No Decision On Six-Mile Race

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30958, 14 January 1966, Page 10

No Decision On Six-Mile Race

The venue and date of the Canterbury six-mile track championship is still in doubt.

However, it is hoped to resolve the matter on Saturday when the president of the Canterbury Athletic Centre (Mr W. A. Kennedy) meets Mr T. A. N. Sweeney, president of the Greymouth club, which was to have held the championship. A letter received by the Canterbury centre from the Greymouth club last evening stated that its track in Greymouth was in very poor condition after heavy rain and that in its present state it would be impossible to hold the championship there. However, it was hoped that it would improve with treatment and rolling in time for the championship. The letter also stated that

it had been intended to hold the meeting on January 22, the same day as the two Jugoslav runners, F. Cervan and S. Vasic, would be competing in Greymouth. This is in conflict with the date laid down by the Canterbury centre, January 29, at the beginning of the season. The club assured the centre that it would let it know in good time whether or not it would be able to hold the championship. Members expressed dissatisfaction with this arrangement. Mr Kennedy said: “What they feel is a good time may not be what we think is a good time. A decision has got to be reached,” he said. It was agreed that it was unfair to the athletes concerned not having the date and venue of the race known, and it was decided that the emergency committee would reach a decision after Mr Kennedy

had talked to Mr Sweeney. The meeting indicated that should Mr Sweeney not be able to make a firm decision of the suitability of the Greymouth track, then the event would automatically return to Christchurch and be held on January 29. “Held to Ransom” The news that the Otago centre would be charging Canterbury £llO for the three Australian athletes, G. Eddy, T. Vincent and J. Doubell, did not get a favourable reception. “It seems they are holding us to ransom,” said Mr J. C. Harbut. Eddy, Vincent and Doubell are scheduled to appear at a meeting at Rugby Park on January 29, the day of the Canterbury men’s decathlon and women’s pentathlon championships. They will run in a quarter-mile, mile and half • mile, respectively.

On the suggestion of Mr B. Kerr it was agreed that th? matter should be the subject of further negotiations with Otago, the sponsoring centre. Live Telecast: Mr Kennedy reported that a firm offer of £l5O had been received from the N.Z.B.C. for a live telecast of the New Zealand championships in March. This had been referred to the New Zealand association and it appeared that it was interested at that price, he said If the New Zealand association gives its approval of a live telecast then it will be left to the Canterbury centre, which will be organising the championships tn make a final decision. Nominated:—One of CanCanterbury’s most respected athletic administrators. Mr E. Lunn, has been nominated as general manager of the New Zealand team for the Empire Games in Jamaica