Canterbury's Status Enhanced In N.Z. Surf Titles

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31316, 11 March 1967, Page 11

Canterbury's Status Enhanced In N.Z. Surf Titles

ALTHOUGH there has been no recognition of district supremacy since 1965 when the Norrie Trophy became the prize of the inter-district meeting, there was nevertheless no doubt that the Canterbury Surf Life-Saving Association’s status was greatly enhanced when its clubs gained the most titles (10) and placings (34) at the Dominion championships at Warrington Beach.

In the women’s canoe and surf ski events Canterbury held complete sway, but points came from all avenues other'than men’s swimming events in unexpected profusion. ,

The rivalry between South Brighton and Taylor’s Mistake in six and four-man reel competition had a significant effect on the nationals, for the two clubs did most in establishing Canterbury’s grand haul of three out of six titles and nine out of 18 platings in these events.

It was unfortunate for South Brighton that women’s points do not count in the club supremacy competition for the Allan Gardner Memorial Trophy. The ruling is to protect clubs with segregated membership. South Brighton was only 1.5 points behind the trophy winner, Waikanae, and assistance from its women, who won four out of a possible six titles, would have assured a handsome win.

South Brighton won the women’s four and six-place and senior four-man alarm titles and was second in the junior four and six-man. The women’s six-place win was its seventh in eight years. A record eight-win run was denied by the heavy seas at New Brighton last

year which prevented any of the teams from reaching the buoys. The women’s coach until this season was Mr F. Gurr whose ability is now benefitting the seniors and juniors. The new women’s coach is Miss A Downes, a member of four of the champion six-place teams and winner of the national resuscitation trophy when it was last competed for at Auckland three years ago. After its points deductions of 5.43 in a heat—a score that was not bettered—the South Brighton men disappointed in their six-man rescue and resuscitation final. The team lost 1.5 points on the swimming section and its poor drilling gave it only sixth place. The club’s phenomenal deduction of 1.40 in the senior alarm at the third Canterbury championship was not, however, a flash in the pan. An excellent swim by the club captain, P. Ross, who held his own with New Zealand’s leading beltmen, including the unchallenged champion, R. Harker, had much to do with the club gaining its first senior fourman title for 17 years. Miss R. McKenzie, who for several years has swum in the shadow of Mrs J. Clark (North Beach), at last emerged with a popular win, by o.3sec, over her rival in the belt final. Mrs Clark swam to a ‘'long buoy” and the few extra yards undoubtedly cost her the final, but on-one would wish to detract from Miss McKenzie’s first national win, for she competes under the considerable handicap of deafness.

The 50-yard margin with which she retained her title reflected Miss Clark’s superiority in surf racing. There were many fine performances by Canterbury’s women, not least of them being by Miss McKenzie’s sis-

ter, Lindsay, who drew the belt in both heat and final of the six-place event and whose swim in the final gave South Brighton more than a minute’s start over Wellington Ladies. She was also second in the surf teams’ race, in which Moana Rua (Otago), by beating South Brighton on the count-back, indicated it could challenge the Canterbury club’s longestablished supremacy. P. Davies (Waimairi) had to wait until his fourth national ski race final tb gain the title, left vacant by K. McDonald (Titahi Bay) who is in Japan with the New Zealand Universities Rugby team. Canterbury’s depth of talent in ski events was shown when the final of the ski race was contested entirely by local competitors. The former title-holder, R. Dalton (North Beach), was level with Davies on the return from the buoys, but

joined a growing band of dissatisfied skiers when, in shallow water, he tangled his foot in the paddle rope (a compulsory part of the ski, which is considered as having no more than nuisance value by most competitors) and lost his slender lead to Davies. Davies and the Dalton brothers, Rex and Don, took all the placings in the ski race and rescue finals. D. Dalton set a record that is likely to stand for many years when he also gained placings in both board events; this year’s championships provided the first instance of hollow boards being raced separately from malibou boards.

His four placings were the more remarkable for his lack of preparation for the championships. A ban on Dalton which prevented him from competing this season because of his professional status, was lifted a fortnight

before the championships when Dalton was resigned to not competing. A win in both ski events by Davies (D. Dalton beat him into second place by a few inches in the ski rescue) would have been fair reward, for as well as his individual training he practised with the Waimairi A canoe crew five times a week for a month before the championships. Waimairi retained its title In a thrilling finish with Taylor’s Mistake, but the club lost its junior canoe title to Sumner A whose win was expected after its four Canterbury championship wins this season.

The promising South Brighton junior, B. Ward, compensated for a disappointing surf race by twice beating the New Zealand representative, W. Clow, for second place In the belt race which was decided on a rerun.