Sportsman of The Year

There are five contenders for the 1969 award, the winner of which will he announced at the Blues Dinner.

(1) Rodney Barltrop (golf)

A New Zealand Universities golf representative since 1966 and a member of the 1969 Wellington Freyberg Rosebowl Team.

Rodney also won the Wellington Stroke Play Championship this year, was runner up in the individual champs, and was second at Winter Tournament behind G. Clarke (Otago) who is a N.Z. rep.

(2) George Stratigoupuulus (Fencing)

A member of the NZU team in 1968, 1969 and also a NZ rep this year against the touring Australian team.

In 1968 George was first in New Zealand in the foil, fourth in the epee and in Wellington was the No. 1 for the Sabre and No. 2 for the foil.

(3) Gerald Kember (Rugby)

In 1967/68 toured British Isles with the All Blacks and this year was reserve for NZ against Wales

Gerald was also selected to play for the North Island against the South Island but had to withdrawn because of injury.

He has shown outstanding form in provincial games this year and only needs 6 more points to total a century of points in first class games this season.

(4) Philip Kear (Athletics)

In 1968 Philip was the Junior National titleholder over the 440 yards, and this year one week after turning 19 recorded 48.5 sec. for the same event.

Philip represented Wellington at the Senior Nationals this year, finishing fourth in the 440 and was a member of the 4x110 yard relay team which gained third placing.

Besides winning the Wellington 440 Champs he finished first in the NZU Easter Tournament 100 yds and 2nd in the 440 yards.

The highlight of the season was his selection for the NZ team to go to the Pan Pacific Conference Games in Tokyo later this year.

(5) Oliver Gilbert (Rowing)

Ollie has gained 4 Vic rowing blues and also 2 NZU blues for 1968 and 1969.

He was a member of the Wellington Eight which won the NZ Championship Eights this year and a member of the team which won the Wellington Senior Provincial Eights.