Serious injury not to stop Sword

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32797, 23 December 1971, Page 24

Serious injury not to stop Sword

New Zealand motor-cycling’s scramble “sportsman of the year,” G. W. Sword, of Christchurch, has no intention of retiring from competition in spite of the serious injuries he suffered in a racing accident at Clarkville last month.

Sword, who suffered a cracked pelvis and a compound fracture of his right arm, was discharged from hospital yesterday after three weeks and a half.

And already he has plans for a return to racing this season. “The first thing I did when I got home was to look at the bikes,” he said.

“The pelvis is mending quite well, although I don’t look so good when I walk. I

am a bit like a ruptured duck.” DECISION DAY However, the decision on When he will return to racing will not be taken until January 18. His arm will be examined by a specialists on this day and he will know Whether a bone graft will be necessary. If the arm is healing properly, he intends to

race at the South Island gold star meeting on February 6. Sword leads the poihts table in the 350 c.c. class and in a close second in the 350 c.c. class. He will miss one of the meetings (on January 2 at Nelson) but hopes that he will be able to make this up in the later rounds. The South Island 250 c.c. miniature T.T. and grass hill climb champion, Sword has been overwhelmed by kindness during his enforced stay in hospital.

“People came to see me whom I had never met before. It was really terrific a great boost for my rather flagging spirits. I really appreciated the interest and concern everybody showed. I owe them a great debt of gratitude,” Sword said. He also received cards and letters from motor-cyclists throughout New Zealand wishing him a speedy recovery. His broken right arm is the same one which he injured in a crash in France in June last year. On that occasion the radial nerve was severed and he has not yet regained the full use of his hand. However, there is one good thing to come out of his recent misfortune. The new injury is expected to speed up the recovery of the old. AVOIDABLE CRASH Looking back on his accident, the 26-year-old motorcycle engineer feels that it could have avoided had there been a marshal with a yellow flag near where it occurred. He had fallen and was getting to his feet when he was ridden into by a following rider. Sword said that the accident had not discouraged him from racing in any respect. "I was put off for a day or so but now I want to get back to it as soon as possible. “Nevertheless, I want to make sure everything is completely healed beforehand. I am not taking any risks.”