Local Swimmers Could Do Well At N.Z. Titles

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28471, 28 December 1957, Page 5

Local Swimmers Could Do Well At N.Z. Titles

IN two months, the public of Christchurch will have the opportunity of witnessing a fixture denied to them for the last 20 years. When the national swimming championships are held at the Centennial Pool, New Zealand’s finest swimmers, some of whom will be endeavouring to gain selection for the Empire Gaines at Cardiff, will be seen in action. Swimmers in all provinces are training hard —and nowhere more than in Canterbury.

Canterbury’s improvement in swimming standard and its good fortune in having several top-class swimmers should result in a good showing in February. Admittedly, it would not have to be much to eclipse its recent record at national meetings. •

In no event has the improvement in Canterbury been more noticeable than the 50 yards freestyle. In the first carnival of this season, the fine young Wharenui swimmer, Brian Wason, swam the distance in 26.95ec. It is interesting to note that at the final carnival of last season at the Riccarton baths, when swimmers were at a peak of fitness, the best time for the distance was 34.6 sec—more than seven seconds slower. Two other good times have been recorded this season—31.9sec by the young B. Hocking, of Wharenui, and 29.55ec recorded by D. May (Elmwood) at the Elmwood carnival.

Apart from Wason’s time, these performances appear mediocre compared with national senior records. But it must be remembered that the juniors and intermediates are monopolising the placings, and their times are excellent. It is unfortunate that so many senior Canterbury swimmers leave the sport before they have reached their peak in physical fitness and performance, for their competition would be invaluable to the youngsters working their way up to better and better times.

440 Yards Colin McFadden’s 440 yards effort recently needs no enlarging upon. There is little doubt that a new national record for the 440 yards will be written into the books this season under his name, as his unofficial time of 4min 55.75ec sets an all-time high for the distance in New Zealand. McFadden is still only an intermediate, so his future, with possible Empire Games selection, is bright. He is the finest distance freestyle swimmer Canterbury has yet produced, and his achievements have all been the result of strict training self-discipline which several other promising youngsters in the province would do well to emulate. Some betterknown performers, too, are eon-

tent to rest upon past laurels. Again, in the 10Q yards backstroke, R. McElrea (Elmwood) has put in two good swims this season at Imin 18.5 sec and Imin 18.8 sec. Last season, W. Williamson (Elmwood) was the fastest in this event in Imin 20.4 sec. McElrea has the ability to improve his times greatly, and if he can get down to the Imin lOsec mark he will be in national class.

Progress Graham Dann, the Beckenham swimmer who put up an excellent showing at the junior national titles last year and had a good win in the 100 yards in record time, has not looked back. This season, although now in intermediate class, he is swimming better than ever. Constant training in the surf as well as fresh water has enabled him to reduce his times by a large margin. Last season the best, time for the 220 yards freestyle was recorded by Brian Wason at 2min 41.7 sec, yet Dann recorded 2min 40.6 sec and then a rapid rise to 2min 26.55ec at the first two carnivals this season. Dann is also the Canterbury junior surf race champion. Alistair McPhail, a swimmer who has yet to reach top form but has untried ability, showed a glimpse of his old form which carried him to several Canterbury titles last year when he clocked 2min 27.1 sec recently. In the 100 yards freestyle, swimmers are .2sec away from the best time recorded at carnivals last season. McPhail swam the distance in 57.65ec last season, and the best times this season have been by Dann (59.55ec and 57.95ec) and McPhail (57.8 sec The intermediate race at the last national championships was won ih 57.8 sec. so both these swimmers will be likely contenders for the title in February. f

Fast Time lan McDonald, the New Zealand Universities’ swimming blue who went to Australia last year, has swum the 100 yards breaststroke in Imin 16.3 sec—three seconds slower than the national record, and should be able to reach the

Imin lOsec without much difficulty. Times for the event last season were very slow. R. Blair (Spreydon), R. Colquhoun (North Beach), Miss P. Wason (Wharenui), Miss D. Bullivant (Wharenui) are other swimmers showing great promise. Derek Eaton (Elmwood) must be in line for a high placing in the 220 yards butterfly event at the national titles, and his times so far this season have been excellent. Graham McFadden should also manage to retain his national 440 yards backstroke title.

Good Performances

There are several other Canterbury swimmers whose names will almost certainly appear in the representative teams, yet little has been heard of their performances this season. Otto Shoep, the national sprint champion, has not been seen in any ihter-club carnival yet, and his form is unknown. Paul Garratt, another fine freestyle swimpier, and Gerald Brittenden, the intermediate national 220 yards title-holder, are in the same position. Brittenden, however, is having coaching in Auckland.

Canterbury has swimmers capable of winning at most, six senior national titles in February. Auckland, with F. R. Lucas, M. Tansley, C. Hilt, B. Francevic, R. Harker, and D. Ramsey, will be a formidable contingent for the men’s events, while Philippa Gould, Miss K. Sawyers, and Tessa Staveley should monopolise the women’s events. Southland and Otago will be entering the strongest teams of the other provinces.

A province seldom makes a rise to national prominence in one season, but there is hope that Canterbury will at last be able to challenge a superiority which (Auckland has held for many, many years.