Hide-Out For NZ. Runners

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30555, 25 September 1964, Page 17

Hide-Out For NZ. Runners

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, September 24. Hide-outs in Tokyo have been prepared for the two glamour runners in New Zealand’s Olympic contingent—the team captain, P. G. Snell, and the distance runner, M. G. Halberg.

This will be a precaution if the pressure of things gets too much for them, said the athletics manager (Mr M. Carr) before the team departed today. He said that from previous experience he knew how much athletes could be upset by the continual hounding by overseas pressmen.

For this reason, a couple of hide-out spots had been arranged in Tokyo for Snell and Halberg to enable them “to get away from it all and relax,” said Mr Carr.

But Snell was the most sought-after athlete when the team arrived in Sydney, today. He was asked when he would announce what events he would compete in at Tokyo. Snell replied: “As late as possible. I have already decided, of course, but it is no use letting your opponents know in advance.” While most of the New Zealand team lazed in Sydney’s warm spring sunshine, for two it was “business as usual.” They were the two swimmers, Miss I. Haddon and D. F. Gerrard.

They had a full work-out in one of Sydney’s pools and will have two more tomorrow before the team leaves for Tokyo tomorrow evening. MOST LIKELY

Miss Haddon Is rated by the swimming manager (Mr B. C. Simpson) as one most likely to succeed in the Olympic swimming.

“She is swimming so close now to world record times that we are very hopeful." The New Zealanders arrived in Sydney just before noon,

half-an-hour behind schedule after their aircraft battled against strong headwinds in mid-Tasman. The main topic of conversation among the distance men was the 10,000-metre time of 28min 36.4 sec—fastest in the world this year—by R. Clarke in Sydney last night. Most of the team had a loosening-up run at a nearby athletic track, but there was

little in the way of serious work-outs. Most were content to jog out the effects of the plane travel.

COLD SHOWERS The Auckland assembly and departure earlier in the day went off so smoothly that officials were left waiting for something to go wrong. As the T.E.A.L. aircraft, carrying all but the rowers and equestrian team, roared down the runway at Whenuapai at exactly 9 a.m., the secretary of the Olympic Association (Mr G. Craig) said he had never known pretake off arrangements to work out so efficiently. “There was no misplaced luggage, no mishaps or ailments—no problems at all," said Mr Craig. The only individuals who had any cause for complaint were the athletes, hockey players, yachtsmen and other assorted sportsmen who had to take cold showers at 5.30 a.m. when the boiler at the hotel where they were staying broke down.

NINE BIRTHDAYS The Olympic Games social committee to be appointed is in for a busy time, for seven of the team and two section managers will celebrate birthdays while the contingent is overseas. They include the veteran of the team, the hockey goalkeeper, W. Schaefer; who will be 39 on October 9, and the second youngest competitor, the gymnast, Miss Pauline Gardiner, who will be 19 on October 11.

The others with birthdays are the athlete, J. L. Julian, 29 on October 9, the boxer, B. Mauhsell, 27 on October 5, the hockey player, J. Anslow, 29 on October 6, the rower, R. Skinner, 24 on October 15, and the yachtsman, E. Wells, 31 on October 27. The assistant manager, Mr R. Shakespeare, will celebrate his birthday in Manila on Saturday, and the rowing manager, Mr J. Stevenson will celebrate his on Tuesday.