Life-saving sponsored

Press, 18 December 1976, Page 6

Life-saving sponsored

(By

RAY CAIRNS)

For the first time in their long histories, a Canterbury surf life-saving carnival will be sponsored. Tomorrow’s carnival at New Brighton, the second of the season and the first full-day affair, is the first, of the Jim Beam carnivals and the day’s “champion” clubs will be suitably rewarded by the sponsors. It is more than a first for sponsorship, though. The carnival also heralds the beginning of a series of events to find the Canterbury representatives in the national iron man championships in both senior and junior grades. Once, and for a long time, these two individuals were selected on the basis of the Canterbury championship result. Now they will be decided over a series, which; fc

means the best all-rounders are more likely to come through, those who can best handle vaiying surf sizes. The omens are for a big surf, and this should suit David Conder (Taylor’s Mistake), especially after the way he has swum this season. But Gordon Dinnison [(Sumner) will be a major threat in his first appearance of the season, and so wlil Darryl Neate (Taylor’s), Geoff Walker and Steve Johnston (Waimairi).

I It is almost Taylor’s Mistake against Derek Ferigo (New Brighton) in the junior event, Simon Davies, Peter Johnson and Ken Jones presenting a strong united front to the skilled ski riding and swimming ability of Ferigo. The swimming events will also be distinguished bv the first appearances of John Symon, Gary Campbell, Mark

Harding (all New Bright o’ Mark Trembath John Most. (South Brighton) and Dinni son.

Otherwise most interest will focus on the first of the six-man and four-man rescue and resuscitation events in all three grades. New Brighton should do best in the women’s; South Brighton’s greatest opposition in senior events should come from Taylor’s Mistake; while Taylor’s, South Brighton and the rapidly improving North Beach have a three-wav tussle in the junior R and R events.

There are more boat races, and also the finals of the beach sprints and beach relays. The greatest interest m the latter will lie in the performance of Spencer Park in the senior grade, now Jt has Francis Lawrence available.