ATHLETES RESPOND TO THE CALL

Camp News (Northern Command), Volume 1, Issue 5, 31 May 1940, Page 8

ATHLETES RESPOND TO THE CALL

Many Now In Uniform PLAYING THEIR PART IN STERNER GAME As in 1914-18, the athletes of New Zealand have in the last eight months made a ready' response to the call for recruits for military service. Rugby Union footballers, being fit and of military ago. were among , the first to respond. This was seen early, when cabled advice came that L. H. Edwards, the brilliant Taranaki and Wellington wing-threequarter, had -been shot down and made a prisoner of war in Germany. Southland, holder of the Ranfurly Shield, has contributed several of its best players to the colours. C. K. Saxton, last year’s captain, who enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force some time ago and was waiting to be called up for service, has been granted a transfer to the army and will go into camp next month. Saxton is one of 10 members of the 1939 Southland Rugby team to enlist. The others are A. West (Bluff), A. W. Wesney (Old Boys). A. R. Marshall (Old Boys). F. 11. McEwan (Pirates). A. G. Sutherland (Invercargill), R. G. Mahony (Invercargill), C. F. McKenzie (Invercargill), J, Lester (Invercargill), and E. Jackson (Old Boys). Wellington Rugby players have also . rallied to the call. Though’ it is impossible to know all who have enlisted, the absence of prominent players in the senior teams each Saturday shows that many players have doffed the jersey to don a khaki tunic. Among the Wellington players who have either gone overseas or are at present in camp are the following re- - presentative players: E. W. Tindill and G. Wales (Athletic), J. R. Sherratl (Wellington), Crisp and O'Brien (Poneke), G. Burns (Johnsonville), Sargisson (Hutt), Crawford-Smith (Wellington College Old . Boys) and Knowles and Donoghue (Petone). Other useful club members who are now in uniform include Cochrane (Wellington), Fitzgerald and O’Malley (Marist Brothers’ Old Boys), Elliott and Frain (Poneke), Dean (Johnsonville), Rainbird and Hardie (Wellington College Old Boys), and Jack and Rowland (Oriental). • Already the New Zealanders have made a name for themselves in Egypt. Lieutenant-Colonel T. J. King, who went with the first echelon as a memv ber of the executive of the New Zealand , Rugby Union, has no doubt brought his organizing ability to bear ‘in Egypt. He has some first-class men - to place in the field, including Jack Griffiths, captain of the All Blacks. It , would not be surprising if the New Zealand team again won the Services Cup, as it did in 1918. Though they may get into some tight scrums before they return to New Zealand, it can be taken for granted that these Wellington lads will put in every ounce and keep on pushing

Soccer Stalwarts. • The Association footballers of Wellington have been just as keen as their Rugby Union brothers in joining the colours. Among those who have either gone overseas or are in military camps are the three Sutherland brothers, of the Institute club, George, Ross and Don, who, with W. Reid, of the same club, are already overseas. Among others who are in khaki are W. Gray (Nada), J. J. Traynor and Toby Janes (Waterside), and J. Haley (Petone). Other Wellington Soccer men who are in uniform are A. Power, a member of the management committee of the Wellington Football Association; E. McQueen, a senior referee: and J. Cullen, a junior referee. .

Battalion Klinners. If battalion runners are wanted . in the present war, rhe New Zealant. Force should be well served, as among the athletes who have joined up are J. F. Sharpley, New Zealand. 120yds. and 220yds. amateur hurdles chain pion, and V. P. Boot, New Zealand halfmile amateur champion, who won tin half-mile championship at the last British Empire Games in Sydney. A. Hose, club captain of the Wellington Amateur Athletic Club, has been in Samoa for some time as a physical .instructor, and Phil Thomson is physical instructor at Trentham Camp. Other athletes who are serving with the colours include P. Bay, a prominent mile ; runner, who is in the Dental Corps, with Peter Wilson, a member of the executive of the New Zealand Ama tour 'Athletic Association. One of the first athletes to sign up was Arthur Welply of the Wellington A.A.A., who was about the oldest athlete in Wellington. He was a sprinter who just missed reaching top class, and was one of the most popular athletes in the Wellington province. Others who are in uniform are R. Wade (Wellington walking champion), D. Johnston (chairman of. the Welling, ton Athletic Sub-Centre), J. Maturin (Scottish Harriers), and J. F. Wallace,! Wanganui, who won the quafter-mile race at the athletic-meeting at Trentham Camp recently. K. W. Patterson, the former Otago Boys’ High School field athlete and Otago University pole vault champion, has enlisted for service with the third echelon. Patterson has shown ireat. ability as a oole vaulter, and while stil 1 a schoolboy was clearing around 10ft lie also showed considerable promise is a walker, and was prominent in; walking events last season. ‘ ■ Golfers Calling “Fore!”' Among the golfers who have already called ••Fore!” to the Nazis is A. E. Guy, the Gisborne, professional. Many Wellington club champions have already gone overseas or are training to do So. These include I. A. Ewen (Hutt), D. H. Graham (Wellington), L. Whetton (Manor Park), A. 1). S. Smith (Judgeford), R. G. Holland (Waiwetu). Others who are in uniform are D. A. Dacre and J Hodson (Titahi), and J. Kember (Paekakariki). Dennis' Blundell (Welling; ton ) left with the first echelon.

Fierce In-Fighters. New Zealand boxers, if they get close enough to the Nazis, will do some fierce in-fighting. Cyril Hurne, Morris McHugh, Jack Heeney, Harold Reeves, and McMahon are already in Egypt. Corporal Jack Jarvis, professional lightweight champion of the Dominion, will defend his title against Jackie Sharpe, of the R.A.F., at the Wellington Town Hall tomorrow night. Allen Hayes is at Font Dorset, and Roderick, McLauchlan, and Frank Bruno are all iii khaki. Many Wellington yachtsmen, oarsmen, hockey players, and Rugby League footballers have also joined the colours, and it will not be long before they are all fighting fit, and able to demonstrate that they can play their part in the sterner game of war.