A Fine Surf Race Prospect

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30668, 6 February 1965, Page 13

A Fine Surf Race Prospect

from a second placing in Canterbury junior surf race championship two years ago, he has shown no real talent at championship carnivals. In fact he has always finished well out of a place. But few of them realised the great preparation Staples has made this season. He has been training regularly in the North Beach pool with two other Canterbury representatives, J. Hughes and I. Grieg, both of whom readily admitted weeks ago that they could not match him. And they are not sluggards. Hughes was the second Canterbury man to finish in the inter-provincial surf race.

Same indication of his improving form was given at a minor inter-club carnival between Waimairi and South Brighton about a month ago when he comfortably won the surf race from Hughes and several other prominent swimmers, including J. A. Lee (South Brighton), who has been in national class for years. Staples was subsequently nominated by his dub for the Canterbury trials but failed miserably in the surf race and was not induded in the training squad. However, several unexpected withdrawals were QNE of the most promis- ma de and the selectors ing performances at the (Messrs G. G. Pratley, S. D. recent inter-district surf Tarrant and P. Goosey) carnival as far as Canter- decided to include him in bury was concerned was the team to Wellington, that of the young Waimairi Had it not been for their surfer, D. Staples. He fin- flexibility and foresight, ished a very creditable Canterbury’s performance third in the surf race to in the surf race would have head a number of ex- been very dismal indeed, tremely talented swimmers Virtually overnight, the and completely outclassed blonde Waimairi surfer has the current Canterbury become a leading candidate champion, G. Dann (New for the provincial title race Brighton), who finished tomorrow. A good performwell down the list. ance is essential if he' is to For most followers of the convince the sceptics that movement this was a com- his performance at Wellingplete surprise for apart ton was not an isolated one.