TRAINING AND SIGHTSEEING

Evening Star, Issue 20591, 17 September 1930, Page 4

TRAINING AND SIGHTSEEING

HEW ZEALANDERS AT EMPIRE GAMES ROWER WRITES OF WONDERFUL HOSPITALITY That the New Zealand eight anticipated that England would be a tough proposition in the race at the Empire Games field at Hamilton, Ontario, is stated by Mr F. Brough, the Otago representative and stroke, in a letter to his parents, Mr and Mrs W. J. Brough, of Opoho. Writing before the games, the rower eulogised tho arrangements made, and also wrote in high appreciation of the hospitality of tiie Canadians. After the long trip, writes tho rower, tho team was pleased to reach' Hamilton. The New Zealand and Australian competitors were tho first of the overseas contingent to arrive, and they were met at the railway station and conveyed to tho City Hail, where a civic reception was tendered. Their headquarters were the Prince of Wales School, where accommodation had been made for the 40U athletes expected for the games. Immediately the team settled down to hard training. Tho New Zealand rowing coach was very pleased with tho form shown and tho style of rowing astounded some of the old “heads” of Hamilton, who were after all the tips they could get off the coach., At tho beginning of tho stay in Hamilton tho weather was very hot, the thermometer reaching 104 in the shade. The New Zealanders were unable to sleep during the heat, but witli a return to more temperate weather, much like that of a New Zealand summer, the athletes were able to move about comfortably. ■ Hamilton, writes Mr Brough, is a city with a population of 150,000, and 150 industries were operating. The team was to be shown over most of the factories during the stay. “Some of the boys have been out to Niagara Falls, while others on Sunday went for trips with people who call at the ‘ digs' to see if they could be of any assistance. Everyone here is out to give us a good time, and there is a huge amount of interest being taken in the whole aifair, which augurs to be something wonderful from every standpoint. The organisation of the games must have required a tremendous lot of work, but apparently nothing has been left undone. The housing and feeding of the 456 athletes is a big undertaking on its own, but that is being handled very well. The meals are very good—and plenty of them. The beds are arranged in the cleared classrooms. The New Zealanders aro in one room, which looks for most of the time like a donkey’s breakfast, but a bandbox when, compared to the Australians’ quarters. ‘ Tickle 5 White, the Australian runner, is a. character, and causes much merriment witli his antics. Ho was at the last Olympic Games.” The Athletic Stadium was over the road from the Prince of Wales School, and the swimming pool was practically next door. The rowers had to go four miles in a train twice daily to the Leander Boat Club, from where the eight trained at 9 a.m. and 7 jj.m. The bay on which the rowers trained constituted a very small section of Lake Ontario, being connected by a small canal. The course was 1m 650yds in length, and Mr Brough anticipated that it would be well sheltered from any breeze, having a high bank along the greater part. The bank was a natural grand stand. Great interest was being taken in the rowing training. The eights race, which was won by England, with New Zealand second, would be competed by four crews, no heats being required. . The rowing events were to be held on the evenings of August 18, 19, and 20. If all went well, tho two New Zealand eight emergencies would contest the double sculls.

“The crew is going exceptionally well, and coach is very pleased,’’ wrote Mr Brough. “Our hardest pro position will bo England, who arrive here next week. British Guiana are supposed to bo tough customers. We are all very keen to get the contest over, and wo are keeping very fit. Tho critics like our style, ami say tho crew which boats us will win. But perhaps they do not know much.” Reporting the arrival of the English competitors, totalling 140, Mr Brough later described the English rowing crew as a “ Hash lot.” They were a hot crew, with an average weight of 12st 41b. Their boat was taken to Canada in one piece, and was a nice job. It had an electric bell and lights for signalling to the crew. The Canadian crew was to be selected at the Canadian Henley, held at Toronto, but New Zealand were not allowed to participate, as it was feared that interest _ might have been taken from the Empire Games.

“ There will only be three crews in the eights, but it should bo a classy race. Our crew is getting along well, and when we finish off our training we should be at the top of our form, and able to smack it up over the mile and 550yds. The first four in tho eight are competing in the coxswain fours, and four of the remaining six at the eoxswainless race. Wo will all be glad to have tho race finished and to get on our way home. This continuous training gets on one’s nerves a bit, especially in this trying weather.” On one occasion the eight were the guests of the Rotary Club at a visit to Niagara Falls, and all the residents were doing their utmost to' give the visitors an enjoyable time. Particular was taken by the New Zealanders in the big industries and the places of interest. A marvellous sight for the visitors was RIOO passing over Hamilton early in the morning. The lack of knowledge of the Antipodes' is commented on by Mr Brough. “It is surprising and most annoying at times when people here ask us what part of Australia New Zealand is in or some other such stupid question. One man asked me how long it took the train to go from Australia to New Zealand. _ It is incredible how ignorant the majority of the people hero are of Now Zealand.” Tho small boy autograph hunters called the New Zealand rowers the “ Blade Eight.” Tho school children flocked in hundreds to the school with their autograph books; tho New Zealanders" considered that they excelled the Prince of Wales in meeting demands for their signatures.

After the games the New Zealand party was scheduled to travel to Chicago, Denver. Los Angelos, and San Franicsco, spending a day in each city. The team is expected to arrive back in the dominion early next month.