SPONSORSHIP DECLINED

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31678, 14 May 1968, Page 19

SPONSORSHIP DECLINED

The Townsville trip of the Olympic swimming candidate, Miss T. K. Shipston, and her coach, Mr J. Breward, will not be made under the sponsorship of the North Canterbury Provincial Council of the Liquor Industry.

Miss Shipston and Mr Breward will go to Queensland at their own expense.

The move was in no way connected with the exchange of views between the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association and the New Zealand Olympic and British Commonwealth Games Association on whether or not Miss Shipston would violate the Olympic rules on amateur status by training at Townsville for six weeks.

Mr F. W. Shipston, the father of the swimmer, said the move had been made for fear of possible consequences of the sponsorship. “We dare not take the risk of this reacting against Tui and affecting her amateur status,” he said. Offer Left Open

He said he was very disappointed that the council’s offer could not be taken up. It was a wonderful gesture, he said. The executive officer of the council (Mr E. H. Williams) said the trade had made the offer to help a local girl who was doing* well. But the last

thing the trade wanted was to jeopardise Miss Shipston's chances of Olympic selection. It was no good getting a trip to Townsville only to lose one to Mexico, he said.

The council would abide by the decision of Mr Breward and the Shipston family, but the offer would be left open.