FINAL DIVE DECIDES

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32541, 26 February 1971, Page 22

FINAL DIVE DECIDES

(By our ewimming reporter)

PALMERSTON NORTH. An excellent final dive by Miss M. Lay (Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay) gave her a narrow victory over Misses K. Conway and E. Ewart (both of Bay of Plenty) in the women’s three-metre springboard diving championship yesterday morning.

This was the first day of the New Zealand open swimming and diving championships, and in spite of heavy rain which fell during both the men’s and women’s events, the diving was of a high standard.

After eight of the 11 dives, when the field of 14 was narrowed by elimination to eight, less than two points separated the three leading women divers. The order was the same after the final dives. Miss Lay getting 448.89 points; Miss Conway 446.86 and Miss Ewert 437.37.

Last year, Miss Lay was second to Miss Ewert. This year, however. Miss Lay performed much better and her points total was almost an improvement of 70 on last year. It was also more than 30 points better than Miss Ewert’s winning 1970 total. Miss Conway, who made a come-back to diving this season, made a very creditable performance and forced Miss Lay throughout. Miss Ewert, although her total was an improvement of 20 points on last year, did not appear to dive as well as she could have, but, still being a junior, she has time to mature.

The men's one-metre springboard title was won by M. Gazley (Wellington), 531.54 points, who beat C. Buscke (Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay 3, 527.57, and R. Hood (Waikato), 511.47, the defending champion. Last year, Gazley was second in this event, and he is now favourite to take the three-metre title today. He won this event last year.