No Stars In N.Z. Team But Several Medal Prospects

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32352, 18 July 1970, Page 15

No Stars In N.Z. Team But Several Medal Prospects

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent) EDINBURGH. New Zealand, lacking any super stars, will be looking for a team effort to produce glory in the ninth Commonwealth Games, which open today. There are no certainties for gold medals in the team and any that are won will be the result of hard work and top-flight performances.

“This is a team with no chiefs,” the team manager (Mr J. McManemin) said in the final team talk before competition. “We are all Indians and we are all going to work together to make these games a success for New Zealand. Reticent about forecasting how many medals New Zealand could expect, Mr McManemin said he hoped that the total of eight golds, five silvers and 13 bronzes won at Kingston in 1966 would be surpassed. New Zealand’s best chance for a gold medal in the track and field events at Meadowbank would appear to rest on the ample shoulders of the Aucklander, L. R. Mills. 10ft Superior In Kingston, Mills took the discus gold, but here he is more favoured in the shot. In the “mini-games" at Grangemouth last Sunday, he was 10ft ahead of his nearest opponent Mill’s strongest opposition is likely to come from the Canadian, D. Steen, who beat the New Zealander for first place at Kingston. However, Steen’s best throw this year of 60ft 4(in is more than 3ft behind Mill’s best In the discus, New Zealand has a triple challenge—Mills, R. D. Tait and J. Antunovich. All have been throwing close to 190 ft in practice, which

would certainly put them in the running for medals. Another Canadian, G. Puce, who has thrown 195 ft Ilin this year, is seen as their major threat Formidable Task On the track. New Zealand has no P. G. Snells or M. G Halbergs to walk off with medals. A “dark horse” in the 1500 metres, however, could be R. Quax, of Waikato. A winner over 1000 metres at Grangemouth, Quax appears to be untroubled by the pressure here and is looking confident and fit in training. But the 1500 will be a tough race to win. K. Keino, of Kenya, seems to enjoy running in front of crowds and must be the favourite. The Aucklander, R. A. Williams, will be seeking to repeat his Kingston victory in the decathlon but he will face stiffer opposition in Edinburgh. Also be has also been handicapped in recent training by an eye infection which, if it persists, could seriously hamper him in competition. 800-Metre Strength In the women’s track and field, New Zealand .looks to have its best chante for a medal in the 800 metres, Mrs S. Potts will be able to draw on the experience she gam«d in Mexico where she reached the semi-finals, while Miss A. Smith also has plenty of match competition behind her, having represented England at Tokyo in 1964 and Kingston in 1966. The chances of both girls have been helped by the withdrawal of the English runner, Miss L. Board. Miss D. Charteris, of Christchurch, appears to have the best chance of a women’s field events medal in the discus. It is generally agreed that the Australians will monopolise the swimming. In the 24 individual men’s and women’s events, Australians have best times in no fewer than 13 of them. Most of New Zealand’s 13 swimmers will be looking for experience here. However, Miss G. Stirling, of Auckland, who reached the final of the 100 metres backstroke at Mexico, is regarded as a major contender for a medal and is especially highly regarded by the Australian coach, Don Talbot. Seeking First Gold The cyclists are in the “always a bridesmaid” class There have been New Zealanders in cycling in every Games since 1934 but none have won a gold medal. In Kingston in 1966, the

road team made a tremendous effort to bring off a victory, but D. R. Thomson and L. J. Byers had to be content with silver and bronze medals, respectively. In Edinburgh, the road course round Holyrood Park is a vicious one, but B. Beeston and B. Biddle, both of Auckland, are determined to break the pattern of nearmisses and have been riding very confidently in training. Other chances for medals outside of track and field, swimming and cycling are har. der to predict In the weight lifting, J. Bolton should have a very good chanca in the light heavy-weight • event while in the boxing, B. Kendall has an outstanding record and was a bronze medallist in the 1966 Games, and A. Afasaki has the type of toughness which could stand him in good stead over a long Games campaign. The New Zealand wrestling team, fresh from the world championships in Canada, should be match fit but will have difficulty matching the Pakistanis, whose superior technique has allowed them to dominate past Commonwealth Games. Fencing produced one of the upset results of the Perth Games when Miss M. Coleman gained a gold medal for New Zealand and the fencers here are hoping they can strike the same form. New Zealand’s performance in the badminton at Kingston was disappointing, but with R. Purser and Miss A. Glenie retained from that team, they should be able to capitalise on the experience they gained in 1966. Bowls has already started,

and the four, after a great beginning, have found difficulty adjusting to the heavy greens. New Zealander's hope that P. C. Skoglund has been able to gain from their troubles for his singles match and that R. L. McDonald and R. Robson, also members of the four, will have the advantage of having an extended period on the greens when they come to play in the pairs.