“NO EXCUSES TO MAKE"

Taranaki Daily News, 3 September 1935, Page 5

“NO EXCUSES TO MAKE"

CROSS-COUNTRY RUNNERS NOT USED TO SUCH A HARD PACE. SAVIDAN GIVES IMPRESSIONS. By Telegraph—Press Association; , , Wellington, Last Night. The New Zealand cross-country team returned by the Maunganui from Sydney. The manager, Mr. White, said they i s had no excuses to make. ■ .. I He spoke very highly of the hospitality extended to the team in Australia, and said that considering, the . high standard of performances in the two events in which the New Zealanders competed they had no cause for com- • plaint. They found the going very hard in the cross-country race owing to the exceptional spell of fine weather at Sydney. He paid a tribute to Sheaves, New South 'Wales, winner of the cross-coun-try event and the New South Wales 10miles track championship.' Replying to a welcome by the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, j Mr. White said the tour had been an exceedingly happy one, but the standard of long-distance running in Australia was very high indeed -and the New ■ Zealanders, were not used to such a hard pace as had been clapped on there. The team, as he emphasised as soon as, they set foot in Australia, was on a goodwill mission froms the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association to Australia and the impression made would, he thought, be lasting. While at Sydney Messrs. White and Stevens had discussions with the New South Wales and Amateur Athletic Union representatives on the proposal to institute biennial track contests between Australia and New Zealand, commencing with a visit by an Australian team to New Zealand in 1937. Mr. White said a report on the matter would be submitted to the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association council.. Savidan, the New Zealand champion, said he was only beginning to’ feel his legs after the 10 miles race.'After running on the soft tracks of New Zealand the hard going and summery weather affected him adversely.

Savidan, in an interview, said a fairly rough crossing was experienced on the trip to Sydney and conditions’at Sydney were exceptional and unexpected. Although he had no excuses to make, had he known he was going to race on hard surfaces he’ would have done his' training on' the road.; Another feature,.of the tour was that in the cross-country event there were no obstacles such as were included in New Zealand, races. He was convinced, said Savidan, even when the New Zealand team went- to Australia, of the necessity to arrive-more than just a few days before the date of the contests. At least a week or 10 days, he thought, was essential. Savidan added that according to some of the reports he was fagged out after the cross-country race. That was not so. He finished quite fresh. The only trouble was that when he got up speed his legs began to wobble. Although his work may keep him off the track in New Zealand this summer, Savidan has an eye to the Olympic Games at Berlin next year. He . said he would concentrate on the marathon of 26 mile’s. J ■ ’