Kindred Omitted From Swimming Team

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31879, 6 January 1969, Page 12

Kindred Omitted From Swimming Team

Potential rather than proven ability seems to have been the yardstick by which the national selectors (Messrs R. Shakespeare and R. M. Webb) have chosen the New Zealand swimming team to compete at the New South Wales championships from January 10 to 19.

Previously the national selectors had indicated that the four representatives at the Olympic Games in Mexico would not be considered and every member of the nine-

strong team is a junior. The composition of the team seems to confirm the belief of the chairman of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association’s council (Mr A. J. Donaldson) who said on his return from a world tour that the selectors would be encouraged to choose swimmers with potential, who would be likely to blossom under the stress of concerted international competition. As far as Canterbury is concerned it is unfortunate because A. B. Kindred, in particular, and Miss J. A. Wright deserved to be selected. The pair have worked very hard this season to gain selection and improved markedly on their previous times, but Kindred is 18 and Miss Wright is at least two years older and it was probably considered that younger swimmers would derive more benefit from the trip.

However, both have been selected to accompany the Japanese team on its tour of New Zealand from January 21 to February 8.

At the final session of the Christchurch coaching school

Kindred broke the New Zealand senior 880 yards freestyle record by 21.8 sec and Miss Wright was only point eight of a second away from Miss T. k Shipston’s national 220 yards freestyle record. Canterbury can be well pleased with the inclusion of •Catherine Whiting and Susan Hunter in the team to compete in Australia. Seven of the team are girls and five of the team attended the coaching school in Hastings and the other four were at the Christchurch school.

Miss Shipston and Angela Bunt are the other Canterbury swimmers included to meet the Japanese. The team for the Australian tour is:

Girls: Jocelyn Black. Jillian Uttley (Manawatu). Catherine Whiting. Susan Hunter (Canterbury), Robyn Cameron (Taranaki), Heather Coombridge. Debbie Fisher (Waikato). Boys’ Stephen Brown. Selwyn Pohio (Hawke s Bay-Poverty Bay). Mr R. N. Smith (Christchurch) has been appointed manager. The team to tour with the Japanese is:—

Women: T. K. Shipston. J. A Wright, Catherine Whiting. Angela Bunt (Canterbury). Donna Mcßae (Bay of Plenty). Diving: Misses K. Conwav (Bav of Plenty), M. Lay (Hawke s Bay-Poverty Bay). Men: I. Curry (Bay of Plenty). A. B. Kindred (Canterbury), g. B. Smith (Auckland). Jillian Uttley and G. Campbell have been named as reserves.