SPRINGBOK ATHLETES

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11194, 27 April 1922, Page 7

SPRINGBOK ATHLETES

ARRIVAL AT CAPETOWN. GREAT TOUR DISCUSSED. THE RELAY RACE AT WELLINGTON. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received April 26, 5.5 p.m.) CAPETOWN, April 25.

The returned team of athletes, welcomed by the Mayor, spoke with enthusiasm of the splendid sportsmanship and warm hospitality encountered throughout their Australasian tour.

The manager declared that the success of the team. was little short of phenomenal. The only untoward incident

was Johnson’s collision with Tracey in the relay race at Wellington. It was entirely unintentional, and was causod by Tracey staggering. The South Africans unavoilingly made evory effort to have the race ran i^gain. AN UNFORTUNATE MISHAP. INCIDENT AT ATHLETIC PARE. In the test relay race 'in question. New Zealand v. South Africa, Tracey was seoond man. After Taylor (Christchurch) had completed his half-mile, Tracey took the baton and set off at a phenomenal pace, running half, the distance as though he were competing in a sprint race. At the southern bend, Tracey, as was to be expected, gradually came back to Johnson, and in the straight the latter made a groat effort, and drew level with the New Zealand representative. Tracey, upon whom the strain of his extraordinary effort was now commencing to tell, staggered, and swqrved, and at the same time Johnson, crossed over, and in endeavouring to pass bis opponent unintentionally collided with him, and knocked the baton ont of bis band. Tracey, exhausted, fell to the ground, and Johnson, continuing, gave the baton to his waiting comrade, the South Africans finishing the distance alone. Subsequently, as the ctsbfo states, the viaitore expressed a keen desire that the race should be re-run on the Monday, but the authorities, | recognising that the unfortunate rois- ! hap was the result of a pure accident, [ declined to do anything that might be construed as a suggestion that the South Africans had not won the race fairly. To their credit be it said, the New Zealanders were the first to congratulate the visitors on their sub cess. .