N.Z. capitalising on pool successes

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33450, 4 February 1974, Page 30

N.Z. capitalising on pool successes

New Zealand is planning already to maintain its sudden rise to prominence in Commonwealth and world swimming—with the first Pacific Basin International Swimming Meeting planned here next summer.

This will he the counterpart of the Pacific Conference Games, a target for athletes between Commonwealth ]Games and Olympics.

New Zealand, as first host country, will be the main beneficiary of the meeting. Soccer fans will know that any country which does unexpectedly well in the World Cup has a sudden increase in interest and performance in the sport. However, this tends to fade unless there is a continuing series of major competitions. Thus, New Zealand swimming might simply be rising to meet the national demands coming from the success at the Games, and must seek more major competition to keep up the trend of success. Parkhouse stamp A significant factor in the New Zealand upsurge is the work of Mr “Pic” Parkhouse, father and coach of

the multi-medallist, Jaynie Parkhouse.

His training emphasises quality rather than quantity —Australian coaches are still deeply involved in doing mileage and spending hours and hours of grinding work iin the pool. However, do not get the impression from what I say here that New Zealand is about to take over from Australia as the Antipodean leader in swimming; Australians have always been able to adapt and modify their training methods and ideas to match the world leaders. Aust, will follow But, with the current improvement, and the acceptance of a more youthful administration. New Zealand is ahead of Australia in its thinking. For example, the manager of the swimming team during these Games was Mr D. Gerard, who won a gold medal only 12 years ago in Perth in the 100 metres butterfly, and his thinking is in line with his swimmers, as well as using the most modern ideas for training and competition. Australia is bound to follow his lead, and the over-all competition will help both countries to keep pace with the rest of the world. Jaynie Parkhouse impressed me most of all the local New Zealand swimmers in these Games.

She is my age, 17 —which [is quite old in swimming— I but she has been able to improve on her past performances and make her name in these Games. So, with enough incentive anyone can ]emulate the great Dawn [Fraser, or Mike Wenden, and [keep swimming, and improving, with age. By the Montreal Olympic Games in 1976, Jaynie could well be a gold medal hope for New Zealand. Provided

she keeps her enthusiasm she will certainly improve with maturity, plus getting the confidence and security that experience and relative age brings. Canadian star- ! Another possible star of the 1976 Olympics is the 1 Canadian, Wendy Cook. Aged 17, and improving every year I she is now the world record ■holder for the 100 metres backstroke and second fastest in the 200 metres backstroke. Even more impressive, because of her age, is another Canadian, Wendy Quirk, aged 14. She was second i;i the 400 metres freestyle and second in the 200 metres freestyle earlier last week. The" successes of New Zealand at home, plus that of the Canadians as they work towards their own big show at Montreal, must surely have been an eye-opener for the Australians. I only hope our people have taken careful notes, learnt their lessons, and go back to Australia prepared to do the necessary homework.