Athletics Selector Not To Blame

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31830, 7 November 1968, Page 13

Athletics Selector Not To Blame

“The Press’* Special Service WELLINGTON. The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association management committee has cleared its national selector, Mr J. H. Borland, of Gore, of any mishandling of the “Julian affair.”

The Auckland centre had some months ago asked whether Mr Borland had changed the N.Z.A.A.A. ranking order before placing it before the Olympic and British Commonwealth selection panel. There had been rumours at the time of the selection that J. L. Julian’s name must have

been lowered in the ranking list, probably causing his exclusion from the marathon team for Mexico. After a lengthy discussion in committee, the chairman, Mr C. A. Blazey, announced that inquiries had shown that the original ranking list, as approved by the N.Z.A.A.A. management committee, was tabled without alteration at the Olympic selection panel hearing. “Therefore, Mr Borland’s action was fully in accordance with the authority conferred upon him by the management committee,” said Mr Blazey. Though the matter was considered closed it is clear that there will ' e further discussion on it when the association’s annual meeting is held in Wellington later this month.