British Athletes Leave For Empire Games At Auckland

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27267, 19 December 1949, Page 5

British Athletes Leave For Empire Games At Auckland

NZPA Special Correspondent LONDON, Dec. 16.

“I think this is the finest team we have ever sent to an Empire Games. It will meet sterner opposition than ever before, but I feel it will give a good account of itself, and I know that New Zealanders will see that everybody enjoys himself,” said Mr Philip Noel-Baker, Commonwealth Relations Secretary, at Waterloo Station, when he said farewell to over 70 athletes and officials of the British Empire Games team. Relatives and cameramen swarmed on board the carriages as the train pulled out for Southampton, where the team will board the Tamaroa. The remainder of the team, numbering 40, will leave by air in January. Among those who gave the team a send-off at Waterloo were the New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr W. J. Jordan, Earl Beatty, commandant of the team, Mr A. E. Porritt, and Lord Gowrie, president of the Empire Games Council for England.

Mr Jordan told the team that New Zealand was proud that the games were being held in Auckland, and looked forward to meeting, entertaining and watching the British athletes “We hope the best team wins and that you have a smooth voyage and a safe return—if you decide to return! ”

Earl Beatty, who leaves for New Zealand by air with Mr Porritt on January 23, said he was looking forward to his third visit to New Zealand. He went to the Dominion first while serving with the Royal Navy, and later lectured there just before the outbreak of war on behalf of the Navy League. “It is a wonderful country,” he declared. Mr Porritt, who will be accompanied by his wife, “is looking forward to “ going home again.” Keen to see New Zealand The team, with many of them in their neat royal blue blazers, with the games crest on the breast pocket, and wearing the Empire Games official badge, looked fit and well. “ I think we are all pretty excited, and I know everyone is looking forward to seeing New Zealand very much,” said A. Parsons, one of the wrestlers. “As far as I know, none of this party has been to New Zealand before, but we know a good deal about it.” The only member of the team who did not show quite as much enthusiasm was Mrs Dorothy Typer, one of the athletes, who stood at the door of her carriage, saying a last good-bye to her husband and two small children. She gave a final flourish of an elderly teddy bear as the train drew away. It will be her mascot. She told her youngsters she was “ going to see Father Christmas,” and would return with lots of toys. Training on Voyage

Two cycle rollers have been installed in the ship so that the four cyclists can keep their muscles supple, and it is estimated that they will have covered roughly 5000 miles “ sitting down ” by the end of the trip. The Tamaroa will call at Curacao Island, in the Dutch West Indies, and Panama, where the team, particularly the athletes, swimmers, and cyclists, will have a “ work-out if possible. During the short stay at Panama quiet back roads will be found for the road cyclists for practice runs and it is hoped that the track riders will have the use of a track. Each cyclist will take a road and track machine, and between them over 50 spare tyres. The wrestlers will have the use of a mat on board the ship and a weighing machine to enable all competitors to keep a careful check on their weights. „ , There were no eve-of-departure hitches, according to Mr K. S. Duncan, secretary of the Games English Council. He was hopeful that the appeal funds traget of £20,000 may yet be reached. “The last figure issued was £14,000, but subscriptions are still coming in and the team will not have to be reduced numerically,” he added. The members of the English team, who sailed today, included nine official, seven athletes, six women athletes, five cyclists, ten swimmers, two oarsmen, four wrestlers. The Scottish team comprised six officials, six athletes, one woman athlete, three boxers, two swimmers, three women swimmers, one cyclist, one weightlifter, and one wrestler. The Welsh team consisted of one athlete, one cyclist, and one swimmer. Four Nigerians also sailed on the Tamaroa.