VISIT OF FORMER DOMINION CHAMPION ATHLETE

Chronicle (Levin), 20 November 1946, Page 6

VISIT OF FORMER DOMINION CHAMPION ATHLETE

Looking fit enough to run the 100 vards in even time in spite of a sports retirement of niore than 20 years, Dr. A. E. Porritt, Rhodes Stholar, Brigadier of the Royal Army Medical Corp's, and Surgeon to the King, returned to Auckland by Pan-American clipper last week for a fortnight's hurried visit to relatives. He brought with him wTelcoTne news of the revival of interest in athletics in Lurope and of plaiis for the I94S Olyni pic Games at Wembley Stadium, London. He also brought with him news tliat Dr. J. E. Loveloclc, (iiympic title and record-holder in the 150.0 metres, is now the proud father of a few-weeks-old daughter. "Another godchild toi nie, I'ni afraid, ' ' said Dr. Porritt. Famous as the nuin who rau. third to II. Al. Abraliams in the Olympic 100 metres linal of 1924, Dr. Porritt in Xew Zealand was a Rugby wing-thfeequaiter of abilitv, a natural swerve allied to his great pace making him a dangerous scoring nian. He confessed yesterday that for him Rugby was always a greater love than athletics, and he still regrets a little tliat at Oxford he did not try for his Rugger Blue a little inore purposefully. "I was presideni of tlie University Athletic Club, " hi said, "and you know how it is with presidents — they 're supposed to set an example. 1 did — at least 1 eoncentrated on athletics, and therc was little time then for Rugby." Dr. Porritt 's entliusiasm for Rugby was not without its etfect 011 his athletics. The first time he rau for Ox ford, a broken collarbone from Rugb\ hail to be strapped to lit him for the track. In reeent months he has been ap pointed chairman of the medical coin mittee of the 194S Olympic Games. "Loveloclc is with nie," he said. "At this early stage, the Games promise well. A few months ago I attended 11 meeting in Switzerland of the International Amateur Athletic Federation, and the spirit amoug the delegates was noticeably more cordial than in the several years just before the war. Delegates were auxious to talce a iirm stand with sports like ski-ing, which had been tainted with professionalism. and so far as could be juilged they de sired tliat the hyper-nationalist. attitude of competitors at the Berlin Games in I93(i sliould not exist in the future. " Tliere is even the possibility, Dr. Porritt believes, tliat ,Soviet Russia, which has not been concerned witli iuternntional competition, may come out of its shell. At the last moment, a team of Russians turned up for the European Games this year. No oue quite knew whai to do aliout it, but the team was fiually admitted as "honoured visitors" and did very well, espeeially aniong the women. There is 110 branch of the Olympic Federation in Russia, but invitations to the London Games will be despatched through various cmbassies, and the hope is thut a Soviel team will compete. Dr. Porritt was diflideut about expressing an opinion on New Zealand athletics, bii't he did consider "it was high time" X'ew Zealanders were given cinder tracks. "Of course, ivhen you niove from grass to cinders," he said, "you usually run. much bettor and faster. But 1 think cinders are essen | tial to a general improvem'ent. " Athletics in Britain was fast recovcr ing pre-war form, said Dr. Porritt. Two West Indian negroes, AIcDonald Bailev in the sprints and Wint in the quarter, were in tlie first class, and Bidiie\ Wooderson, in spite of his threat to rotire because of age, was running iilmost as well as cver.