Canty should dominate swimming titles today

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32210, 31 January 1970, Page 9

Canty should dominate swimming titles today

(CANTERBURY’S dominance of the South Island swimming championships should continue at the Centennial Pool today. By spreading the long list of talented swimmers evenly over the maximum number of events, Canterbury’s selectors should have ensured that half the titles are won by the province. Where there is not a title won, Canterbury should be able to take second place. Five provinces will be competing, but many of the events show only entries from three centres. Canterbury and Otago are entered in every event and Southland has entered in all but six events. Last year, Canterbury retained the W. J. Cowles

Memorial Cup by 56 points from Otago. Southland was third. This year there are several promising age group swimmers for Southland and Otago and M. F. Treffers (Southland), who has pressed A. B. Kindred in the freestyle events recently, will have no opposition in the junior section. In the senior events, G. S. Walker has been entered for the 100 metres freestyle and 200 metres medley. He has been troubled with an ear infection since the beginning of the year and he will face a stiff task against P. Laing (Otago) in the freestyle. Kindred and M. J. Borrie will clash in the 200 metres freestyle and this should result in a fast time. Kindred has concentrated on

longer distances this season and has not performed so well over 200 metres and less. Borrie holds the meeting record at 2min 7.3 sec, but both can beat that time. Kindred will probably find less difficulty in winning his other event, the 200 metres backstroke. Canterbury should reign supreme in the under 14 section. In the age group championship, Canterbury won every event in the South Island competition and Susan Hunter and Jaynie Parkhouse almost made a clean sweep of the national titles. Catherine Whiting will have little difficulty winning her events in the junior section although Treffers will dominate the boys’ section. One thing is certain this year. The championships will not take second place to another carnival. Last year, the meeting was wrapped around the international meeting between New Zealand and Japan and an international athletic meeting was held the same day. Today, the swimming will be excellent and the competition for spectators less fierce.