REWARD AT LAST

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33444, 28 January 1974, Page 7

REWARD AT LAST

Reward for four years of determined effort has finally come to Susan Hunter, in the -form of a bronze medal in the women’s 200 metres individual medley final. As a 14-year-old, in the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, Miss Hunter finished fifth in the same event, but she made amends on Saturday, improving her heat time by o.9sec. In the heats on Friday she took three seconds off her New Zealand record which had defied any great improvement for 18 months, I

Lesley Cliff (Canada), was an easy winner finishing a length in front of her 14- ( year-old team-mate, Becky j Smith. Miss Hunter had trailed for most of the race, even ( in the backstroke, where she ! was expected to make up ground and perhaps take the lead. Miss Cliff lead through the butterfly, but surrendered the lead to Wendy Cook (Canada) and Debbie Cain (Australia) in the backstroke. In the breaststroke Miss Cliff regained her lead and Miss Smith gathered in the others to turn for the freestyle length in second place. At the start of the freestyle Miss Hunter was

■fourth, but overhauled Miss !Cook to finish two lengths behind Miss Cliff. Susan Richardson (England) who broke the Games record in the heats could not repeat her form and finished a tired sixth. Miss Cliff, who is ranked top in the Commonwealth for the 400 metres individual medley, to be held later in the week, said she preferred the longer event, but was quick to point out that it was also Miss Hunter’s best ■ event. The final of this event is (on Friday afternoon. Miss Cliff’s 2min 24.135ec on Saturday set a new Games record, improving the time done by Miss Richardson by 2.735ec.