THREE ATHLETES

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 111, 7 November 1933, Page 13

THREE ATHLETES

TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND

DEFINITE INVITATION

Approval of a definite invitation to' three Australian athletes to tour New Zealand in the latter part of February and in March was given at last night's meeting of the council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association. The three athletes are J. P. Metcalfe (New South Wales), E. W. Banvick (Tasmania), aud J. Horsfall (Victoria), being a jumper, distance runner, and sprinter respectively. The secretary (Mr. L. A. Tracy) was empowered to make all arraugements, including the preparation of an itinerary. The proposal is for the team to leave Sydney on February 15, In a letter to Mr. Tracy, Mr. Hugh R. Weir, secretary of the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association, said that Barwick ' seemed to have been inspired with a new lease of life since his return from Los Angeles, where unfortunately as a member of the Australian Olympic Games team he was' unable to show his best. "I last saw him in August of this year," Mr. Weir added, "when he brilliantly won the cross-country championship of Australia, and since his return to Hobart seems to have been indulging in an orgy of .recordbreaking. He is certainly a very muchimproved runner since your people saw him in Wellington in 1927. Undoubtedly he is the best distance runner in Australia today." The following reinstatements were granted:—E. J. Robertson (Rotorua), I. E. Symes (Whangarei), 01 L. Davies (Taneatua), G. S. Akeroyd (Whakatane), R. Whittle (Whakatane), A. R. Wilson (Whangarei), A. E. Lacey (Whangarei). The Auckland Centre advised that it desired to change its colours of black and white to blue and white to conform with the colours used by other Auckland sports bodies. It was decided to reply suggesting the adoption of a white singlet and pants with blue facings. Approval was given to the Wellington Amateur Athletic Ceutre holding the 1933----34 New Zealand track and field championships on February 16 and 17. Mention was made by Mr. Weir in his letter to Mr. Tracy that consideration was being given to the possibility of conducting a set of centenary games during the latter, portion of January and the early part of February, 1935. The idea was to obtain small teams of athletes from several countries, such as America, Japan, England, South Africa, and New Zealand. QUESTION OF COACH. A letter was read from the Otago Centre suggesting that a coach should be invited to New Zealand. The chairman (Mr. R. AY. MeVilly) aaid he had been interested to read o£ the views of Lord Burghley in regard to the question. Lord Burghley's opinion was that the influence on the standard of sport of super-athletes—record-breakers-was greater than that of coaches, and there were instances, some, in New Zealand, which went to show there was a good deal in what Lord Burghley 6aid. There was the question also which appealed to tho athlete most—the chance of going abroad as a member of a New Zealand team or staying in New Zealand to be coached. , Mr. J. O'Sullivan: There is also the other aspect of bringing high-grade men to New Zealand. t Mr. G. S. Leeder: The average athlete would sooner compete against first-clasa imported men. Mr. Tracy said his view was that it would be useless bringing a coach to New Zealand for a season with tho idea of his coaching athletes. If it were decided to import a coach the best plan would be to place suitable men under him with a view to their becoming coaches—a coach of coaches, in effect. It was decided to write to the centres asking them whether they were in favour of funds being spent to send athletes abroad or whether they should be spent in bringing out a coach,'and, further, suggesting that the question be discussed at the conference of contres in Wellington at the 'time of the New Zealand championship meeting-. . TRIBUTES PAID. As the meeting of the council was the final oue before the annual meeting of the association, a small function was held after the business had been dealt with' when a number of toasts were honoured. Tributes, among others, were paid to Mr. McVilly and to Mr. Tracy. The opportunity was also taken by Mr. McVilly to voice the council's regret that the Auckland Centre hfld seen fit to appoint another delegate in place of Mr. C. B. Allan. It was always a matter of regret to him, said Mr. McVilly, that men who had done good service should be superseded. He could only express the hope that in the not too distant, future Mr. Allan would again occupy a seat on the council.