ATHLETICS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 August 1921, Page 10

ATHLETICS.

SOUTH AFRICAN TEAM. A team comprising the champion athletes of South Africa is to visit Australia and New Zealand early next year. Mr. C. A. Hadley, M.P., one of South Africa’s enthusiastic sportsmen, has guaranteed to finance a team consisting of four pedestrians, three cyclists, and a manager to the extent of £2OOO, any profits over that amount to be divided between the South African and Australasian associations. The team is being sent under the auspices of the Olympic Games South African Executive Council, with the consent and approval of the Transvaal Amateur Athletic Association. It is expected that they will leave Capetown early in December. They will compete at the Australasian championships to be held in Adelaide early in January, and then proceed to Melbourne to take part in the Victorian meeting, after which they come direct to New Zealand, probably opening at Dunedin on January 21. This date, however, depends on the big fixture at Adelaide, and might possibly be delayed a Week. The other centres will follow at intervals of a week, while mid-week dates will be arranged for the smaller towns where possible. Should they arrive to date they should sail finally from Auckland about February 16, for New Sopth Wales and Queensland to complete the tour. The cyclists of the party are not visiting the De minion.

A programme will be drawn up next month in Wellington when R. Coombes, president of the Australasian Association, will collaborate with the New Zealand officials. In all probability the New Zealand championships will take place in Christchurch about the uuiddle of December next.