Additions To Skating Tour

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31771, 30 August 1968, Page 13

Additions To Skating Tour

Two important additions have been made to the New Zealand roller skating team’s tour, on the eve of the team’s departure for Italy.

From September 20 to 22, the skaters will compete in a three-day race from Catina, in Sicily, and on September 25, New Zealand will meet Japan in a track meeting at Tokyo. Mr I. R. Hughes, who has: coached the team of four, two: men and two girls, while: they have been in Christ- | church, and Mr R. Young, the manager of the side, said yes-: terday that the news of the additional racing, including three other international i meetings, had arrived only a day before the team left Christchurch for Italy. The team’s itinerary now is:— September 3: Track meeting in Rome. September 1415: World championships in Alte Montecchio. September 17: Road meeting in Padova. September 18: Road meeting in Filonica.

September 20-22: Three-

day road race from Catina (Sicily). September 25: Track meeting, New Zealand v. Japan, in Tokyo. The officials said that to the best of their knowledge the three-day race was very similar to a cycling tour, and would be from town to town.

“The preparation all the members of the team have had lends them to this type of event,” said Mr Hughes. Mr Young arrived in Christchurch to join the team yesterday, and said he could see the improvement in all the skaters, and the advantages of their training together in Christchurch.

“The speed work they have had from Mr Hughes, an acknowledged expert in his field, must stand them in very good stead and, I hope, lead to a happy conclusion,” Mr Young said.