WOMAN SPRINTER HOPES OP N.Z. TRIP

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 24, 30 January 1939, Page 9

WOMAN SPRINTER

HOPES OP N.Z. TRIP

BOOT WINS IN SYDNEY

(Keceived January 30, 9 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The .executive pt the Australian Women's Athletic Association has granted permission to Miss Decima Norman to accept the invitation to visit New Zealand provided she is accompanied by a woman manager. Miss Norman hopes to make the trip but has to consult her employer, with whom she only recently, commenced work. She said she thought i it was likely her employer would allow her to go to New Zealand. She ran brilliantly on Saturday and won a 100 yards handicap race in 11 1-10 seconds, equalling Iher Empire Games time. The New Zealander V. P. Boot comfortably won a 440 yards handicap race in 50 1-10 seconds. Sporting writers expect Miss Norman and Boot to establish new records in the New South Wales championships, which commence next Saturday. Boot was never at his top in the 440 yards race on Saturday, but Jack Casey, recognised as one of the best quarter-milers in the State, could not pace it with Boot, who won as he liked.

Earlier in the season, well* before Christmas, the Wellington Amateur Athletic Centre inquired from J. Mumford and J. P. Metcalfe, New South Wales, and Miss Norman, who at that time had not transferred from Western Australia to Sydney, whether they would be available for a visit. Mumford and Metcalfe were unable to come; Miss Norman replied that she would be delighted to make the trip, but said that it might be difficult for her to obtain the necessary leave. Subsequent to that the Wellington Centre was successful in arranging for an appearance at Wellington of the Victorians, G. Backhouse and E. W. Best. The Auckland Centre became interested in the possibility of a visit from Miss Norman, and as it was found that by March the Wellington! Centre would have used for other meetings the three days allocated to it for the use of the Basin Reserve, and as in any event it was considered that it would be getting rather late in the year to hold a meeting here in March, the Wellington Centre dropped out of the negotiations, which have since been carried on by Auckland. Recently the Auckland Centre decided to invite Miss Norman, and if she accepts it is intended that she should arrive at Auckland on March 6 and compete at the Auckland provincial women's and junior championships on March 11. It is also intended that she should appear at Hamilton on March 18 and at Auckland again on March 25, when the national women's and junior championships are to be held. Miss Norman was' an outstanding competitor at the British Empire Games in Sydney last February.