SPORT IN THE N.Z.E.F

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 34, 4 November 1919, Page 5

SPORT IN THE N.Z.E.F

DUBINS ARMISBCE-DEMOBILBATION PERIOD DOMINION TEAMS' FiNE RECORD Tlw following letter from the Staff Paymaster N7,.E.F„ has been received by Mr. R. W. Slmllcrass.— "In gratefully acknowledging receipt of final .£IOOO through bhe Bankof New Zealand on the 2Gth ult„ completing your gift of .111000 to provide sports and entertainment for tho men detained in England awaiting embarkation, I do nob think I can do better than send you a copy of soport math? by the Sports Officer, N.Z.E.F., to Headquarters, detailing what has been done by the Sports Control Board. Your handsome donations for the furtherance of sports Imive teen of inestimable value—had you not come to the aid of Headquarters on this occasion the programme drawn up simply could not have been proceeded with." Tho following i» the report of Major J. A. Cameron, Sports Officer, N.Z.E.F.: "Shortly after the signing of the armistice a meeting of representatives from tho various dopots in the United Kingdom was hold n London for tho. purpose of electing a small committee to" organise sport in the N.Z.E.F. during the above period. At that season of tho year, Rugby football was practically the only game to be thougiht of, and the

committeo oentrcd their efforts on it, not only to keep alive the Dominion's national gnme, but arouse enthusiasm in tho Old Land for this rapidly dying game. In December, 1918, twelve teams lrom as many New Zealaud dopots iu tho United Kingdom were concentrated at Richmond for a week, and after a thorough -try-out twenty-five players were eventually selected and established at Honichurch Camp for training purposes. The remainder returned to their depot«

to compete in the Rugby championships arranged for by the commands in which iihey were situated. An' effort was made to arrange a competition between the dopots, • but tho difficulties in railway travelling forced us to abandon the scheme. A number of matches were ar-

I ranged for the representative team in England and in Wales, the proceeds of which were dovoted to war charities. Our expenses were guaranteed in each case, so we wcroj not in need of any financial help at that time. "Early in January, 1919, a team picked from the division serving in France came to England, and as a big programme had been- mapped out it was decided to retain the services of the fortytwo players comprising both teams, and an appeal was made to the depots for funds to enable us to fit out the players with suitable gear. The sum of £iib was subscribed. The Inter-Service and Dominion Rugby Union was formed about February, and if we were to take part it would mean considerable expenditure in travelling, hotels, etc., as the gamos in this tournament wero to be played in different centres ot the United Kingdom. Each team had to pay its own way until the completion ot tho series, wnen the pooled gates were divided. . "About this time the committee found that there would be a- great revival of pre-war games, and decided to have men ready to take part, and as this would mean considerable outlny, an appeal was made to the Federation of Patriotic Societies of New Zealand. The appeal was promptly responded to. the .£300(. enabled tho committee to gather together a rowing team, a track team, and also a rifle team. The rowing team was housed on the Thames at Putney, and after a very severe trying-out, sixteen men wero retained to represent the NZE F. in eight-oared and sculling race's at the Inter-Allied Regatta atTaris. the Championship Reratta at Henley, and an invitation regatta at Murlow. Amateur athletic associations were reviving their chnmpionship meetings all over England, and the American Expeditionary Force had promoted the Allied games at Paris, and our track men were "iven every consideration to enable them to compete in these names. Finally.the National Rifle' Association had decided to revive the Bisley meeting while so many overseas troops wero in England. Tho'committee decided to enter a team, and the best available riflemen were sent to train at Brockwood. "In all branches of sporfc our men dirt wonderfully well, but it was only the Rugby teams that could bring in gate money. The other branches of sport were very 'expensive, and naturally a heavy drag on our finances, and we found it was necessary to obtain another thousand to meet our liabilities. I would like to mention some of the achievements ot the various teams under our control, showing what .advertisement was given the Dominion.' "The Rugby team nlaved no fewer than forty matches in the United Kingdom and' Franco, of which thirty-five were won, three drawn, and onlv two lost. Included in the above are the games played against the Mother Country team, the Uoyal Air Force, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and France in tho competition known as the Inter-Services and Dominion Rugby Championship. The N.Z. E.F. team was successful in'winning this unique tournament and received from His Majesty the King the coveted cup presented by himself tor tho competition. \n invitation from the High Commissioner for South Africa for tho team _ to play a series of matches in South Africa was accepted, and at the close of the Rugby season in "England they embark ed for the Cnpe, and at the time ot writing they hadplayed six games, winning five and losing one. _ "Th-s rowing crew succeeded in winning tho inter-Allied Eights in Paris in May. and a month later won the Invitation Eights at Marlow (England). They were defeated in the Championship Lightc «.. Henley Regatta in July, and again at the Allied games, held in Pans in July. Hadfield (N.Z. amateur sculling champion) was successful at all four regattas winning easily on each occasion from the four crack amateur scullers of the uorld. lie was presented bv the Sports C'oat.o. Board with the boat in which he i» never defeated. Tho eight-oared ioat was returned to New Zealand to be handed over to the New Zealand Rowing Association. Tho rifle team was composed of twenty men, and maintained at Bisley for about' two mouths. Although not successful as a teHin, individual members shot well, and the blue riband of the meeting fell to a member of the team. Sergeant L. Loveday winning the King's Prize with a remarkable shoot. This is the first occasion that this coveted trophy has been won by a New Zenlander. The committee are proud to think that the outlay of less than .£SOO was fully justified'.

"The successes of the track team are too numerous to mention. Among their achievements was the winning of the international relay race of one mile at Siamford Bridge on Xi'av 21. 1919, in I.lk record time of Sniin. 110 2-ssec. In a'l events the competitors were allowed to retain any trophies won by individual efforts. , Trophies won by teams are handed over to the New Zealand War Museum. "The following amounts have been actually expended in furthering the various forms of sport :—Rugby, .£3531 IGs. Id.; rowing. .£1833 2s. Id.; track. JUS! ss. 9d.j rifle, JM-83 3s. 3d.; general expenses, JjBB 12s. 3d. '