Surf Life-Saving Season Was Highly Successful

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28250, 11 April 1957, Page 15

Surf Life-Saving Season Was Highly Successful

rpHE recently-concluded surf lifesaving season must be ranked one of the best ever, as far as the national events are concerned. On Christchurch beaches the weather and seas were not good, even though the weather in the province as a whole was fine. “Foremost in the season’s activities was the very successful visit to Australia by the New Zealand team. This team practically scooped the pool in all the purely life-saving events, in the face of competition from Australia, South Africa, the United States, Hawaii and Ceylon. When the team left this country it was only halftrained by normal standards, but it was at the peak of physical fitness.

Team Training Most members of the team began their training half-way through the winter. Team training was started only just before the side left New Zealand, and most of it was done in Australia. However, most members had competed with success either nationally or locally, and were fully experienced.

Because of the indifferent weather, most local teams had little chance for competition before the national championships, and this undoubtedly was the cause of many of the surprise results at these championships. .The championships were notable for the unusually large number of instances where swimmers lost places through bad judgment. It is perhaps true to say that the surfers of today are better allround swimmers than those of 20 years ago, but it is equally true to say that they lack the judgment so essential in surf competition.

More Entries

Increased entries in all competitions brought more problems for officials, who experienced great difficulties in getting championships run off on schedule. The championship pennant was again won by New Brighton, with South Brighton second and Sumner third. Taylor’s Mistake, expected to do well this season, was disappointing in finishing fourth. The team seemed to lack finish in much of its work. Sumner, which finished last in the 1955-56 season, gained several places through the good work of its juniors. North Beach, • one of Canterbury’s oldest-established clubs, is going through a period of transition but hope for the future lies in some of its very promising junior material. Waimairi swimmers seem to lack finesse in their work, but they deserve encouragement, as they are probably one

of the most conscientious clubs in the district.

The leader, New Brighton, owed its success to its consistency—a feature of the club for some years.

The completion of the new clubhouse in a month will be a boon to the New Brighton club next season. This will give it the most up-to-date lifesaving facilities in the country, thanks to the tireless work of committeemen and club members.

Many Canterbury surfers distinguished themselves at the national championships. Perhaps the outstanding performances there were those of the New Brighton men J. Ryan and B. Robertson. Ryan had an easy win in the national beltman’s title, and Robertson was successful in the junior individual surf race.