DISAPPOINTING NEWS
VISITS BY AUSTRALIANS MAY BE OFF
A few weeks ago prospects appeared bright for the Wellington Amateur Athletic Centre being able, by arranging for visits from two separate Australian teams, to go quite a long way towards bridging the gap that was felt locally when the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association Council decided against a national tour by an overseas team this season. At the moment, however, it must be confessed that things do not look so bright. Two of the athletes the Wellington Centre was inviting on its own initiative are not available, and so far as the other team is concerned, this being the one for which arrangements were being made by the Otago Centre, there is a report in circulation, which, if correct, casts doubt on the possibility of this tour also materialising.
It was generally agreed if Miss Decima Norman, J. Mumford, and J. P. Metcalfe were able to come to New i Zealand at the Wellington Centre's invitation this would be a team that would be a big attraction. Unfortunately, since letters were sent by the centre asking the three athletes whether they would be willing and available to make the trip a Press Association cable has announced that Metcalfe will be sitting his final law examination ij__H?bruary and will be unable to accept. This is all the centre knows about Metcalfe, from whom it has not heard direct. Then came the letter 'from the sensational little woman sprinter and jumper. Miss Norman, whose letter indicated that she would be delighted to accept but which also stated that as she was transferring from Perth to a new position in Sydney in January it might be difficult to get the necessary leave. However, Miss Norman added: "I don't suppose during February would be suitable to'you, provided I can get the necessary leave from my new position?" This question has rather kept alive the possibility of Miss Norman being able to come across after all. February would suit the local centre, and the idea was to write and advise Miss Norman so. Since then no further communication has been received from Miss Norman," although really there has not been time for anything further yet. Then this week, a letter arrived from the third member of the proposed team, Mumford, regretting his inability to make the trip and giving as his reasons his expectation in the first place of receiving a teaching appointment in January and secondly his belief that he would not be able to produce his best owing to his having had to" undergo an appendix operation this year. Of this suggested team, therefore, the only hope lies in the possibility of Miss Norman
being available. Even on her own, she would attract much interest. Two Victorians. Ted Best and Gerald Backhouse, two Victorians, are the athletes the Otago Centre has been negotiating for, and it appeared until quite recently that all arrangements had been made. Otago offered: Wellington a date for an appearance by the two athletes here, January 7, and this the Wellington Centre accepted, but since then attention has been directed to a report that this trip is unlikely. The Wellington Centre has not been advised that this is so and has no information from the Otago Centre as to the veracity or otherwise of the report, the only foundation for which at the moment appears to be the following announce- j ment, under the heading of "Trip to New Zealand Unlikely," which appeared on November 10 in the Sydney "Referee":—"There is a hitch in arrangements for the suggested visit to New Zealand by a team that would include Gerald Backhouse and Ted Best, and, it is understood, the idea, which has not met with the approval of the Amateur Athletic Union, may be abandoned."
If this is the position, it will oe most unfortunate. There may be nothing in the report, of course, o. >n
the other hand, if it is correct, it may be possible to overcome any obstacles that are at present in the way. The situation may be that officials over the other side of the Tasman may take the view that primary consideration should be given to the State and Australian championship meetings, although in the case of the proposed visit by the other proposed team the New South Wales Association, according to the report cabled^ to New Zealand, indicated that it had no objection to the tour being made.
Best and Backhouse apparently are in pretty good form, even though they have not done much as yet. A recent report stated that Best again would be Victoria's best sprinter. In his first competitive run over 100 yards this season he did a yard under even time and coasted along in the 220 yards to win easily in 22.55ec —undoubtedly smart performances. Backhouse, too, also showed encouraging early-season form, being credited with an excellent 880 yards win in Imin 57.1 sec.
It is to be hoped that by next week the outlook will have improved.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 128, 26 November 1938, Page 23
Word Count
839DISAPPOINTING NEWS Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 128, 26 November 1938, Page 23
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