Age-group swimming supremacy at stake

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33774, 21 February 1975, Page 24

Age-group swimming supremacy at stake

(By

KEVIN TUTTY)

It is three years since Canterbury ruled as New Zealand’s top age - group swimming province. After the Hansells national championships in New Plymouth today, tomorrow and Sunday, it should have regained that position. Canterbury has only 24 best qualifiers in the seedings against Auckland’s 32, but since times were submitted two weeks ago, its representatives excelled themselves in the provincial championships. Sharp reverse

Times in several events improved to the stage where Canterbury now, officially, has 35 fastest qualifiers and Auckland has slumped to 25.

For many years Auck-| landers have returned the best qualifying times, but in the finals they have disappointed. Last year was an exception. After leading the list of fastest swimmers, Auckland hung on to share the War Memorial Shield—awarded to the province winning the most titles—with Otago. This year there are two new age-group, increasing the number of swimming events from 50 to 90. Ten diving titles will also be decided. Talented entry Nine New Zealand representatives —Monique Rodahl I (Auckland); Jane Lowe (Bay of Plenty); Randall Gempton (Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay); Rebbecca Perrott (Wellington); Lynne Rowe (Canterbury); Roman Novak, Scott Wilson, Stepen Griffin, Allison’ Calder (all Otago)— give the championships more strength than those of previous years. By qualifying top in eight ■ events, and second and. third in two others, Miss Rowe is I the obvious candidate to win the Life Members Trophy for [the swimmer gaining the most [points. ! The amounts by which she [ heads the second fastest jswimmer is large — from >l.6sec in the 100 m freestyle to 23sec in the 400 m individual medley.

Easily best

No other Canterbury swimmer approaches Miss Rowe’s mammoth achievement. Three —Ronald Carlson, Kathy i Baker and Wendv Wakefield] —are top qualifiers in two] : races, and eight others are ;seeded first in an event each. Trudi Garland, a frequent breaker of Canterbury re- : cords this season, and a memI ber of the New Zealand [Games squad, surprisingly [does not feature among the i best qualifiers. i She has the brilliant young

i Auckland girl, Bronwyn Smith, in her age-group, and also Miss Perrott.

Very little separates the three in the 100 m butterfly and backstroke, and the 200 m individual medley, and their competitive spirit will ensure three absorbing races.

Canterbury has its greatest number of divers at a championship. Of the five in the team, two—Laurence Brinfield and Colleen Timings—are in their first season.