Maguire Accepts: No Reply From Halberg

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30934, 15 December 1965, Page 23

Maguire Accepts: No Reply From Halberg

The Otago sprinter, C. J. Maguire, who equalled the New Zealand resident record of 9.6 sec for the 100 yards for the third time last Saturday, has accepted an invitation to compete at the Russian tour international meeting in Christchurch on January 15.

Maguire has also agreed to join D. W. Mckenzie and the New Zealand sprint champion, A. G. Steel, in a bid to defeat the Australian champion, R. Lay, at a special meeting at Rugby Park on January 4.

He will race in both the 100 and 220 yards against the visiting Australian, who recorded 9.2 sec for the shorter sprint earlier this year. At the international meeting, which will be held at Lancaster Park, Maguire has agreed to run in the 100 yards and the quarter-mile. In the 100 yards he will meet the Russian decathlon expert, M. Storozhenka, as well as Steel and Mackenzie. This may be the last time that Maguire will wear the Otago colours for he leaves for Auckland, where he will teach, the following day. No reply has been received

from M. G. Halberg to compete in the 5000 metres, according to the secretary of the Canterbury centre (Mr I. D. Teague). He said yesterday that a further letter had been sent to Halberg requesting a reply by telegram, but that it had not yet been received. Difficulty is also being experienced over the invitations to the two Jugoslav athletes, Simo Vazic and Franc Cervan, who were originally scheduled to compete at the West Coast on the same day as the international meeting. The West Coast has no objection to the Jugoslavs competing at Christchurch instead but efforts to obtain a suitable reply from the Auckland association, which is sponsoring their tour, have so far failed. More Indecision Because of this, indecision also surrounds the entry of the two West Coast athletes, D. C. McKenzie and E. Gray. However, all the invited runners have been included in the programme. Cervan has been entered for the 5000 metres, which promises to be one of the feature events on the programme. In this he will meet W. D. Baillie, N. I. Scott and P. Welsh (Otago), three of the country’s best performers over this distance. McKenzie and Gray have also been entered for this event Vazic has been entered for the mile against Ralko (Russia), J. L. Davies (Tokoroa) and other leading Canterbury middle distance runners. Inter-club Bvsnts The following schedule of feature eventi for the international meeting was announced by the Canterbury centre yeaterday. It does not include supplementary Inter-dub eventa which will also be held. Entries for these close on January 4. Other invitations may be extended if the athletes still in doubt are not available. All athletea are from Canterbury unless otherwise Indicated:— Men's 140 Yards <2.12 p.m.).— M. Storozhenka (Russia), C. J. Maguire (Otago), A. C. Steel. D. W. McKenzie. D. Minards. L. Jones. M. Poulsen.

Women's 100 Yards (2.1 S p.m.). —I. Press (Russia). P. Kilborn (Australia). L. Hurrell. B. Poulsen, V. Gilmour. K. Sutton. Men's Pole Vault <2.20 p.m.).—

Storozhenka, C. Stricke, J. Chadderton, D. C. Leary. Women's Shot Put (2.20' p.m.). —T. Press (Russia), D. Charteris, S. A. Flynn, B. Poulsen. Men’s 5000 Metres (2.20 p.m.). —F. Cervan (Jugoslavia), w. D. Baillie (Auckland). N. I. Scott (Auckland), M. G. Halberg (Auckland), P. Welsh (Otago), E. Gray (Greymouth), D. C. McKenzie (Greymouth), B. Taylor (Otago), T. Preece, K. Hamilton. J. Power. Women’s 880 Yards (2.50 p.m.). —M. A. Stephen, J. Horton, C. Russell, L. Prebble. Women's 80 Metres Hurdles (3 p.m.).—l. Press, Kilborn, Poulsen, L. Wilson. Women's High Jump (3.25 p.m.).—l. Press, Wilson, L. Curtis. L. Anderson, J. Horton, C. Cottrell. Men’s Javelin (3.45 p.m.).— Storozhenka. D. C. Leary, M. Stewart (Waimate), D. Wightman. Men's Mile (4 p.m.).—Raiko (Russia). J. L. Davies (Tokoroa), R. Ibbotson (Otago), J. D. Macdonald. B. Smith. B. Jones, B. Dyer. J. Gordon, S. Vazic (Jugoslavia). Men's 440 Yards (4.10 p.m.).— Maguire, Mackenzie, Steel, Minards, G. McKechnle. I