ATHLETES IN EGYPT

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 45, 16 November 1940, Page 4

ATHLETES IN EGYPT

New Zealander’s Letter

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In a letter to Mr. K. Guy, Wellington, Gunner Arthur Welply, of the 25th Battery, 4th Field Regiment, N.Z.A., 2nd N.Z.E.F., gives some particulars of athletics in Egypt. Air. Welply, before leaving for overseas, was a wellknown Wellington amateur sprinter.

“Many thanks for your letter,” he writes, under date October 20. “It was great to hear of the past athletic season. lam sorry that I missed it, as it must have been pretty good. “The athletic season here only lasts about a couple of months in the spring. It’s too liot even then for running. I reckon I would have liked to have had a go myself, but there were two troubles to overcome —lack of energy and training grounds. The nearest ground for training was a couple of miles away from camp, and after the day’s work in camp was done a chap felt more like relaxing with a pot of beer than burning up the desert. I did not even get as far as attending any meetings in Cairo. “The meetings are usually held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and must be of quite a high standard, from newspaper reports. There were no organized athletics among our units, but Gilmore, the professional, did very well at Cairo meetings.

“The Egyptian championships were held at Alexandria, aud the standard was quite good. They have a good sprinter, who does the 100 yards in lOsec. and 220 yards in 22 3-ssec. The 440 yards was done in about 51sec„ BSO yards in 2min., and one mile in 4min. 21see. These times are just roughly from memory, and I forget the field performances.

“Football is just starting again, and the New Zealanders will be pretty tough with such a crowd to pick from, but, of course, there’s also a bit of a war going on, and that may spoil our sport. “A few bombs were dropped a couple of miles away last night—too close! Please give all old friends of mine my regards.”