It is unfortunate that on its athletes returning from the Empire Games, New Zealand should learn that the members of the team were not a happy family. Fortunately, investigation and heart to heart talks with team-members dispel the idea that friction was rife and that arguments were features of the tour.

Frank Grose, well-known cyclist and a much-travelled athlete while inclined to laugh at the story of discord, realised that the story could do a great deal of harm if allowed to pass uncorrected, and told me his impressions.

“I have been all over New Zealand with athletics and cycling teams, to England and Australia with Empire Games teams, and look forward to the Olympic Games in 1940 in the hope that I may once again be associated with such fine sportsmen, and sportsmen as in the team to Sydney this year.

“There were no ‘cliques.’ We were one big family at which Horace McCormick was the ideal head. Talk of trouble is sheer nonsense.

“Of course, some of the boys were high-spirited after their events had finished, and they were able to relax after serious training, but they observed the rules of the village—in bed at 10 p.m.—and if nine hours’ sleep wasn't enough, I think it was!

“The story about knotted pyjamas and ‘apple-pied’ beds should not be taken seriously. Personally, I seldom lie awake thinking about my race to come on the morrow, but some of the boys did, and I think that a little practical joking of this nature helped the athlete more than it hindered him.”

Sir James Leigh Wood, president of the British Empire Games Federation, told me at Christchurch that the “incidents” at the Games were magnified out of proportion.

“The behaviour of the New Zealand representatives was excellent. Your manager was the right man for the job, and he did not have to keep a tight rein on the members. I am sorry to read that a misguided youth has seen fit to rush into print, casting reflections on the sportsmanship of the other members of your team. Be assured, your boys and girls proved true representatives of a fine sporting country.

“And permit me to tell your readers of your great athlete, Cecil Matthews.

“Our three-miler, Peter Ward, was the one athlete we felt certain would win an Empire title. He had finished second to the Olympic champion a few months earlier at Oslo and had been invited to attempt the world record there this spring.

“Well, Ward ran his usual race; he kept in a handy position, knowing the pace to be fast enough, and, with a lap to go, I watched to see him put in his devastating finish. He moved up to Matthews when, to my horror— yes, horror!—Matthews went away from him. Down the back stretch Matthews must have covered the hundred yards in eleven seconds, and would have tested a sprinter!

“Well, you know that Matthews won, and won well. I went along to Ward and sympathised with him.

“‘No need to feel sorry for me, sir,’ replied Ward, ‘I was beaten, fairly and squarely by a better man and sympathy is not necessary.'

“That was the reply of a great sportsman—it was typical of the man, and typical of many other athletes at the Empire Games—but, somehow these incidents did not get the publicity their importance deserved. But it was, I assure you, the Real spirit at the Empire Games!”

* * *

Another high honour has been paid New Zealand—Cecil Matthews is the first New Zealand athlete to receive a special invitation from the English Amateur Athletic Association to visit England to participate in a track meeting. He has been asked to travel all the way from New Zealand but, wisely, has expressed regret that he deems it unwise to do any more travelling for a year.

Matthews, nowadays feted as the greatest distance runner produced in the British Empire, experienced a lean period after his Olympic competition in Berlin, and received more brickbats than bouquets—not that they worried him!— and is not anxious to undermine his health by excessive competition.

Amateur Athletics in Timaru.

Recently I enjoyed a holiday in the South Island, and spent a considerable time in Timaru, where I was amazed at the progress made in amateur athletics.

Entering Timaru by train I saw, for the first time, “New Zealand's cinder track.” A vacant portion of Ashbury Park has been drained and excavated, and a 440-yard cinder track laid down —the only proper cinder track in New Zealand to-day. This track has been built as the result of enterprise in a town in which amateur athletics were page 62 as “dead as the dodo” five years ago, and should serve as an inspiration to clubs in other towns.

Rail travellers from Christchurch to Timaru will see the track from their carriage windows, and before long the track should be just one of many to be seen in New Zealand.

New Zealand A.A.A's. Jubilee.

During March the Jubilee celebrations of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association were held in Christchurch, where, on July 28th, 1887, the New Zealand A.A.A. was formed at a meeting held in Warner's Hotel.

