Swimmers performed well in spite of injuries

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31923, 26 February 1969, Page 15

Swimmers performed well in spite of injuries

'THE illnesses or injuries suffered by the three top girls—Misses T. K. Shipston, J. A. Wright and C. J. Whiting—failed to stop the Canterbury team from performing to expectations at the New Zealand open swimming championships in Auckland last week. Miss Whiting's back injury and consequent loss of form proved a bitter disappointment f>r the young freestyle star, and for those who have followed her splendid deeds through this season. But her temporary decline was balanced by A. B. Kindred’s marked increase in speed, which enabled him to add the 220 yd freestyle title to the 440 yd and 1650 yd events he won for the third successive year, and by Miss Shipston’s emergence as a butterfly swimmer of international class. Miss Wright, the women’s captain, was a constant source of inspiration to the girls under her care. She pulled a stomach muscle in her first final, the 220 yd backstroke, but her dedication was such that she made her mark in every event on her heavy programme. She returned to Christchurch with four silver medals and three bronze to reinforce her reputation as one of the country’s best all-rounders. Canterbury was a close second to Auckland for the team trophies at the championships, winning 10 gold medals, three silver and eight bronze in individual events, as well as taking two second places in the women’s relays.

Kindred and Miss Shipston, the dominant male and female swimmers at the meeting, won all Canterbury’s gold medals between them. Kindred was magnificent in the 1650 yd event, returning a time which would have placed him seventh in last October’s Olympic final. He was a convincing winner of his other two finals, and his 220 yd time was 2sec better than his previous best. In spite of the harsh demands the programme made of her. Miss Shipston retained her three freestyle and two medley titles and added both butterfly championships to her list as well. Her brilliant swimming in this stroke was a feature of the meeting. She broke both national records and Miss S. A. Whittleston (Hawke’s Bay), the undisputed No. 1 last year, looked laboured beside her. It was small wonder that she was named as "Swimmer of the Year” for the second successive season. The only other swimmer to have won the award twice was D. F. Gerrard, but there were seven years between his two successes. Although her deeds seemed less spectacular, 13-year-old Susan Hunter was another outstanding competitor for Canterbury. After her four gold medals in the age group championships, she swam with aplomb against more mature rivals for third places in the 220 yards backstroke and 220 yards medley. In both events she recorded her fast-

est times and her performances made a profound impression on the many knowledgeable judges of swimming in Auckland. G. S. Walker swam two well-judged races for third in the 220 yards and 440 yards medley finals, but probably his best effort was in the 1650 yards freestyle, in which he returned a very good time for fourth place. J. R. Tillson was not at his best, but still reached the 440 yards medley final, and the promising Mark Lewis justified the faith placed in him by bettering his previous best effort in the 220 yards medley heats, and then swimming fifth in the final. The team’s butterfly swimmers, B. Ward and J. Johnston, did not reproduce their good times of last month, and only Johnston made a final. But Ward and his team-mate, J. Cook, performed excellently In the harbour swim, an event in which Canterbury has held a strong hand since the days of C. C. McFadden. In the breaststroke events, R. J. Wilson was a wellmerited fourth in the men’s 220 yards, while Jocelyn Hay reproduced her best times in finishing close up in both women’s finals. She was only I.2sec behind the winner, Donna Mcßae, in the 110 yards.

Betty Braithwaite, Shona Hallam and Jaynie Parkhouse all swam creditably in the freestyle events, and Miss Parkhouse's time of 11 min 6.o4sec for 880 yards was an excellent effort for a

12-year-old. Mrs J. P. Abrahamson failed in her bid to retain the three-mile title but won a silver medal as a member of the freestyle relay team. In the diving events J. P. de Malmanche found the competition too strong but Joy Meyer qualified for the final round in the women’s event, finishing seventh. The experience should stand her in good stead next season.