Little Point In Girls’ Freestyle

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31865, 18 December 1968, Page 21

Little Point In Girls’ Freestyle

(By Our Swimming Reporter) An unfortunate choice of stroke seems likely to make pointless the Christchurch races of the Rothmans premier events swimming series on Saturday. The Centennial Pool will be the scene of girls’ freestyle races over 110 yd and 440 yd, but it is difficult to see how the outcome will assist the national selectors in their mission to find new blood for the New South Wales trip next month. Three North Island juniors —Heather Coombridge (Waikato), Rosalind Amies (Bay of Plenty) and Margaret McKee (Hawke’s Bay)—are being brought to Christchurch to race against the Canterbury trio. Misses T. K. Shipston. C. J. Whiting and J. A. Wright and the Otago girl, Miss D. C. Myers. But Miss Whiting is not available for the trip to Sydney. and the selectors have made it clear that experienced representatives such as Miss Shipston will not be chosen. Miss Myers, for her part, is concentrating on butterfly this season, while the North Island girls did little to improve their chances at the intereentre meeting at Hastings last Saturday.

Miss Coombridge, a 15-year-old Hamilton girl, was the best of this group with wins in the 110 yd and 220 yd events but she will have to improve her career best time of Imin 6.9 sec for the shorter distance if she is to be considered for the New Zealand team. This, by a process of elimination, leaves only the consistent Miss Wright as a distinct tour possibility. There is no doubt that on the strength of her New Zealand 110 yd freestyle title last season, and the admirable standard she achieved in backstroke, freestyle, butterfly and medley, her selection would be justified. The selectors, however, did not need to hold premier

events in women’s freestyle to reassure themselves on this point. A better choice would have been men’s medley, which, with the retirement of A. H. Seagar, the champion for eight years, is in urgent need of new talent. Men’s freestyle was an obvous choice for the premier events at Wellington, as there are many competitors in the stroke vying for places in the New Zealand team. But this is not the case in women’s freestyle, and the national selector who will be coming to Christchurch, Mr R. Shakespeare, is unlikely to learn anything he does not already know. The stage, however, is set and the two races will take place as scheduled. It is difficult to see any other result than the Canterbury girls finishing in the first three places over both distances.