BRITISH OLYMPIC TEAM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26710, 3 March 1948, Page 5

BRITISH OLYMPIC TEAM

FORMER NEW ZEALANDER IN TRAINING

POLE VAULT EXPONENT N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent

Rec. 10 p.m. LONDON, Mar. 2. Wing Commander Ninden Blake, D. 5.0., D.F.C.. formerly of Christchurch, who has been selected to train for a place in the British Olympic team as a pole vaulter, is being trained by Major Houston, a mathematics master at Harrow School and a former champion. He will attend a holiday camp at Clacton in April as part of his training.

It is not expected that the British team will be selected until June at the least. Blake, who is now 35, won the New Zealand Pole Vault Championship in 1936, and the R.A.F. and interservices’ championships last year. He has cleared 12ft. Asked whether there was a possibility of his representing New Zealand at the games, he said he would prefer being in the Dominion rather than the British team, “ but,” he added, “ I might not be good enough, and I shall not know whether I am up to standard or not for a month or two.” Blake, who is now in the operational requirements section of the R.A.F. Transport Command, had a fine war record. He destroyed 10 enemy aircraft before he himself was shot down and taken prisoner in November, 1942.