AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 February 1934, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES.

Tour of New Zealand to Open at Waimate. The three Australian amateur athletes, J. P. Metcalfe, E. W. Barwick and T. E. Hampson, who arrived in Wellington from Sydney yesterday to tour New Zealand, passed through Christchurch this morning on their way to Waimate, where, to-morrow, they will make their first official appearance on a New Zealand track. The tourists were met at the Christchurch station bv Mr J. K. Moloney, president of the Canterbury Amateur Athletic Centre, and members of the executive, who expressed the hope that the tour would be a pleasant and successful one. Metcalfe said that the trip across the Tasman had been a trial to all three athletes, owing to the heavy roll that was experienced. However, he had no doubt that they would quickly get back to form, and they were looking forward to meeting the New Zealanders in the various centres. Metcalfe, who is probably the finest jumper in the Southern Hemisphere, gave a taste of his powers yesterday afternoon at Wellington, when, during the course of training, he bettered the New Zealand high jump record of 6ft 2£in by Sin. The record was established in 1927 by E. M. Davidson, of Victoria. Barwick, who hails from Tasmania, is the distance runner of the team, and Hampson is the sprinter. The Australians will be seen in action against Canterbury’s best on March 3.