An extract from the “Lyttelton Times” of July 29th, 1887, reads:— “In response to an invitation from the Secretary of the South Canterbury Athletic Club, delegates from different clubs in New Zealand met last evening at Warner's Hotel. “The following were present: Bunny (Hawke's Bay), Blanchard (Dunedin), Anson and Cuff (Christchurch), Teschemaker and Rhodes (South Canterbury). “The Southland Club wrote saying they would be pleased to join the Association, and would be bound by the decisions arrived at by the delegates. Auckland refused to join. “Mr. Rhodes was voted to the chair and briefly explained that the object in view in forming the Association was the furtherance of athletics in New Zealand. “It was resolved that the Association be called ‘The New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association.'

“A sub-committee was then formed consisting of the following:— Messrs. Bunny, Cuff, Anson, Teschemaker, Clulee and Loughnan. “It was resolved that a meeting of delegates be held on August 12th to frame rules, etc. Mr. Cuff was appointed secretary pro tem.”

Through the passing years, the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association has had many days of lean and of plenty, but it has progressed until to-day it has more than 3,000 registered athletes.

A Jubilee luncheon was held in Christchurch on March 11th, and was attended by veteran champions and officials who pioneered the sport in the early days. They came from far and near to exchange anecdotes and renew friendships formed on the track and field. It did a young man's heart good to see the old-timers assemble to participate in the celebrations and watch the present day champions parade their wares.

Future of New Zealand Swimming.

In a conversation I had with the manager of the New Zealand swimming team to the Empire Games I was assured that big things may be expected in New Zealand swimming. As the result of the swimming at the Games, it has been learned that it is not necessary for swimmers to concentrate— as they have in New Zealand—on particular distances. The best swimmers at the Games were from Canada and England, and they do not do any sprint training until the last month before their competition. Their earlier training is comprised of long distance “leg work,” to develop the kick. Once this has been developed to the required degree, the swimmers have their final smartening-up process, and, as a result, are capable of competing in any races from 100 yards to one mile.

Tours of New Zealand by leading overseas swimmers are contemplated as is also the importation of a coach.

Team Work in Cycle Racing.

“When New Zealand sends cyclists away in future, the riders should realise that they are riding for their country first and their own glory second,” said Frank Grose, “veteran” cyclist to me, in Christchurch, a few weeks ago. “The English riders knew who their best man was, and all the riders in the English team helped him. This was also the case among the South Africans, and I honestly consider that had the wrong Englishman won, there would have been an ‘inquiry’ among the English riders!

“Our riders did their best to team, and I am proud to have been associated with such a fine bunch of cyclists, but we have lots to learn about real team work and unless we set about learning it we will always be at a disadvantage in big racing.”

An Excellent Club.

Those who have had the privilege of visiting the Pioneer Sports Club in Christchurch will readily agree that the fine club rooms overlooking the River Avon are a credit to the sportsmen of the Cathedral City. What a pity there are not more of such fine meeting places in New Zealand! The building is the headquarters of practically every sporting organisation in Christchurch, and during the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association's Jubilee Championship Meeting was readily availed of by visiting athletes, who, one and all, expressed their thanks for the courtesies extended.

A Tribute to Boot's Trainer.

The athlete, be he boxer, swimmer, cyclist or runner, successful in winning championship honours is lauded to the skies, but seldom is a word of praise given his trainer—often a man who has devoted hours of time to fit his charge for the strenuous competition.

And that is why Pat Boot, hero of the half-mile at the Empire Games, treasures a cable he received from A. L. Fitch, the American athletic coach, who sent the following message to him in Sydney: “Congratulations to self and trainer on excellent run.” Fitch included the trainer! Boot's trainer, Arthur Drury, a professional athlete of renown ten years ago, is, in my opinion, the best trainer New Zealand has had in years. He takes a personal interest in each athlete under his care and learns their little whims. He does not train two men alike, but he certainly gets the results. He has trained winners of New Zealand cash titles in all events from 100 yards to one mile, and from 440 yards to one mile in New Zealand amateur championships. At the present time he has his eyes on an athlete with whom he hopes to win the 100 and 220 yards New Zealand amateur titles and so complete the list in both codes! Boot has asked me to publicly acknowledge through these columns, the assistance rendered him by Arthur Drury.

A True Sportsman Passes.

There passed away last month, L. T. Cobcroft, an outstanding personality in the New Zealand cricketing world. “Cobby,” as he was known far and wide, had the distinction of captaining teams from New South Wales and New Zealand, and there were few finer coaches in the Dominion.

He did most of his coaching among schoolboys, and never sought to bask in the limelight which was theirs in later years.

A true sportsman!