CHANCE YET

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 23, 27 January 1940, Page 22

CHANCE YET

TOUR BY ATHLETES

AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES

Christcnurch and Wellington, ' and possibly also one or two other places, may yet have a visit from .a team of athletes from overseas before • the season ends. Although, as was mentioned last week, there is to be no visit from a team engaged by;the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, the Australian Universities' Sports Association has selected a team of six athletes to come to New Zealand in March, and present indications are that there is quite'a good chance of the tour taking place. . .

The possibility of a tour by Australian university athletes was mentioned at the. management committee table of the N.Z.A.A.A. some w.eeks ago, the secretary, Mr. H. McCormick, having been approached on the subject by one of the New Zealand University students, but since then, owing to one reason and another, nothing more was heard of the project, until the other day it was announced that a team had been selected and steps were boing taken to draw up an itinerary.

The primary object of the team, if it comes, will.be to take part in. the annual New Zealand University athletic tournament, which this year is to be held in Christchurch. Wellington originally was the venue, but subsequently it was transferred to Christchurch. The university athletic tournament is to be spread over two days, March 23 and March 25. Nelson is keen to have a visit and it may be possible to arrange for the team to compete there either before or after the Christchurch tournament, depending upon when the team arrives here and what other arrangements can be made for appearances by the team. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Apparently it was also thought possible that the Australians might be able as well ,to compete at the national track and field championship meeting at Wellington on March 8 and 9, but it is hardly likely that they will. Outside entries would make it difficult to accommodate all the competitors in track events run in lanes. Apart from

that, there is a substantial body o£ opinion, built up in the light of past experience, against athletes who are ineligible to take the .title if they win it competing in national championship events. After all, if a man has been training consistently and well and has set his heart upon winning a certain title, the gaining of that title by virtue of his being second to a man who was ineligible to take it is not the same,as winning the title by virtue of being first to the tape. : Still, although the latter part of March is getting pretty late to hold sports meetings in Wellington, it is to be hoped that satisfactory ,' arrangements can be made to ensure a number of appearances by the Australians. STRONG TEAM. If all can come, the Australians should be a strong combination. However, for a start, there is doubt about the fitness of D. B. Dunn, the crack New South Wales sprinter, who is reported to be troubled with fsillen arches. Still, if he is not doubtless a good substitute could be found. The other members of the team all have good performances to their credit. B. A. Curtin (Sydney) has cut out the 440 yds in' 49 4-ssec and the 220 yds in 22 7-10 sec. W; Arrowsmith (Queensland) has won the Australian inter-university half-mile title for the past three years, and has run the distance in lmin 57 4-ssec under bad conditions. He is also an able quartermile and one-mile runner. G. L. Wilson, also of Queensland, is the Australian universities' 120 yds hurdles champion, and he has also won the university high jump championship. He represented Australia in the 120 yds hurdles at the Empire Games in Sydney in 1938, and won the Queensland State title for this event in 1937. As a sprinter he has run the 100 yds in 10.2 sec and the 220 yds in 24.45ec.

The remaining members of the team are two Victorians, G. Parkin, who has run the mile in 4min 27sec, and R. J. Heffernan, a field events athlete. Heffernan has these performances to his credit: High jump, 6ft 3£in; long jump. 21ft 10£ in; javelin, 155 ft; shot put, 38ft; discus, 100 ft. ,

It is.obvious that if the members of the team could turn on performances of this standard in this country tney would create a great deal of interest.

There is no difficulty over financing the team. The Australian Universities' Sports Association is prepared to pay the steamer travelling expenses of the athletes and a manager to and from

New Zealand. Travelling and accommodation expenses in this country would have to be met in New Zealand. No doubt arrangements could be made for the billeting of the team and expense would be saved there. To meet any financial deficit the New Zealand students were given a guarantee of £ 100 against loss in the distribution of the profits of the sports art union towards the end of last year.