Clint Brown seriously hurt in bashing

Clint Brown shapes up for the Fight for Life

TV3 sports anchor man Clint Brown was taken to hospital after being bashed during a night out drinking in Taupo this week.

The Weekend Herald has learned he was set upon by at least two men on Wednesday night after a dinner with people involved with the A1 Grand Prix race to be held at the Taupo racetrack.

He spent the night in hospital before coming back to Auckland to see a specialist on Thursday. It is understood he received a serious injury to an eye socket.

Brown did not return Weekend Herald calls yesterday.

He has been off air for the past two nights and TV3 spokesman Roger Beaumont said he would not be back on screen for "a good few days".

Mr Beaumont said Brown was "quite seriously assaulted" by at least two men and had to be taken to hospital, where he stayed overnight.

Mr Beaumont would not say what kind of specialist Brown had seen and said he was recuperating at home.

Taupo police said they had not received any complaint from Brown. It is understood Brown does not want to lay one, apparently because he did not want to face a court case and did not believe there was much chance of catching the attackers as they ran off before police arrived.

Asked if Brown was intoxicated, Mr Beaumont replied: "He'd had a night out with some friends."

He said Brown was alone at the time of the bashing.

TV3 has the broadcast rights for the A1 Grand Prix, and keen "petrol-head" Brown is to present their coverage of the Taupo round in January. Known as the World Cup of motorsport, because teams are organised by country, it is said to be the biggest motorsport event seen in New Zealand in 50 years.

Brown is also a keen boxer, having previously taken on Sky Television's Stephen McIvor in the Fight for Life charity boxing event. Brown knocked McIvor out in the first round.

Before that fight he said: "I've done boxing for four years for fitness but I've never done any sparring. I had to learn how to take a hit, how to avoid being hit and how to hit back."

In 2003, Brown was charged with drink-driving and spent a week off air in recognition of the seriousness of his actions.