Swimming supremacy for Canterbury?

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31914, 15 February 1969, Page 11

Swimming supremacy for Canterbury?

pOR the first time in 20 years Canterbury has a good chance of wresting inter-provincial swimming supremacy from Auckland in the national championship meetings which start at Masterton today and end at Auckland next Saturday. The Freyberg Shield, for most points at both meetings, and the Yaldhurst Shield, for most senior title wins, have been in Auckland’s keeping for so long that interest in inter-provin-cial competition has waned. But Canterbury’s fine array of swimmers this season, coupled with a slight weakening of Auckland’s over-all standard, could restore the old rivalry to the meeting. Canterbury will hold the whip hand in the women's events, with Miss T. K. Shipston in top form to defend her three freestyle and tw’o medley titles. Miss C. J. Whiting has bright prospects of winning the sprint titles in freestyle and butterfly and Miss J. A. Wright is a likely medal winner in five events. As was the case last year, Miss Wright is the best prospect for upsetting reputations. The close contests among the three Christchurch girls during the Japanese team’s tour will have served to put them on their mettle for the championships in Auckland. As well as their expected dominance of individual events, they will make Can-

terbury a strong favourite to win both relay finals. A. B. Kindred, who also swam against the Japanese with distinction, should retain his men's 440 yd and 1650 yd freestyle titles comfortably, in spite of the improved form of M. J. Borrie (Otago), his closest rival last season. Among the other Canterbury swimmers, the most likely candidate for elevation to New Zealand gold medal class is G. S. Walker. The men’s medley titles have been left wide open by the retirement of A. H. Seagar (Auckland) and although I. M. Johnstone (Southland) and B. Bond (Taranaki) have good claims, Walker might be too strong for them over 440 yd. In the long distance championships at Mission Bay, Canterbury will be well represented by Mrs J. P. Abrahamson, who should retain the women’s title, and by B. Ward and J. Cook, two strong contenders for men’s honours. All three are excellent pool swimmers who have carried their form into open water events. The close rivalry between Jocelyn Hay and Angela Bunt has prepared both juniors for good performances in the women’s breaststroke finals. Shona Hallam, Betty Braithwaite and Jaynie Parkhouse, with Misses Shipston, Wright and Whiting, will give Canter-

bury an extraordinarily powerful representation in freestyle, while Susan Hunter will be an accomplished second string to Miss Shipston in medley. Similarly, in men’s medley Walker will be well backed up by J. R. Tillson and Mark Lewis. R. J. Wilson will be a dedicated breaststroke representative, while Ward and J. Johnston will give the centre its best representation in butterfly at a national meeting. The selectors’ choice of Miss J. Meyer for the springboard diving contest is the first step towards national prominence for the St Albans club girl. Diving in Canterbury is in great need of a nationally-ranked competitor to set an example, and Miss Meyer has the potential to step into the vacancy.