N.Z. swimmers in Wharenui ‘stable’

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32053, 30 July 1969, Page 15

N.Z. swimmers in Wharenui ‘stable’

MR V. T. PARKHOUSE’S top swimming squad at the Wharenui Coronation pool has a notable acquisition—G. S. Walker, the freestyle and medley exponent who represented New Zealand- on the tour of Canada in May. Mr P. A. Adams, the amateur coach who guided Walker’s progress in previous seasons, retired from coaching at the end of last summer, and his outstanding protege has joined the Wharenui club to train under the direction of Mr Parkhouse.

The presence of the triple New Zealand freestyle champion. A. B. Kindred, in the squad will be of immense benefit to Walker as he strives to improve his standing in his chosen events. Conversely, Kindred will be kept pp to his work with Walker his constant shadow. Kindred admits that no training session is easy now that the rapidly improving Walker is in the next lane. Although the national champion has a clear advantage in the middle distances, Walker probably has greater basic speed and since the tour of Canada he has' made a marked advance in his times from 100 to 400 metres.

In a winter carnival at the Coronation pool earlier this month, Ws’ker recorded his best 200 metres time of 26min 6.4 sec in beating Kindred (2min B.2sec). On the same evening Walker reduced his 100 metres time to 58sec. Last week he produced his best 400 metres freestyle time, 4min 29.75ec, in finishing behind Kindred, whose 4min 26.1 sec was only I.4sec outside his national short course record.

The friendly rivalry between these two gifted swimmers will be of immense benefit to both next summer. National records

will be in danger every time they meet in open competition, and the long-term result of this aquatic cut-and-thrust might be that both swimmers do well enough to gain Commonwealth Games nomination.