Tougher Policy To Swimmers

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31923, 26 February 1969, Page 19

Tougher Policy To Swimmers

(By Out Swimming Reporter) Three girl swimmers—Misses T. K. Shipston (Canterbury), G. J. Stirling (Auckland) and H. Coombridge (Waikato)—have already beaten Commonwealth Games target times, which were drawn up by the national selectors during the New’ Zealand championships in Auckland last w’eek.

Miss Shipston has met the listed times for 440 yd freestyle, 110 yd and 220 yd butterfly, Miss Stirling for 110 yd and 220 yd backstroke, and Miss Coombridge fori 110 yd freestyle.

But, unlike the conditions laid down for nomination for last year’s Olympic Games team, the attainment of an Edinburgh Games target time once will not be enough. The selectors (Messrs A. J. Donaldson, R. M. Webb and R. Shakespeare) are firmly of the opinion that the mere bettering of a time will not be in itself sufficient. Seeking Consistency “We will be looking particularly for consistency of performances, which will clearly indicate that a potential beyond the target times can be expected,” said Mr Donaldson.

The selectors can scarcely be happy at the aftermath of their Olympic Games choices. Miss P. M. Chapman (Wellington) has not appeared this season, and Miss S. A. Whittleston (Hawke’s Bay), after some desultory displays, decided to retire after only one swim at the national championships. Both these girls qualified for the Olympic Games during the helter-skelter of lastminute time trials in the Moana pool, Dunedin. In retrospect, this was not a result to gladden the hearts of either the swimming selectors or the New Zealand Olympic and British Commonwealth Games panel.

The target times are.— Men Freestyle: 110yds, 55.45ec: 440 yds, 4min 20.7 sec; 1650yds. 17 mln 23sec. Breaststroke: 110yds, imin I2.ssec; 220yds. 2min 39 sec. Backstroke: 110yds, Imin 3.4 sec; 220yds. 2min 20.9 sec. Butterfly: 110yds, Imin o.4sec; 220 yds. 2min 12.9 sec. Medley: 440 | yds, smin 2.2 sec. Freestyle relays: 4 x 110yds, 3min 39.65ec: 4 x 220yds, Bmin 19.6 sec. Medley relay: 4 x 110yds, 4min 9.9 sec. Women

Freestyle: 110yds, Imin 3.4sec;l 440yds, 4min 45.8 sec. Breaststroke: 110yds, Imin 20scc; 220 yds, 2m in 51.1 sec. Backstroke: 110yds, Imin 10.5 sec; 220yds, 2j min 33sec. Butterfly: 110yds. 1 min 9sec; 220yds, 2min 34sec. Medley: 440 yards. smin 27.25ec.! Freestyle relay: 4 x 110yds, 4 min 12.6 sec. Medley relay: 4 x 110yds, 4min. 43.95ec.