COLONEL FITZMAURICE

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19399, 27 October 1934, Page 8

COLONEL FITZMAURICE

RACE DISQUALIFICATION.

SPONSORS' STATEMENT.

ACCEPTED OFFERS WITHDRAWN. United Press Assn. —Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Oot. 25. The committee of the Irish Hospitals Trust, which entered Colonel Fitzmaurice’s machine for the Centenary aii, - race, has issued a statement to the effect that the pilot explained only two hours before bis departure for England that he would not have time for a full load test, which he had informed the American Government, he would complete in England. He offered to perform a test at Mildenhall, but the committee and the Air Alinistry officials regarded it as unnecessary.

Nevertheless, while an official was informing Colonel Fitzmaurice that everything was in order except his pilot’s licence, lifebelt and Verey lights, the -committee was -cabling to Washington regarding the airworthiness of the machine, and did not tell the airman. The race committee offered to let Colonel Fitzmaurice fly at a gross weight- of 83501 b. subject to his disqualification if he won, in the event of the American certificate not being satisfactory. Colonel Fitzmaurice accepted this, whereupon the committee withdrew the offer and informed him he could only fly at 54581 b. Also it refused his offer to fly as a sporting event. The Hospitals Trust says that a cablegram fr<*m America substantiated Colonel Fitzmaurice’s statements. Thus every effort by the sponsors to keep the matter a sporting event was rejected by the race committee and stewards.