Atkinson a loss to Canty swimming

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32524, 6 February 1971, Page 9

Atkinson a loss to Canty swimming

fJANTERBURY’S closest rival on the swimming scene, Auckland, will benefit considerably from the recent transfer of the 13-year-old swimmer, A. Atkinson. Last month, Atkinson, formerly of the Jellie Park Club, moved north with his parents, leaving a considerable gap in the boys’ under 14 age-group in the Canterbury centre. Atkinson had already proved his worth by gaining

a first and two second placings in the national teleprinter finals in December, and for good measure he had broken five Canterbury under-14 records during the first part of the season. “I am very sorry to have lost him,” said Atkinson’s former coach, Mr D. J. Inkster. “Tony had his own incentives and didn’t need any pushing. He always seemed to have something up his sleeve.” Atkinson began competitive swimming with the Spreydon club in the under--10 grade and is now in his fifth season. With Spreydon, Atkinson made excellent progress, first under the expert eye of Mr J. Breward and then Mr P. Adams.. Two seasons ago, Atkinson joined the Jellie Park club and Mr Inkster. Before he left for Auckland he was training five days a week and covering in excess of 30 miles. From the beginning of, this season he had been increasing his mileage

and completing it at a faster rate. In Auckland Atkinson has joined the Mt Eden club and the squad of Mr M. Doidge, one of the bestknown coaches in the country. Mr Inkster, who received his early coaching knowledge from Mr Doidge, said he did not anticipate any problems with Atkinson maintaining his 30 miles a week in training. He said Mr Doidge’s top swimmers were covering 30 miles a week in training,— about the same as his own squad. Mr Doidge was more stroke conscious than most coaches, said Mr Inkster, and he would be able to straighten out any minor problems Atkinson had with this aspect of his training. Atkinson’s happy disposition is reflected in his enthusiasm for training. He said he enjoyed training, especially in Christchurch where he was in the company of several top swimmers, including Miss C. Whiting, E. Box and J. Johnson. , “I like the atmosphere,” he said.

His main aim at present is to continue reducing his times and, at the same time, improve his stroke technique, particularly in butterfly and breaststroke. Later Atkinson hopes to concentrate on the medley, but Mr Inkster said a good deal of work still had to be done on stroking. Although he would like to represent New Zealand at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch in 1974, Atkinson expressed some doubts as to whether he would still be swimming seriously. He said by then he would be at University and would have to work harder, making it more difficult to fit in training. At present, however, he has few problems with his studies. He receives good marks although he admitted that, at times after training, he had to force himself to work. Already Atkinson has made his mark on the Auckland swimming scer^e— at

the Auckland swimming championships last week. He won a boy’s under-13 title and the under-15 440 yards freestyle title in record time. He took a second and a third in two other under-13 events.