Athletics

Evening Post, Volume CXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1934, Page 18

Athletics

By "Sprinter."

TOUR ENDS

AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES

AUCKLAND . PERFORMANCES

In spito~ of the somewhat gloomy note that was struck in certain quarters when it was first suggested that a team of athletes _ should be invited to New Zealand this season, it would appear ou the information available that the tour of the three Australians, J. P. Metcalfe, ,T. E. Hampson, and B. W. Barwick, which concluded this week, has not caused financial embarrassment to the centres and clubs that participated. On the contrary, as a result of most of.. the meetings; at which the visitors appeared, finances were strengthened. The tour provided a badly needed fillip, and served to illustrate. once; more that class pei--f.orme'i« wilfcalways attract good attendances of the public iv New Zealand. Though Barwick was unable to reproduce performances of the quality he has -/.registered, iv Australia, Metcalfe and , Hampson were in great fettle throughout, and- each has left" behind a string of ,fiuo achievements. Metcalfe,; of cOurso,' was the great drawcard, his jumping feats showing him as undoubtedly the finest athlete in this branch of athletics ever to have visited our shores, r The Australians were a popular trio, and were over ready to bo of-,assistance to athletes in the various centres they visited. Particularly was this noticeable in some of tho smaller : districts, where they appeared,to double their efforts to give helpful : advice and practical ' demonstrations. - : It,is ;to, bo hoped' that, as a result of,'their, endeavours there will bb some athletes in New 'Zealand who will benefit'from tho advice they have received, and also from tho slowmotion films of Metcalfe inaction, and tho copies- of tho written "lectures by Metcalfq tho ; New, Zealand Amateur Athletic Assocration hopes to procure.