National Surf Titles

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29765, 7 March 1962, Page 11

National Surf Titles

/CANTERBURY surf clubs will travel to Wellington this week-end with every confidence of retaining the country’s major trophies. All six clubs will be fully represented and if reports from other centres are any indication, there is every justification for this confidence.

Most opposition to the local clubs should come from Waikanae (Gisborne), Castlecliff (Wanganui), Red Beach (Auckland), Lyall Bay, Titahi Bay and Maranui (Wellington). The strongest club in the Otago area would appear to be Oreti (Invercargill). This club surprised by beating the Canterbury six-man ehampions at Dunedin recently. Similarly Waikanae and Castlecliff, competing in the Wellington championships a week ago, upset the local teams.

Probably the greatest leveller for the Canterbury clubs will be the surf, which is normally much lighter on the Christchurch beaches. More than usual interest should be exhibited by the public as Cook Strait swimmers, W. Penny, B. Davenport and C. Billings will be competing. Billings is a former national representative, while both Penny and Devenport have been prominent in national surfing for several years.

Last year at Warrington (Otago), out of 24 events, sixteen titles were won by Canterbury competitors or teams, while 42 placings was the

over-all result. In addition, the Norrie Trophy (for the champion district association) was won by Canterbury for the fifth year in succession, and the Alan Gardner Memorial Trophy for the champion club was won by South Brighton. Five of the six clubs have shared the titles, while the remaining one gained more than its share of minor placings Waimairi, as Canterbury’s champion club, should be firm favourite for top honours, but it will not have it all its own way, with New Brighton, North Beach, and South Brighton close on its heels. Sumner and Taylor’s Mistake, too, should fare well.

R Blair (South Brighton) is undoubtedly Canterbury’s best individual competitor and will make a strong defence of his beltman's and surf race titles. There are four or five others from Canterbury who could be in the running. K. Ryan (Lyall Bay) should be his greatest opponent, with the Lyall Bay senior and junior surf teams probably the strongest outside the Canterbury area. A feature of this season’s reel and line competitions was the remarkably low scoring (points deducted for faults) of nearly all clubs, and this gives rise to confidence.

Beach conditions may not be very satisfactory, as it is reported that Lyall Bay beach is very pebbly at present and upset quite a number of

Wellington teams on the occasion of their championships. No team can be expected to march satisfactorily under such conditions.

Another point in favour of the Canterbury clubs is that

competition at the local championships is comprehensive and competitors have to be really fit to participate in considerably more than one event.

In the craft events. New Brighton should be firm favourites for the surf boat title, while Sumner competitors should be foremost in the paddle board and ski events, with greatest opposition coming from Waimairi and North Beach. The surf canoe title could well be collected by any of these three teams.

New Brighton appears to have the best chance in the beach sprints. Of the women’s teams, Taylor’s Mistake and South Brighton, by virtue of their greater experience, can be expected to do well, while up-and-coming Waimairi could upset calculations The absence overseas of A Blair (South Brighton) is a drawback to local hopes in the women’s surf race, but there is still plenty of talent offering for the individual title.

The championships, held over three days, March 9, 10, and 11, is one of the country's most spectacular sporting fixtures. Entries are large and it only remains for good weather and suitable surf to complete a good week-end.