibly three Australian players will be one of the highlights. A Rugby match between a Centurions fifteen, consisting of recent All Blacks and promising youngsters, and a Maori fifteen should also

create considerable interest. Heading the list of championships to be won at the games is the New Zealand 10-mile harrier title. Most of the country’s leading long-distance runners are expected to contest this event. A national highland dancing championship is also scheduled. Efforts are being made to have the New Zealand model aeroplane championships held during the games, but if this is not possible, a largescale invitation contest will be held. Indoor, as well as outdoor, invitation athletic meetings will be held, featuring New Zealand’s best. An indoor tennis tournament with Davis Cup representatives and the possibility of a North versus South soccer match will undoubtedly add to the attractiveness of the festival.