Sports Foundation grants 'a big help’

Press, 28 April 1980, Page 3

Sports Foundation grants 'a big help’

Assistance provided by the New Zealand Sports Foundation has contributed considerably to two “outstanding success stories,” those of Mark Todd and Anthony Cuff, according to the chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees, Mr Justice Beattie.

Todd won the Badminton three-day horse trials in

England last week while 1 Cuff moved from No. 10 in i the world to No. 1 (on times i so far this year) in the Ikm i cycling time-trial event. 1 Mr Justice Beattie said the I assistance provided by the foundation had enabled Todd < to eliminate some basic errors, particularly in dres- ; sage, which had probably ; cost him victory in previous years. Assistance to Cuff was continuing and the foundation was hopeful that he would secure top honours for New Zealand either at Moscow or at the world : championships in France in . August. Referring to “our pilot ■ project, Rebecca Perrott,” and the New Zealand rowing

eight, Mr Justice Beattie! said that Perrott’s coach. Mr Tony Keenan, was confident that she will be in worldrecord form at Moscow. If a New’ Zealand team did not go to Moscow “her efforts will be transferred to the substitute event.” _ Assistance provided to the row’ing eiaht had allowed it to train on a similar basis to the East German, West German, and Soviet crews. In the nine months since the foundation had been established §206,805 had

been granted to 85 athletes and eight coaches in 15 sports. More grants in the next two weeks would bring the total to more than §230,000. Over three years the sponsorship would exceed 5330.000. Of the uncertainties facing athletes and their national associations regarding the Moscow Olympics, Mr Justice Beattie said, “It is difficult for administrators to raise money at any time but the present uncertainties add to the problem. “For the athlete it is even more difficult. The effort required to prepare for top international competition, whether it be at the Olympic Games or any other big event, is beyond most of us.

“Such efforts require coaches able to motivate athletes and • with the nresent uncertainties exhortations to continue training as usual are unlikely to have the desired effect.” Mr Justice Beanie said it was not uo to the foundation to sav. whether sportsmen should compete at Moscow’. , x “Our role is to ensure that our athletes have sufficient financial sunnort to provide them with the best possible preparation.”