BRITISH ATHLETES

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1935, Page 7

BRITISH ATHLETES

WELCOME TO TARANAKI GIVEN. NEW PLYMOUTH AND PATEA JOIN. Travelling by car from Wellington, the British and Finnish athletes, who are to appear at Hawera to-night in their first meeting on New Zealand tracks, arrived at Hawera late in the afternoon and were accorded a civic reception at night. The team comprises Captain Evan Hunter, manager and secretary of the English Amateur Athletic Union, Lieut. G. L. Rampling, Dr. Robin' Murdoch and Messrs. R. M. Craske and J. V. Powell. Two Finns, Messrs. M. Sippala and V. Perosola, are also travelling with the team. Their specialities are field events. The civic reception last night was well attended and each speaker stressed the part Hawera was playing in being the first to entertain the visitors. A feature of the reception .was the presence of Mr. W. Good, Inglewood, one time champion amateur Middleweight and one of the finest amateur boxers New Zealand has produced Mr. Good was presented to the team, and wished the team good luck in Maori. Immediately on arrival in the afternoon, the British members of the team had a work out at the showgrounds and expressed surprise that so good a track should be found at a town the size of Hawera. One or two of the members of the team are suffering from shin soreness and Sippala has a sore muscle in his forearm, but they all impressed as fine stylists with a good turn of speed. Rampling and Craske, who wears a blonde moustache, are both well over six feet and Murdoch is short and rather nuggety. Powell, a Lctidon journalist, is beautifully built and hap a wonderful stride. Congratulations to Hawera on having floodlights which no town of its size in either England or Scotland would possess was expressed by Captain Hunter in replying to the reception last night. It was the first experience of any member of the team except Rampling and Powell, he said, to be racing under electric light and all were looking forward to the new experience. At.the reception the members of the team were introduced by Captain Hunter and then, on behalf of Hawera, Mr. J. E. Campbell, Mayor, welcomed them. It was a great honour for Hawera, he said that it had been chosen as the first place in New Zealand at which the team should appear. He apologised for the absence of the Mayors of Wanganui, Stratford, Eltham and Inglewood. He hoped the team’s stay at Hawera would be pleasant. Cheers were then given for the team.

Mr. J. B. Murdoch, chairman of the Hawera County Council, congratulated Hawera on securing the team. Taranaki was one of the picturesque places of New Zealand.

The Mayor of New Plymouth, Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour, joined with the Mayor of Hawera in the welcome. The people of Taranaki, in common with the rest of the Dominion, were very fond of sport in all branches and appreciated this visit of world renowned athletes. He expressed regret that the visitors could not stay longer to visit and see some of the beauty spots of the favoured province described by many as “The Garden of New Zealand.”

Pleasure at the visit was expressed by Mr. F. Ramsbottom, Mayor of Patea, who said that the best of the Patea athletes would be present at the Hawera carnival to do their best.

On behalf of the president of the West Coast Centre. Mr. L. H. Clapham said that visits of overseas athletes were too few and far between to benefit New Zealanders keen on becoming proficient in the athletic world. An exception was Stan Lay who had helped many boys by his coaching. He hoped the team members would be extended in New Zealand. Mr. T. R. Overton spoke on behalf of the Hawera Amateur Athletic Club. The president of the Egmont Racing Club, Mr. S. C. Tonks, in an amusing speech, invited the members of the team to the first day of the Egmont meeting, where, he said, members would find a paying beauty spot in the totalisatoi. Before the Melbourne Centenary Games were competed in, said Captain Hunter in thanking Mr. Campbell for the reception, the members of the team had been determined to see something of New Zealand and through the kind offices of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association it had been possible to visit the country. The All Blacks were well known in England and he hoped that on the next tour, Taranaki players would be included. The members of the team were out to do their best by sportsmanship, good fellowship and ability. All would be glad to give any assistance to young runners. Afterwards the team was entertained at the Hawera Opera House, and to-day they will probably visit the races. They are staying at the Central Hotel. ___