Strong Swimming Team For N.Z. Championships

Press, Volume C, Issue 29421, 25 January 1961, Page 11

Strong Swimming Team For N.Z. Championships

xyiTH five New Zealand - representatives and several promising juniors included, the Canterbury team selected for this year’s national swimming championships at Tauranga from February 8 to 11 appears the best to represent the province for a very long time. The centre has shown its confidence in 24 swimmers who should not only gain several titles but also set up new records. Confidence

Among the junior girls, Canterbury can have much confidence in the swimmers selected. Miss Wendy Dale (Spreydon) was an automatic choice after her dazzling performances early this season and at the Canterbury championships, She is improving rapidly. She has already established herself as the equal of last year's brilliant junior, Miss Shirley Nicholson, and is bettering her times consistently. Miss Dale already holds the national 220 yards junior girls’ record and seems a certain title-winner this season.

Miss L. Cox (Spreydon) will be competing at her first national championships, and at 13 she is a most promising competitor. Her best chances will be in the shorter freestyle races.

Having taken three Canterbury titles and five records, Miss Sally Pitama (Spreydon) is at her peak this season in her last year as a junior. At present she is only l.Ssec outside the national junior medley record, and she will probably make a special attempt on this in the near future. She is the finest woman backstroker Canterbury has yet seen, and has the determination to go further at national level.

Miss C. Hopper (Spreydon) has recently been ill, and she was able to swim only on the final night of the Canterbury championships. Her breaststroke swimming is already in senior class, and she equalled the Canterbury senior 110 yards record this month. Miss Hopper is also competing at her first national meeting.

Having always hotly disputed finishes with Miss Hopper, it was not surprising that the selectors saw fit to include another fine young breaststroke swimmer. Miss H. Armstrong (Wharenui). She won both the junior and senior 110 yards events at the Canterbury championships and is within .Isec of the Canterbury junior 220 yards record. Miss C. MacDonald (Elmwood) h.as earned her place in the team with butterfly and freestyle swimming. Her recent 440 yards freestyle time of smin 51sec made her a certain choice for Tauranga. A newcomer to the team is Miss H. Broughton, of the St.

Albans club. Her medley times, in particular, make her a strong second string to Miss Pitama. and her backstroke is improving. Only four senior women are included in the team. Miss Shirley Nicholson (Spreydon), who returns this week from the Australian tour which was a great personal triumph for her, should be the dominant woman freestylist at the championships, and Miss L. Harrow should give solid support. Miss J. Clark, of the Spreydon club, has been close to Miss Harrow this season and won the 55 yards freestyle at the Canterbury championships and will be given her first opportunity at the nationals. A diver, Miss Helen Hutton, has no real opposition in Canterbury, so that' her performances at Tauranga will be keenly watched. Local diving judges regard her highly. Headed by Gareth Stringer, the Spreydon 14-year-old who has been breaking records faster than anyone in New Zealand in recent weeks, the junior boys are also a strong contingent. Stringer’s ability is developing by leaps and bounds, and he seems a certain New Zealand titleholder this season. His present performances are a far cry from the shy youngster who was virtually unknown in Canterbury swimming at the begining of last season. Stringer's medley times are in the same top class as his freestyle ones. Outside Record

P. Jones (Linwood) is new to Canterbury teams and his recent 220 yards backstroke time which was only ,3sec outside the national record proved his form. A, Harrow (Spreydon) will be competing in the same event as Jones, even though he is only 13. With two more years as a junior Harrow’s future seems assured. A. McDonald (Spreydon) is showing solid form this season. and besides breaststroke, he will represent Canterbury in the medley. M. Hay (Elmwood) will this season be joined by his young brother. J. Hay, in the breaststroke. This is Michael Hay’s last season as a junior and judging by the times which John Hay has recently achieved the title could well remain in the same family next season. As the national junior titleholder, Michael Hay is almost a certain winner again this season.

G. Dann (Beckenham) and G. Le Cren (Christchurch) should both have success in the senior events, although Dann is not showing the same dash as last season, C. McFadden (Spreydon) will not be endeavouring to win back his

440 yards title, but will concentrate on the long distance title, which he holds, and the 1650 yards title. W. Williamson (backstroke) and G. Johnson (breaststroke) were automatic selections, although they will have hard tasks at Tauranga. B. Hocking (Wharenui) will also find competition difficult in his first year as a senior. L. R. Hodge (Spreydon), who has never been beaten for a national diving title, should once again easily bring the title south.