Olympic Hockey Plans Upset

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31339, 8 April 1967, Page 14

Olympic Hockey Plans Upset

(Neto Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 7.

The abandonment of plans for an international hockey tournament in Bombay this year robbed New Zealand of valuable international competition, the retiring president of the national hockey association, Mr B. V. Cox, said in Wellington yesterday.

In his report to the annual meeting of the association, Mr Cox said that international competition followed by matches against Australia later this year could have given the build-up for the national side and enhanced its prospects of selection and successful participation at the 1968 Olympic Games. Plans for an international tournament in 1966 fell down, and the crowning disappointment came when plans for the Bombay competition were abandoned because of poor response from the invited countries.

Mr Cox completed his third and final presidential term this year, and in the consequent election for his successor, Mr D. I. Binnie, nominated by the Wellington association, was elected. Mr Binnie has been associated with hockey as a player and administrator for more than 30 years and has been New Zealand representative on the British Empire and Olympic Games Councils. Proposal Rejected

Presenting the annual report for the management committee, Mr Cox said the Australian association had not approved a New Zealand proposal for annual interchange visits between the two countries.

An invitation to Australia for a tour this year has been accepted, and the Australian team is expected to arrive in New Zealand at the end of July for a four-week tour. As a result of inquiries made to Kenya and South Africa, an invitation has been received for a New Zealand team to participate in an eight-nation tournament in Nairobi in March 1968. Last season saw the introduction of a more intensive New Zealand coaching programme designed to provide the basic coaching for players and coaches.