Hockey victors return home

Press, 5 August 1976, Page 1

Hockey victors return home

By K. J. McMENAMIN

The seven Canterbury members of the victorious New Zealand Olympic hockey team were given a hero's welcome when they arrived home yesterday. About 500 people were at Christchurch Airport and they gave the seven gold medallists — Tony Ineson, Selwyn Maister, Barry Maister, John Christensen, Paul Acker* ley, Thur Borren and Alan Chesney — a rousing reception when they entered the terminal building. Also on the flight from Auckland — the last leg of a 25-hour journey — were the rowers, Athol Earl and David Lindstrom, and the rowing coach. Rusty Robertson. The Olympic team members entered the terminal by a different door from the other passengers; and '. the rowers, after being first oft the plane, lingered on the tarmac until the hockey players had made their entrance. The hockey players were welcomed at the aircraft steps by the Mayor (Mr H. G. Hay) and a sprinkling of city and hockey officials. One prominent Canterbury, and New Zealand, hockey administrator, Mr R. A. Milne, "beat the gun.” Together with Barbara Gillespie, the wife of the team’s coach, Ross Gillespie, he flew to Auckland yesterday morning and met the team there. The players and Mr Gillespie moved across the tarmac and entered the terminal to the swirl of music provided by six members of the St Andrew’s College pipe band. Travel fatigue was quickly thrown off as the players were engulfed by relatives and well-wishers. One or two gold medals came out and were placed around youthful necks. One player was taken off cloud nine with a reminder that he could not expect to rest on his laurels. He was told he had been selected to play for Canterbury at Ashburton Domain next Sunday. "Well, it should be a little different,” he replied. And then came the speeches, which fulfilled Mr Hay’s prediction of being short. He promised a fuller eity council reception next week. The airport authorities did their bit with a “welcome home” on the television screens. Mr Hay congratulated and thanked all the returning Olympians. He congratulated the hockey players for their tremendous achievement and thanked them for the joy they had brought to so many people. "Christchurch is very proud of you,” he said. "You have brought honour to your country, your province and your clubs. And you have also done a lot for the sport of hockey in this country.” Mr M. R. Good, the chairman of the New Zealand Hockey Association, added his congratulations and thanked the players for what they had done for hockey, which must now, he said, be “one of the premier sports in New Zealand. “Your great achievement in Montreal will be an inspiration to young people in hockey and possibly inspire them to go after a gold medal one day. Congratulations on a job well done.” The team captain, Tony Ineson, was brief, but to the point “Some unreal things have happened to us in the last few weeks and this ranks as the highest. Look at me, Fm still shaking. Thank you all very much.” The Mayor called for three cheers for the hockey players and then they again became the property of ’ well-wishers and the news media. Forty minutes later the airport was back to normal, but on their way down Memorial Avenue the players were given notice that it will be a few days before their lives return to normal. At the entrance to the Burnside primary school was a colourfully-worded sign: “Welcome back N.Z. hockey team.”