Americans Cancel Tour By Chch Runner

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31236, 7 December 1966, Page 22

Americans Cancel Tour By Chch Runner

(New Zealand Press Association* WELLINGTON. The visit to America by the Olympic Games 800 metres bronze medal winner. Mrs M. A. M. Stephen, of Christchurch, has been cancelled bv the Amateur Athletic Union of America.

The invitation to compete in indoor meetings in February, has been withdrawn because of a lack of sufficient women's events on meeting programmes. the monthly meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association was told last evening.

The letter said there was a

lack of interest in women’s

events at indoor meetings and the organisers were not prepared to meet the travelling costs of Mrs Stephen at present

“This is most unfortunate but there is nothing we can do about it,” the chairman, Mr C. Blazey, said. However, the two Aucklanders, W. D. Baillie and 1. S Studd, will race at indoor meetings in America on February 6 (San Diego), 10 (Los Angeles) and 17 (San Francisco). Their itinerary was confirmed last evening, but both will have to undergo a fitness test before travelling. Welsh Captain

The Commonwealth steeplechase champion, R. P. Welsh (Otago), was appointed captain of the New Zealand cross-

country team to compete in the world championships in Wales next March.

: The annual R. H. North Cup competition for women will be held against New South Wales and Victoria for the first time. Normally it is against N.S.W. only.

The New Zealand team will compete against the states in Melbourne on March 8 and Sydney on March 11. The I size of the New Zealand team i and the scoring system for the i cup has yet to be decided. Coaching Committee

The meeting also elected a national coaching committee after a recommendation from the annual meeting last month that a national panel to organise coaching be formed. It is: active coaches, Mr J. Bellwood (Auckland), representing the northern area: Mr

IJ. Hutchinson (Wellington!, (central area: and Mr B. Hunt (Otago), southern area. Messrs M. Carter (north) and W. Holley (south) were elected as non-aetive coaches and Mr Holley was appointed convenor. Two world famous American athletes, W. Toomey, the world decathlon record-hold-er, and D. Burleson, a miler, requested permission to compete in New Zealand this season. However, neither supplied any dates for their trip. The meeting decided to write and request dates. The Kenyan runners. K. Keino and W. Kiprugut, the world mile record-holder, J. Ryun (United States), and the Australian. R. Clarke, all advised they were not available to race in New Zealand this season.