FOR EMPIRE GAMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1011, 30 June 1930, Page 1

FOR EMPIRE GAMES

AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES ON THE AORANGI

ONE WORLD’S CHAMPION

Australia's athletic team for the Empire Games arrived by the Aorangi this morning. Prominent among its members is H. Pearce, champion amateur sculler of the world, while according to manager H. R. Weir, the remaining seven members are a promising lot and make up one of the finest teams sent away to represent the Commonwealth. Pearce is the pick of the team, but the others are all champions in their respective classes, and are hopeful c-f clinching honours at the games, which are to be held at Hamilton, Ontario, commencing on August 16. W. A. White is Australia’s one-mile champion. while the others are H. R. Bascoxnbe, 440 yards; A. J. Hillhouse. 10,000 metres; G. A. Golding, • New South Wales quarter champion: V. Gallagher, middle-weight and heavyweight boxer: Noel Ryan, middle-dis-tance swimmer; and W. Cameron, sprint and backstroke swimmer. Accompanying the team, besides the manager, Mr. H. R. Weir, is Mr. U. Fargher, trainer and coach. “I have no fear in saying that it is the best side which has left Australia to date,” said Mr. Weir. “We would like to have had G. R. Hyde, threemile champion, with us. and also the two Olympic champions, Watson, the hurdler, and Carlton, the sprinter, but they could not manage it.” Commenting upon the team. Mr. "Weir considered Pearce to be by far the finest amateur sculler in the world today, while Ryan and Cameron were champions of long standing. The sporting bodies in Australia would have liked to have seen a bigger team leave for Canada, but this was thought inadvisable, owing to the present financial slump. Canada granted the team £ 1,000 for expenses, while the various Australian sporting bodies assisted in finding the remainder of the money. Consequently, Hillhouse and Golding: were sent by their own clubs. According to private advice received in Auckland, the Suva Swimming Club has arrangements in hand for the entertaining of the Australian swimmers during their stay at Suva.

NEW ZEALAND TEAM

IN AUCKLAND TODAY J. W. SAVIDAN WILL GO The southern members of the New Zealand team to sail tomorrow for the British Empire Games at Canada arrived in Auckland by express this morning. They were met by Mr. H. Amos, secretary of the Empire Games Committee, who has been in Auckland for some days on business in connection with the trip, Mr. W. J. Davidson, chairman, and G. IT. Metcalfe, secretary of the Auckland centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, Mr. W. Morton, president of the Auckland Amateur Athletic and Cycle Club, and officials of the rowing and swimming associations. The full complement of the Ntw Zealand team for the games is: Manager, Mr. R. J. Hobbs, Christchurch. Rowing coach, Mr. H. Ayers, Christchurch. Coxswain, Mr. A. H. Eastwood, Christchurch. Rowing, F. Brough (Otago), J. Gilby (Canterbury), G. B. Johnson (Otago), J. MacDonald (Marlborough), V. Olsson (Marlborough), A. Ross (Auckland), B. Sandos (Hamilton), C. Saunders (Marlborough). F. H. Thompson (Canterbury), E. A. Waters (Hamilton). Athletics, A. J. Elliot (Auckland), Tt. O. Johnson (Dunedin), S. A. Lay (Taranaki), J. W. Savidan (Auckland). Swimming, G. Bridson (Auckland), R. C. Calder (Dunedin), Miss G. E. Pidgeon (Auckland). Bowling. W. Fielding (Wellington), H. Frost (Auckland), E. Leach (Stratford), IT McWhannell (Wellington). Mrs. Pidgeon is travelling with the party as official chaperon, and the well-known Auckland sportsman, Mr. Ilallyburton Johnstone, is also going. MAYORAL FAREWELL The position of J. W. Savidan. the Auckland champion long distance j athlete, was uncertain till this morning. i At 11 a.m. Mr. G. R. Metcalfe, secrc*- | tary of the Auckland centre of tho : New Zealand Amateur Athletic Associj ation. announced that although sufficient money to send Savidan had not j been collected, he would be able to go. I as two well-known Auckland sport® - j men, who wished to remain anonymous, ! had agreed to guarantee the balance | of the sum required. ’ The members of the team will be i given an official mayoral farewell j from New Zealand by the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. George Baildon, at the | Chamber of Commerce at 5 p.m. today. The team, together with the Australian team at present in Auckland, will later be the guests of the New Zealand British Empire Game® Committee at ; a dinner at the Royal Hotel. Later in the evening they will be the guests ;of the Northern Boxing Association at the tournament at the Town Hall.