COUNTRY SPORTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23012, 13 April 1938, Page 25

COUNTRY SPORTS

MEETINGS AT EASTER OTOROHANGA CARNIVAL AUSTRALIAN CYCLISTS' VISIT The brilliant all-round Australian cyclists, \Y. K. Moritz and H. Turtill, arrived by tho Awatea yesterday to compete at the sports carnival at Otorohanga on Saturday and Easter Monday. Both riders have just completed contracts for contests against the champion international cyclists appearing in Australia this season. Their partners, P. Veitch and E. Giband, are already at Otorohanga, and have been giving local cyclists the benelit of their experience. Moritz is tho present five-miles track champion of Australia, and last season won tho Australian road championship of 160 miles. He recently recorded 12 consecutive wins in five-mile international scratch races on the Melbourne and Sydney board tracks. Turtill is a native of Greymouth, but lor several seasons lias been among the best riders in Australia and overseas, and won the all-round sprint championship of Australia this season. In

addition to holding the furlong record of 12 l-10s, Turtill has defeated several world-renowned riders, including Borsari (Italy) and Faure (France). Giband, at one time or another, held practically every amateur title, both road and track, of Australia.' Veitch has a big list of successes to his credit and has been on the .scratch mark in first-class road races in Australia for the past six years. Veitch was track champion of Australia and New Zealand in 1933, also winning the Victorian title and establishing fastest time in the Goulbourn to Sydney race of 129 miles. The Dominion's best riders will be opposed to this formidable quartet, including G. Giles, ex-Olympic and Empire Games representative, W. Lamberton, H. J. Smithers, L. G. Fleming, J. Foote, J. Harcoitrt, W. Pratney (Dominion road champion), P. Bicknell .(track champion) and S. Ward. About 60 riders are taking nart in the various events, and a New Zealander will probably be chosen for a contract to appear at the new board track in Sydney.

In addition to the cycling events, the athletic and axemen's contests are attracting keen interest.

MEETING AT TE KUITI INTEREST IN JAVELIN THROW Competition of a standard rarely seen at a country centre should be witnessed at Te Kuiti on Saturday next, when athletes from all over the North Island will contest a big programme' of events, in which every branch of athletics is catered for. The meeting will have a real national championship atmosphere, as many national amateur title-holders will be seen in action. Auckland lady athletes have nominated in force, and keen interest is being shown in the javelin-throwing duel, in which the New Zealand champion, C. P. Clegg. will meet S. Lay, Olympic representative. It is quite possible that a new record will be registered in this event. Amateur wrestling will again be a feature of the carnival, which is expected to draw a record attendance. The Hamilton-Te Kuiti road cycle race, starting at Hamilton at 9.30 a.m., is due to finish on the sports ground at 710011. and a big field is sure to provide a highly interesting event.