N.Z. no more the ugly duckling

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33444, 28 January 1974, Page 1

N.Z. no more the ugly duckling

'By

J. K. BROOKS)

“Mission Possible” was the name given by the New Zealand swimming team to its assignment at Queen Elizabeth 11 Park pool during the Commonwealth Games, and after the great victories by Jaynic Parkhouse and Mark Treffers on Saturday there can be no doubt that it pay s to be positive.

It was, unquestionably, the greatest day in New Zealand swimming. Miss Park house beat the world record-holder, Jenny Turrell (Australia) in the women’s 800 metres freestyle: Treffers triumphed in the men’s 400 metres medley: and Susan Hunter gained a bronze medal in the women’s 200 metres medley.

No longer can New Zea-; land be regarded as the ugly; [duckling of the pool. | The full-throated roar of; acclamation from a crowd of 1 about 5000 which greeted Treffers and Miss Parkhouse at the end of the races threatened to lift the purple ceiling at the pool. The All Blacks, in these days at any rate, could not evoke such a tumultuous reception—even in New Zealand.

Two before In nine Commonwealth Games between 1930 and 1970, New Zealand had won only two individual gold medals for swimming. Now, in one day, the tally had been doubled. No wonder the crowd lost its head. The two champions’ fellow swimmers saluted them with a victory chant, led by the section manager, David Gerrard, winner of the gold ‘medal for 220 yd butterfly at the 1966 Games in Kingston. In the stands, Mrs Treffers and Mrs Parkhouse dabbed moist eyes with handkerchiefs; Mr Ted Treffers, Mr “Pic” Parkhouse and the chief New Zealand coach, Mr Duncan Laing, puffed i their chests out with pride. It was a blissful moment for Mr Jack Donaldson, the former chairman of the New Zealand Swimming Association’s council, when he was asked to present the gold medal to Miss Parkhouse. For it was his energy and foresight in promoting the (country’s swimming at inter- ! national level during the 1960 s which really laid the foundation for this day of triumph.

Mature slip A slip of a girl of 17. Miss Parkhouse was nevertheless a mature swimmer compared with the three' Australian water babies she beat. This was evident in (her tactical appreciation of the race. Delighted by her effort., |she sat with her arm around! I the impish Miss Turrell to! I watch a television film of the trace. The showing was; punctuated by girlish gig-' gles. “I knew I had a chance after reducing my time so I greatly in the heats,” Miss! IParkhouse said. "It was a matter of staying with them all the way. I felt good near! the end, because 1 had the' best 100 metres time. ; “The cheering of the! (crowd helped a lot.’’ Her eyes twinkled. “And, of course, my coach lis pretty good, too." Mr Parkhouse, profes-; I sional at the Wharenui club.| (suddenly found himself ini the limelight. As well as! guiding the progress of his i (daughter from the time she I was seven in her birthplace. , (the Waikato township of' (Cambridge, he is also the (coach of Treffers and Miss (Hunter. The Wharenui club’s 'Coronation Pool in Riccarton will probably become an iaquatic shrine. j “It has not been easy to I

i treat Jaynie as just another, (swimmer in the squad.” Mr' (Parkhouse admitted. “It can 'lead to difficulties, but I 'have always tried to divorce, her roles as daughter and' swimmer.” A carefree Jaynie, fondling her gold medal, was blissfully unaware of her future plans. “I was a student at Villa! Maria College until last; year, but I have not decided; what to do now. “Sitting University En- i trance last year did not: affect my preparation fori swimming—I don’t worry! about exams. The result could be sitting at home now, but I am not con-: jcerned." Treffers, 20 years of age 'last month, was more re-1 jstrained. He speaks slowly; i but precisely, and his rim-i I less glasses give him a>

.scholarly appearance — i which is. appropriate, for he plans to become a solicitor • Treffers hails from the !south, but his walk suggests |a man of the west. His gait ■ is faintly nautical, which is ito be expected, but with his (broad shoulders held high and his hands hanging looseily by his boney hips, he (conjures up memories of (Gary Cooper and "High Noon.” And this was, indeed, I the high noon of Trefferss career. Of Dutch extraction, he (was born in Invercargill and l lived there most of his life, being trained for years by jhis father. He attended I Southland Boys’ High i School, a notable sporting mursery, before entering i Canterbury University. I “We still think of you as !a Southlander,” an In- ! vercargill journalist ventured |on Saturday. "Definitely.” Treffers replied. But on this day, Treffers was neither a Cantabrian nor a Southlander, and Miss Parkhouse had no particular allegience to Canterbury or Waikato. Both belonged to New Zealand.-