Streamlining Policy For Canterbury Swimming

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30302, 30 November 1963, Page 8

Streamlining Policy For Canterbury Swimming

INCREASED opportunities for long-distance competitors, greater emphasis on mid-week carnivals, and the focusing of individual attention on the various sections of the Canterbury championships by divorcing the senior and junior titles from the under-age events are the principal moves designed by the Canterbury Swimming Centre to brighten the sport in Christchurch this summer. The centre's streamlining policy will, it is hoped, make competitive swimming more appealing to the public, give greater incentives to competitors, and make the running of carnivals easier. No longer will the Canterbury championship programme assume the gigantic proportions of recent years. This season events for the younger age groups (under 14 and under 12 > will be held separately as the Canterbury under-age championships. The St. Albans pool has been set aside for the events on February 8 and 15.

The Wharenui Coronation pool will be the scene of much of the activity this season. With the Centennial Pool facilities under reconstruction, Wharenui will be the scene of the centre’s senior and junior championships, as well as the popular Junior Olympics and three

centre carnivals. The St. Albans, North Beach and New • Brighton pools will also be put to good use. It has long been argued that Canterbury, as the strongest centre for surfing in the country, should be able to produce far more long distance swimmers of note than has been the case in recent years. This season the opportunities for official competition in open water have been trebled. The longdistance championships and the H.M.S.N.Z. Shield team event, normally held in conjunction, will take place on separate days at Diamond Harbour, W’hile a three-mile event, sponsored by the Akaroa Progress Association and run by the centre, will be a valuable forerunner to these events. Added status will be given to the diving championships by holding them apart from the centre title meeting. Already there are signs that the high standard maintained over recent seasons by the national springboard title-holders. R. L. Hodge and Miss H. Hutton, and

the Canterbury tower champion. J. P. de Malmanche. is inspiring the novice divers. The departure for Auckland of Misses S. A. Nicholson and J. Reid, both New Zealand champions, has bitten deep into the upper crust of pool swimmers.

There are no gains of note from other centres to offset these losses but the formation of a new club. University, should bring fresh interest to the inter-club scene. University will have the services of four of Canterbury's most experienced swimmers—Miss J. Clark, second only to Miss Nicholson as a freestyle sprinter; W. Williamson, the men's backstroke champion and record-holder: G. Johnson, former national junior breaststroke champion, and 1.l H. McDonald, a former New Zealand medley and 220 yards breaststroke title winner. It is likely that Canterbury will send strong teams to both the South Island and New Zealand championships this season, as both meetings have been allocated to the South Island. There are indications, too, that some younger competitors showing promise may find places in the team. Nothing but good can come from such a move.