RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31028, 6 April 1966, Page 30

RANDOM REMINDER

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

Our generation is being educated to accept the precocity of yotfth, but every now and then a headline leaps from the newspaper, such as the one stating that a Canterbury swimming champion was about to have his last race before retirement He is 17 years old. No doubt the decision to withdraw from sport was based on the tremendous demands on athletes to And sufficient time for the full grind of training, but it seems to be a rather topsy-turvy sort of world. The processes which led to the swimmer retiring are duplicated in a good many other sports. Children are provincial and national champions of this and that at an age which used to be marked by an unreasonable enthusiasm for cutout paper dolls and proper management of toy

trains. And where will it all end? Jennifer Jollity. Olympic gold medallist in the women’s equestrian cross-country, will not be able to defend her title at Mexico City. Although representatives of the New Zealand Olympics organisation have held several conferences with her parents, there is now no doubt that she will have to stay at Mangatataroa High School and study for her school certificate examination. . . . New Zealand has a distinct chance of success in the men’s shot put at Jamaica. Although he was originally only in category B. the brilliant field events specialist Marcus Merrylees is almost certain to make the trip, for it has been firmly established that at 13 he qualifies for half-fare. . . .

A world record was established at the He-He golf club on Saturday, when Tommy Trundler played the full champion ship course in 59. This is the best score anywhere by a boy of I>But he may not be in the amateur ranks very much longer. Rumour has it . . . Willy Waterlog, who has been swimming since he was three weeks old, set a new shortpool mark of 43 seconds for the 100 yards at the week-end. A youngster dedicated to training, he may find his schedule upset next February when he starts primary school. However the Director of Education has already hinted that it might be possible io make special arrangements. . . . Doesn’t it all make you feel old?