Important Time For Gymnasts

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31143, 20 August 1966, Page 11

Important Time For Gymnasts

r rHIS week-end must be the most important in the short history of gymnastics in Christchurch. Not only is it the venue for the national schools’ gymnastic festival, but it coincides with a visit of the touring University of Washington team. Entries for the schools’ competition total 124. There are 28 in each of the secondary school grades and 36 and 32 in the primary school grades. Although little is known of the visiting gymnasts the difficulty of the compulsory exercises is such that it demands a high standard and it is known that many of the competitors will be going on to the national championships at Wellington the following week-end. Canterbury is fully represented, with its strength lying in the secondary grades and primary girls. The boys and girls have

been selected from recent primary and secondary school championship meetings. Each grade is represented by a team of four and this team aspect is the basis of the whole tournament. Miss ,1. Buchanan will be competing in the primary schools’ grade. She is present South Island girls’ champion. The other members of the team are Misses L. Blaikie, L. Walmsley and C. Ryan. In the secondary girls’ grade. Misses H. Johnston and L. Beazley are teamed with Misses V. Hepburn and L. Greenslade. Misses Johnston and Beazley were second and third in the girls' championship at the South Island championships. The secondary boys' team has I. Henderson. D. Goss and R. Graham who were first, second and third in the youths' grade at the South Island championships. They are joined by R. McLauchlan. The primary boys' team is R. Scanes, S. Hobbs, G. Davies and C. Fisher. The University of Washington gymnasts have recently toured Japan and Australia. While in Australia they competed in the national championships and took many of the major titles. The Americans will present work on Olympic apparatus and also a spectacular item on the trampoline. The week-end programme, which takes place at Cowles Stadium, includes the schools’ festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. This will be followed by the evening display at 7.30 p.m. The University of Washington gymnasts will provide most of the programme, but will be ably supported by items from visiting and local gymnasts. On Sunday morning the Washington gymnasts will conduct a coaching clinic at Cowles Stadium. There will be a free afternoon and evening. On Monday morning there are two coaching clinics for school gymnasts —the girls at Avonside Girls’ High School and the boys at the new Linwood High School gymnasium.