Big crowd welcomes team

Press, 11 October 1982, Page 1

Big crowd welcomes team

Christchurch turned on plenty of sunshine and a noisy reception for members of the New Zealand Commonwealth Games team when they returned home yesterday. Several thousand people filled Christchurch Airport’s international arrivals terminal, while others stood outside, to greet the competitors with clapping, cheers, banners, and handshakes. One of the first team members through customs was the Christchurch archer, Neroli Fairhall, proudly wearing the gold medal she won. Wellwishers handed her bunches of flowers, and even

more flowers awaited her at her home. Like the other

returning competitors, she was welcomed by the Mayor

of Christchurch, Sir Hamish Hay, and the 3ZB cheerleaders squad. She was followed by another gold medallist, the cyclist, Craig Adair. Others included the cyclists, Brian Fowler, who won a silver medal, Murray Steele, who won a silver and a bronze, and Graeme Miller, of Auckland, who won a silver. With them was the bronze medal boxer, Kevin Barry. The team members, who included competitors and officials. were quickly swamped by wellwishers and autograph hunters, many of whom wanted to admire the medals.

Games wrap-up, pages 21 to 23