"DREAM COME TRUE"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 49, 26 August 1930, Page 11

"DREAM COME TRUE"

FIRST EMPIRE (JAMES

TEAMS FROM "DOWN UNDER"

In a letter.to Mr: H. Amps, of Wellington, -written threo -weeks prior to the.opening of the Empire Games at Hamilton,: Ontario, Canada, Mr. B. J. Hobbs,. manager :-o£-ttio New Zealand team, gives sorno; interesting details of the trip, across Canada and the wonderful receptions accorded th 6 Now-Zea-land representatives and- the Australians, witli>ht>m they travelled: - Everywhere the two teams .wore welcomed with enthusiasm.. The cables received from Canada'have stated that B. Tv Colder; tho New Zealand diving champion, was'not-well, and in his letter Mr. Hobbs mentions that Calder apparently was suffering from sciatica, which undoubtedly must have affected him considerably, in the diving competitions at the Games. . • ■ '. . , "We had a wonderful reception at Vancouver;" stated-Mr. Hobbs. On arrival at 5 o'clock in the evening at Vancouver the Mayor and officials of various sports bodies boarded the Aorangi and welcomed jthe teams. That evening the teams were taken for a drive and spent a most enjoyable time. At 10 o'clock next morning they were off again, some going sight-seeing, some to baths, and others to the- cinder track. They were the guests of the Jericho Country Club at lunch and in the afternoon the guests of the Mayor, after which the teams were taken for another drive.- Later they were entertainedby the Vancouver -Olympic Association. Then, at 9 p.m;, the long train journey to Toronto' and Hamilton commenced. "We did not go out rowing," said Mr. Hobbs, '' as Ayers and ' Brough thought one row in a foreign boat would not do any good. Peafee (Australia) gave a sculling exhibition on the harbour." Mr. Hobbs then describes the trip across Canada by train and pays a tribute to the officials of tho C.P.R. for the many courtesies received at thenhands. "Over the Bockies on Saturday was a wonderful experience," continued, the letter. "It exceeded our highest expectations and the conditions were perfect. We arrived at Banff about 10 p.m. . ." In the limited time at their disposal the team had a good "run round." They were away again at 11.45 next morning. ' The New Zealand team, stated Mr. Hobbs, got along well with the Australians, whom,'he; Baid,"were a fine lot of chaps. He mentioned that Pearco received a great hearing, in the local papers wherever he went. CALDER OFF COLOUR. Calder had been off colour for about tendays. The -ship & doctor's diagnosis was that Caider.' -was;^suffering •■ from sciatica brought about by training at Dunedin in' the winter before leaving. Mr. Hiobbs concluded Ms letter the following day, 22nd July. The two teams arrived at Toronto at 7i40 a.m. and were met by Mr. J. W. Collins, New Zealand Trade Commissioner in Canada, Mrs. Collins, and Professor Louden, president of the Canadian Amateur Athletic Union., .•■■A*. Hamilton they were met by Mr. M: JVL .Robinson,- one of the principal Empire-Games .officials, and, incidentally, the representative of the New Zealand^ Amateur Athletic Association in' Canada, arid other members of the Empire Games Executive. Shortly afterwards a civic reception was tendered the teams by tho Mayor in the City Hall, at which Mr. H. Weir (manager of the Australian teairV. and. Mr. Hobbs spoke. . ' . ■' HOUSEDJN. SCHOOL; ] . ..;.'A;:lai:gev,s'sijtopir '.-yards, from-.-tho' '"Stadium".had Been .Converted to a. building of "dormiTories, .and in. this the Australian and New Zealand teams "were lodged. They'were very comfortable, although the. hea!twwars r troublesome Calder was J3tin'ujiwel£ and. "Mr. Hobbs said that fiej.was considering .sending him to'hospital 'for a"few days. The New'Ze"alaTrd'"tsanrTiad been in-! vited to, compete-at --Toronto a few days;; prior to tn© opening^.of'the Games, but: after consultation with Mr. Bobinson it was decided not to take part in view of the'fact that it was considered that if visiting teams competed at Toronto interest in tho Games probably would bo affected. The Now Zealand team was invited to take part in. rowing, etc.,,at Chicago and. Philadelphia after the Games. In.' concluding" his letter, Mr. Hobbs said that two doctors" and a masseuse had been called in'for Calder, but he was not showing much improvement. HAMILTON'S WELCOME. -Mr. Amos has also received a copy of the Hamilton."Spectator," of 23rd July, which devoted several columns to the arrival and welcome to the Australian and New Zealand teams.' The two -teams were termed "tho advance guard of a mighty-invading force of athletes." They Were given a. rousing reception. - In the course :of liis speech of welcome the. Mayor (Mr. Peebles) said that the Australians and New Zealanders formed • the first delegation from the countries "down undor" to visit Hamilton; ■ 1 Mr. M. M. Robinson, chairman of the Hamilton Committee of the British -Empire- Games, and tho man largely responsible for tho Games, welcomed the teams on behalf of the British Empire Games Association of Hamilton. "At Amsterdam, two years ago," said Mr. Bobinson, "when wo discussed the British Empire Games, few thought the idea would materialise. It is a source of deep gratification to see. the Now Zealand and Australian teams here. The dream has come into being." "We, like others, thought the British Empire Games project a di-eain," said Mr. Weir in the course of his reply. "Wo could hardly realise that it was growing. We saw Hamilton and Canada working hard, and felt duty bound to give support, although Australia, in troublous times, offered difficulties. Through the generosity of tho Games Committee we were aided, and decided to bring a small but select team." ,Tho welcomes 'that had boon- received sinco arrival in • Canada had been an inspiration to the Now Zealandcrs, said Mr. Hobbs. Ho referred to the benefit to bo derived from tho Games'and expressed thanks for tho reception. PEARCE IDOLISED. As Mr. Hobbs indicated in his letter, Bob Pearce, the Australian oarsman, appears-to have been an attraction on his own. ■ "While ovory member of tho Australian and New Zealand contingent of athletes came in for his share of interest and scrutiny to-day," says the ' 'Spectator, " '' there was one young, man . especially whom everyono wished- to set eyes upon. 'Where is Bob -Pfiarce?-': was. the question invariably directed at; members of the British- Erripif o '•' Go-mes - Committee and civic-officials on-Ce the team- had set foot oil Hamilton, soil. The bronzed and powerful young athlete who created world-wide-attention with his spectacular victory in tho- single shell competition at the 1928 Olympic Games at Amsterdam was the cynosure of all eyes.?'.-, ••.-.-.: -.. -..-... -. •■ •. A five-eolunin photograph of the Australian; and New Zealand teams was reproduced in the "Spectator," and pants were taken to indicate Pcarcc, billed as the "giant Australian singles sculling champion," rind thoh there is thii interesting line: "The-native leis aro visible on some of the New Zealander*. •* " : ■ ■ ■ The Games'1 are :-6vei* now, and Now Zealand witti-three wins was far from •cfisgraccVi. .'•" ' '