N.Z. Olympic Team In Richmond Park

Chronicle (Levin), 5 June 1948, Page 3

N.Z. Olympic Team In Richmond Park

Receiyed Friday, 8.30 p.m. LUNDON, Juiie 4. When members of the New Zealaud Oivmpic Games teani move into camp at " Richmond next week they will be the advay.ce g'uard of 1400 athletes wlio will eventually occupy this partieular camp — one of 3 2 which are being erected in and around London to aceommodate the Olympie yontestants. As neighbours at Richmond the New Zealanders will have (,'eylon's team which is due to arrive shoriiy and teams from Scandinavia and Latin America. . Richmond camp, which was a former Arniy conyalesceut cuiiLre, uccupxus _ acres in Richmond Park. It stands among line old trees and Is approaclied by a sweepiug driveway. The formei Army administration huts have beeu converted into shops where'competitors will be able to satisfy most of their needs and the former barraek rooms have been converted into eight-men sleeping cubicles. Kach eubiele has linoleum on the fioor and is jjlainly but comfortably furnislied witli springs beds, wooden tables, chairs and tallboys. The fonr big well-equipped dining halls with their attendant kitclien will each provide for 250 tnen at a single sitting. At the 'outset Richmond Camp will be used largely as a reception centre, ami it is possible the New Zealand team will move elsewhere before the Games. The British Olympics athletics team is expected to b'e announced in abour a month's time iminediately after the Aniateur Athletie Association championships which begin 011 Julv 4. The final trials for the British representa tives in the rleeathlon will take place this weekend, but it is not expected that the team will be announced tiil the linal selection is made for all the athletie events. The British decathion standard is not high and recently the British Amateur Athletie Board let it be known that an improveuient must be shown if any athletes at all are to be nominated for the decathion.

"Bounding Basque" Back in Tennis The announeeinent that .Tean Borotra is now liappily cleared of the collabora tion charges which he incurred when he accepted oftice as the Yicltv Government's Minister of Sport and will return to Wimbleuon this year after being. barred in 194(5, has aroused considerable interest. ''The Bounding Basque" has always been oue of the stars at Wimbledon vvhenever he has appeared there. Iiowever, Borotra, wlio is now 50 years old, considers he is toc old" for singles and will plav onlv in doubles with his famons pre-war [>artner, Toto Brugnon, with whom he won the doubles championship twice before the war. II e will also play in the mixed doubles paftnered by Oolette Boegner.

As expected the American entry for Wimbledon is .exceptionally strong, It is headed by Frank Parlter, wlio will undoubtedlv Iiq No. 1 seeded player, and includes Tom Brown — who was last year's runner-up in the singles — Budge Pattv, Bob Falkenburg and Gardnai Mulloy. The Americgn women 's entry vs lequal'ly- f orini dable^ , Mrs. DuponF (formerly Margaret Osborne), Louise Brough, Doris Hart and Pat Todd, who comprised tlie American Wightman Cti]> team, head the list, but the seeding committee will also have to consider Shirley Fry, Barbara Krase and Mrs. Mary Prcntiss, . all among the topliight of American axnateurs. France is sending Madame Nellv Landrv, woman chantpion of France, and Soutli At'rie.a Ali's. Sheila Summers who last year reached the singles semi-fmals. Other importsnt overseas entries are Australia's John Bromwich, Ozeclio slovakia's Jaroslav Drobny, Sweden's •T. Bergelin and South Africa's Eric Sturgess. The most notable absentees are Ted Schroeder, now top-ranking American amateur, and the Australian champion Mrs. Naneve Bolton. Bruce Woodcock's Comehack Bruce Woodcock 's first opponenl when he returns to the ring in September is likelv to be selected from tbree leading American heavvweight eliamnionship aspirants, .Toev Maxim, Lee Savold and llenry Thomas. Maxim, who is eonsidcred the most likely choice, is . over six feet in height, weighs 14 stone and has beaten Joe Louis's near-

conquei'or Jersey Joe Walcott. Savold,, who is now approaching the veteran class, has beaten Joe Baksi who ipui Woodcock out of action, but has been iieaten by both Tami Mauri ello and Billy Conn. ATr. Solomons, the British promotor, left for the United States this week to arrange Woodcock's yext fight. Both Woodcock and his manager, Tom Hurst, are determined that Bruce must stage a eomebaclc by beati-ng the leading American contenders and refnsc; to agr.ee to anv further fights with Gontinentals. Partieular interest attaches to Woodcock's future in view of .Toe Louis's assurance that he will retire after his next tight with Walcott in three weeks' time. 11 " ■ 11 * ' — "+±JZ