Swimming Championships In City For First Time In 24 Years

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28512, 15 February 1958, Page 5

Swimming Championships In City For First Time In 24 Years

rpHE sound of the starting pistol, and the threshing of water at the Centennial Pool next week will mark the beginning of the first New Zealand swimming championship meeting to be held in Christchurch for 24 years. The 112 swimmers from all parts of New Zealand will be keenly striving to catch the eyes of the national selectors (Messrs A. J. Donaldson, C. Rex Moore, and C. Kirkland) for Empire Games nomination, and competition will be extremely high. Swimmers of the calibre of Philippa Gould. F. R. “Buddy”

Lucas, and all but four of last year’s title winners are competing, and the standard should be higher than at any meeting since the first at Auckland in 1890. The championships will begin on Monday, when the long-dis-tance harbour swim will be held at /Lyttelton. This event is for the Annette Kellerman Cup, and la< year’s winner, I. Shaw (Auckland), will again be a favourite. A. J. Cotterill (Wanganui) has always been prominent in this event, and, together with several other swimmers more noted in surfing, should be close to the front. Gruelling Race Sixteen swimmers are entered, and it is hoped that the race will finish about 3.30 p.m., shortly before full tide. The race is the most gruelling of all national swimming events, being held over three miles. The race will be held in the inner harbour, and w3l start from Gladstone pier. The competitors will swim five tidies around the triangular course. On Tuesday, the first of the heats and finals of the swimming events be held. In the 110 yards freestyle, Canterbury is unfortunate not to be

represented by last year’s title winner, Otto : Snoep. D. Ramsay (Auckland), who was runner-up last year, is reported to be in top form, and seems likely to be the new title-holder. F. R. Lucas (Auckland), C. Clare (Waikato), and I. Waterson (Nelson-Marl-borough) all did well last year an d wiu again be hard to beat. The 220 yards freestyle is one of two events in which public interest will be extremely high. Lucas, R. Harker (Auckland), W. Smith (Auckland), and the solidlybuilt youngster from Otago, John McGuinness, should have a grand tussle, and Lucas, the 1954 Empire Games representative, will be really tested to retain the title. John Flynn, a Southland swimmer who improves with every race, will almost certainly be close to the front, and few have dared tp risk choosing a likely winner. Each of the five is within a fraction of a second of the others ovei the distance. In the 440 yards, freestyle, Lucas, Colin McFadden (Canterbury), McGuinness, Flynn, and Smith provide the material for a great race. Backstroke The sprint backstroke‘event over 110 yards should result in Mark Tansley (Auckland) retaining his title. He will be matched against C. Webster (Waikato) and B. Robertson (Auckland), both of whom are capable of very fast times, but if Tansley can repeat his last year’s form, the title is safe in his hands. The 440 yards backstroke could well see Tansley edging out Graham McFadden (Canterbury), last year’s winner, with Robertson and Webster both having equal chances. There is little real opposition for Con Hilt (Auckland), titleholder of the 110 and 220 yards breaststroke and the 110 and 220 yards butterfly. Hilt has put up very fast times in thesq events in Auckland this season, and it will rest with tthe Canterbury swimmers, G. Hrittenden, I. H. McDonald, and D. Eaton, to issue the strongest challenges. In the women’s events. Phillipa Gould, one of New Zealand’s representatives at the Melbourne Olympics, seems assured of chalking up a long list of successes, and possibly national records as well. There has never been any doubt that she is New Zealand’s finest woman swimmer, and her performances against the Australians who recently visited the North Island make her chances even brighter for, selection for Cardiff. The 440 yards freestyle, as well as the 110 220 yards breaststroke events all seem certain to fall to Miss Gould. Other swimmers such as Miss J. Hunter (Auckland), 'Miss L. Norman (Nelson-Marlborough), and Misses

K. Sawyers x and T. Staveley (Auckland) will probably monopolise the other events for women. Challenge In all parts of New Zealand, water polo is going ahead rapidly, and w'ith all members of the New Zealand team which was to have gone to Melbourne Olympic Games competing, there should be no lack of interest. The Wellington team was the winner of the New Zealand championship trophy last year, and judging by its grand display in beating Canterbury in the Centennial .Pool recently, it must again be considered a likely winner. Waikato is very strong this year, and Otago has entered a young team which could cause a surprise. Since 1892, Canterbury has monopolised the water polo competition, and on no fev/er than 30 occasions has won the national title. Last year was again one of the few occasions in which the trophy did not stay in Canterbury, but this year, the hosts have a very strong tteam. Led by the veteran swimmer, surfer, and water polo player, R. Henry, it has every chance of success. The national inter-club trophy is at present held by Waitemata, Auckland, but Spreydon A, winners in 1956, could well regain it this year. Whatever the results of this year’s events, the times will be noted with particular interest. De-

pending upon how they compare with Empire Games standard—and especially the very high Australian standard—the number to be nominated for Cardiff will oe based. Although the standard in New Zealand is pt its highest level yet, the rest of the world has not stood still, and the New Zealand swimming team may in the end be no larger than three.