Costly business playing for N.Z.

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32819, 20 January 1972, Page 20

Costly business playing for N.Z.

D. J. Reid and B. M Mustchin, two of th Canterbury members o the New Zealand wate: polo squad, will fac financial difficultiei when they play in th Olympic Games qualify ing series against Aus tralia.

Mustchin, aged 20, a plumber, and the 19-year-old Reid, who works in a carpet factory, both think they will have to go on leave without pay when they take all of February and half of March off work. The squad will assemble in Wellington at the beginning of February for 10 days before going to Auckland for another 10 days or fortnight of preparation. After the series, the national championships will be held in Hamilton- .. . “I’m not even sure if I can get the time off, but I think I will have a job when I get back,” said Reid yesterday. The two Beckenham-Sock-bum players, the youngest

[. members of the team, are e already involved in considerf able sacrifices. Both are ris--11 ing at 5.30 a.m. to train at r the Sockbum Park Pool bee fore Mustchin starts work at s 7.30 a.m. Reid, a shift worker, does e not get to bed till 2 a.m. r - As well, they play compel- tition games on Monday evenings and have representative practice on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and on Sundays—when they are not involved in surf carnivals.