‘N.Z. Sending Most Mature, Most Experienced Team9

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31116, 20 July 1966, Page 15

‘N.Z. Sending Most Mature, Most Experienced Team 9

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND. New Zealand will be sending her most mature, most experienced and perhaps most successful team to the Empire Games, said the team manager, Mr R. Shakespeare, yesterday as the various members of the team assembled in Auckland.

The team will leave on Friday night to compete at Kingston, Jamaica, from August 6-14. “At least 43 members of this team of 59 have had overseas experience.” said Mr Shakespeare, who was swimming manager at the Perth Empire Games and assistant team manager at the Tokyo Olympic Games. “Our sportsmen now real-! ise that they must have over-! seas competition, and I feel

the over-all standard has risen. “This time we haven't got any Snells or Halbergs to bring us the gold medals and I feel there could be some surprises in the other members of the team. Without accepted stars the average members of the team will realise that they can’t leave the gold medal winning to someone else." Naturally some sections of the team were stronger than others, said Mr Shakespeare, i He thought there were good j prospects in the athletics field events and that New Zealand

:would be strong in shooting >and cycling. “I feel, too, that the swimming team will be the best prepared we have sent away.” As manager of the team. Mr Shakespeare said that he would not take any definite line on discipline. “I have no qualms about the behaviour of the team for they will realise themselves that ! their main tasks will be to give of their best and to be of New Zealand. I “The Kiwi has got a very good reputation overseas and (has always been popular and treated with respect. For this team it will be just a matter of living up to that reputation.” He did not expect that the New Zealanders would have any difficulty in adjusting

(themselves to the climate in I Kingston. The Kiwi, he said, 'was a very adaptable sportsman. i “I understand that Kingston 'may be a little more humid (than most places, but I am i not unduly worried about the I weather.” j So far the team arrangements had been first class, j said Mr Shakespeare, and this was a tribute to the prelimin|ary planning of the Olympic and Empire Games Association's executive and sub-com--1 mittees. ' The team will leave at 9 a.m. on Friday night for ' Honolulu and, after a brief ■ stop-over, for Los Angeles and then Kingston. Some of the athletes will remain in Los Angeles for a special meeting I against United States athletes.