CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP

Evening Star, Issue 22086, 20 July 1935, Page 10

CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIP

TEAM FOR AUSTRALIA SAVIDAK HOT AVAILABLE (Spbcial ro THX ‘ Stak.’] WELLINGTON, July J 9. The recent report from Auckland that J. W. Savidan would not make the trip to Australia with the ISew Zealand Cross-country team was confirmed by Auckland upon the teams arrival at Wellington to-day. He stated that owing to business reasons, he would lie unable to make the trip, much as he would like to. _ The news has caused a stir among visiting athletes and officials, who maintain that his absence will cause irreparable loss, and that although the New Zealand team Mil be very strong, the defection of the brilliant Aucklander will rob New Zealand of any real prospect of the individual honour and the teams section* Savidan stated that he was never fit* ter, and is confident about the issue to-morrow. . All the teams are in Wellington, and the main topic is prospects. The weather is beautifully fine, with a light wind from the south, and the hope all round is that r jypical Well*, ington southerly will not rise, as the course is open to the worst sort of weather.

All the runners studied the course at Lyall Bay to-day. Auckland, with Savidan and Cooper in the top places, is very confident of the teams’ chance. Doubt is expressed, though, whether the tail men can get up sufficiently. They are mostly youngsters who are being given a try out.