COMPARED WITH CONTINENT N.Z. Coaches Advanced, Says Channel Swimmer

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30895, 30 October 1965, Page 17

COMPARED WITH CONTINENT N.Z. Coaches Advanced, Says Channel Swimmer

“The Press” Special Service WELLINGTON. “New Zealand’s swimming coaches are more advanced and more knowledgeable than any on the Continent,” said New Zealand’s English Channel conqueror, Keith Hancox. He gave his views on how the standard of swimming could be improved in New Zealand, after his return to Wellington from Britain.

Hancox, who had already swum the Cook Strait, became the first New Zealander to swim the English Channel. “There should be more interprovincial competition in New Zealand,” said Hancox. “This can be done in spite of the alleged lack of time. “1 think that there should be an effort made to establish regular international meetings with the countries in the near East and in the immediate future there would be more to be gained from these meetings than sending

swimmers to the Empire Games. Potential To Improve ‘That is unless a swimmer had an outstanding chance of winning a medal,” added Hancox. “The emphasis on these trips should not necessarily be on young swimmers, but those selected should have the potential to improve. “With the exception of coaches in Germany, New Zealand's coaches are more advanced and more knowledgeable than any on t'm Continent," said Hancox. “Swimming is a sport that ! can advance only if there is co-operation between the Professional Coaches’ Association and the Swimming Association, and so long as the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association continues its policy of excluding professional coaches from

voicing opinions in the development of swimming in New Zealand, then the improvement would be slower than could otherwise be achieved.” German Progress “The development of swimming in the United States of America is a pointer to this,” continued Hancox. “Now that Germany has adopted a similar policy to that of the United States, they are making outstanding strides to the top of the ladder.” Discussing New Zealand's swimming standards, Hancox said: ‘The standard of swimming in New Zealand compares favourably with that of the Continent, and swimmers such as Dave Gerrard (butterfly), Tony Graham (breaststroke) and Rob Walker (freestyle) would beat most of the Continent, with the exception of the Germans and Russians. “Those three New Zealanders still have the potential to improve and can do so.” Hancox did not seem particularly impressed with the standard of New Zealand women swimmers. Girls Not As Good

“By and large, our girls are not of such a good standard. We really have no one who would challenge the top women swimmers in England. Vivian Haddon is falling far behind the progress made by the English girls and those in the United States.

“Relationships between professional coaches on the Continent (with the exception of Germany) and the swimming bodies are completely

opposite to those in the United States where the sport is run by the professional coaches, who, because swimming is their livelihood, must stay abreast of modern development if they are to continue earning a living,” said Hancox. “The fact that England does not use this system is one of the main reasons why they have not progressed at the same rate as the United States and lately Germany.”