Hayes well-backed

Press, 29 October 1977, Page 60

Hayes well-backed

Financial worries should not weigh too heavily on Rod Hayes’s mind when he leaves Christchurch on November 10 to compete in the British squash circuit. At this stage nearly S9OO has been raised for the “squash international" fund, according to the president of the Canterbury Squash Rackets Association (Mr Viv Hargreaves). These efforts mean that rhe balance of the Canterbury champion’s air fare has easily been met. Hayes and two Aucklanders, Ross Norman and Howard Broun, were

awarded an earlier grant of $lOOO by the national body for the British venture three months ago. Mr Hargreaves said that an additional $450 had been promised for the fund and there was the prospect of another $5OO from the sale of advertising for the 10 courts involved in “Tell tale”. “There have been three confirmed sales, another four are pending and three more have yet to be investigated.” Hayes, a 20-year-old university student, will eventually hope to emulate the deeds of New Zealand’s best

player, Bruce Brownlee, but too much cannot be expected of him too soon. Brownlee went overseas several times before he blossomed.

“Using Brownlee as yardstick, it’ll be at least three years before Rod gets to the top,” said Mr Hargreaves, the convener of national selectors.

The association originally aimed to raise about $2OOO to send Hayes to Britain and it hopes that there will eventually be a surplus to put aside for the same thing next summer.