FROM WEST INDIES

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 18, 22 January 1938, Page 11

FROM WEST INDIES

ATHLETIC TEAM

TO COMPETE IN SYDNEY

Three Trinidad representatives for the Empire Games, Messrs. J. Ashmead, J. N. Cumberbatch, and N. Stanford, arrived in Wellington on the Remuera this morning, accompanied by their manager, Mr. M. E. L. Joseph. In conversation with a representative of "The Post," they expressed regret that an alteration in the boat's schedule in leaving Trinidad will give them very little chance to practise and bring them up to concert pitch. The original date for the boat's departure from Trinidad was December 10, but it was later altered to December 24, and in the opinion of members of the team this will have an unfortunate, effect on their performances. They have done some moving about on the voyage but,but during the last week the cold and windy weather conditions made any form of practice practically impossible.

The manager, Mr. M. E. L. Joseph, is secretary of the Trinidad Amateur Athletic Association, and, although not competing at the Games himself, is a versatile-athlete. ■ ,-■ ■ ■,■•.-

Lance-Corporal J. Ashmead Is the team's long.and high, jumper, and isa particularly strongly built person, being a member of the Trinidad Constabulary. His best effort over the bar is 6ft 03in, and his best broad jump is 22ft 7Jin. . ' ' .

J. N.\ Cumberbatch, who. is assistant secretary j of the Trinidad Athletic Association, is the most brilliant sprinter in the West Indies, his time for the 100 yards being 9 8-10sec, and lor the 220, 21 3-ssec. -, ■' ■, ■■ ; ■

.Noel Stanford, also a member of the Trinidad Constabulary, is the, team's middle-distance ,runner, and.his halfmile time is lmin 57isec and his mile time 4min 26sec.

The team is the first to leave Trinidad to participate in athletic competition overseas, and it is very anxious to have some practice before reaching Sydney. Arrangements were made- by members of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Association for the team to attend an athletic meeting at Masterton this afternoon. They were met at the boat this'morning by Messrs. F. Bond, B. Sutherland, and A. D. Rowse, of the Wellington Centre.

On being questioned as to the pace of the-tracks in Trinidad, they stated that in that particular place they were by no means fast, although elsewhere in the West Indies-fast tracks were obtainable.

The team will leave Wellington on Monday, en route to Sydney.