In the New Zealand team for Cardiff, to sail shortly, are three Victoria University students. This is indeed an outstanding achievement for those concerned and the warmest congratulations are extended from the 2697 students who will remain while they leave for honours on a distant field. To say that we will follow closely the fortunes of these men is to express only a fraction of our interest; and the staff of "Salient" takes this opportunity to wish those concerned the best of luck at the Games.

Rowing—Grotty

Frank Grotty, a third-year Science student, has been rowing for several years with the Union Boating Club, Wanganui. He came into prominence in the 1956-57 season as No. 2 in their Senior Four; which was successful at regattas throughout the season, qualifying for the final of the N.Z. Championship Fours, and winning the Plate Race at Karapiro. The following week this crew won the Senior Fours at Wanganui Regatta, defeating the champion Clifton crew. This same crew, with one replacement, was rowing this past season, and was therefore one of the first to be reckoned with. However, though always well placed, they did not show top form until the championships, when, in spite of a last minute replacement due to sickness, they were convincingly first in the heat, and then the final.

Much credit for their success must go to Mr. C. Healy, official coach of the Union Club, who has incidentally, often helped V.U.C. crews in the past with last minute coaching.

Frank has now rowed in the Vic Eight for three Tournaments. He was selected as a member of the N.Z.U. Eight last year and gained a Vic Blue. This year he was six in the Vic Eight which rowed very well to come second to Otago. He was again selected for the N.Z.U. Eight and was then awarded a N.Z.U. Blue.

Frank is now in Wanganui training with his crew for the Empire Games at Cardiff and trying to continue his studies extramurally.

Fencing—Binning and Temple

We of the fencing club like to consider that we belong to the strongest University sports club in the country. With the announcement of the N.Z. team to the Empire Games in Cardiff, these incipient delusions of grandeur have been greatly encouraged. We had a fencer at the 1956 Games (Fand Flaws) another at the 1954 Games (Peter Hampton), and now two, Percy Temple and Bob Binning, have been selected for Cardiff. Both of them fully deserve their inclusion in the foil, epee and sabre teams.

Bob has been New Zealand sabre champion for the past three years without too much trouble, and looks as if he will stay at the top in that weapon for some time yet. Though a sabre specialist, he has also done very well at foil and epee. He fought for Vic at the Winter tournaments for the first time last year (coming back with an N.Z.U. Blue) and he has recently returned from the Australian championships, where he came a very good fourth in the sabre. Bob is technically accomplished, very fit, and a brainstorm on opponents' weaknesses ('wrinkles' in fencing circles). He might easily make the sabre final at Cardiff.

Percy, a foil specialist and a fairly recent convert from Christchurch, won the New Zealand foil title in 1955 and has done well in all three weapons since then. He is left-handed, fast and difficult to manage, and the same 57 fencer who has had the ability to give much more experienced fencers overseas a lot of trouble.

International fencing is, from all reports, very different from what we are accustomed to in New Zealand —rather closer to duelling than might be expected. Our two have been baptised in a fairly hard school, and should not be unduly troubled by the ferocity at Cardiff. We wish them the best of luck.