FINAL DAY OF SURFING TITLES TOMORROW

Press, Volume C, Issue 29424, 28 January 1961, Page 15

FINAL DAY OF SURFING TITLES TOMORROW

With a relatively small number of points between the three leading clubs for the Canterbury championship pennant, the emblem of surfing supremacy in the province, a very high standard of competition is expected in the Canterbury Surf Life-Saving Association’s fourth and final championship carnival of the season, to be held at Taylor's Mistake tomorrow in conjunction with Kesteven Cup Day. Mainly through the efforts of its junior members, the North Beach club at present leads with 30 points, and must be considered a very likely candidate for the major honours. Waimairi, the present holder of the pennant, is very close behind with 28 points, and is still very much in the running. South Brighton is third with 24.

The feature of the day will be the six-man rescue and resuscitation event for the Kesteven Cup. Although this is a non-championship event, in past years it has proved extremely popular with all clubs. Last year the cup was won by South Brighton A, with Taylor's Mistake and South Brighton B second and third respectively. This year, however, the Waimairi team must be the favourite, having so far won the Canterbury six-man championship and two other non - championship six - man events. The Sumner team has been showing increasingly good form lately, and could possibly spring a surprise.

Another very popular event on the surfing calendar, the senior surf relay (four-man) for the "Black and White Cup. should develop into quite a tussle. Last season the cup was won by Taylor's Mistake. Waimairi took second place in front of South Brighton. A likely winner this year is a team from South Brighton. R. Blair, the New Zealand champion beltman, A. Lee, the Canterbury’s team captain, and C. Sylvester, a Canterbury representative, should all be in the team, A total of 61 entries has been received for the junior, individual and teams’ surf race. The winner of the individual section last year, G. Dann (New Brighton), will be defending his title, but he will have some very keen competition from G. Le Cren (Taylor’s Mistake), R. McDowell (Waimairi), R. Gaskell (Waimairi), and P. Davies (Waimairi).

The paddle board race

should prove one of the most interesting events on the programme. The Waimairi junior.! R. McDowell, has been show- j ing exceptionally fine form and last Sunday comfortably, defeated the joint holder of the New Zealand paddle board title, K. McDonald iSumnaj. It was the first time that McDonald had been beaten this season. An interesting tussle should develop between the two this Sunday. J. Hughes (Waimairi) is a likely contender for the senior surf ski championship. He has put up several good performances this season, but has not always had luck on his side. At present, it is doubtful if the title holder, R. Dalton (North Beach) will be competing.

The probable winner of the senior beach sprint championship will be a team from the New Brighton Club. At the third championship carnival last Sunday, the New Brighton men. B. Readman, I. Foubister and M. Scott, took first, second and third places respectively in the final of the Canterbury beach sprint championship.

Other events of interest include a senior, junior and women's march past, a senior and a junior surf canoe race, an open surf boat race and the junior beach sprint championship.