Versatile sportsman

Press, 27 August 1977, Page 12

Versatile sportsman

A member of a wellknown sporting family, David Clarke, achieved an unusual distinction with his being named this week in the Canterbury under--17 rugby team. Clarke’s father, Ron, and the latter’s three brothers have all played for Canterbury teams at rugby league; Gary was a Kiwi as well. But until now, David Clarke’s notable sporting achievements have been in the water. For some years a Canterbury swimming representative and recordholder, and currently the provincial 100 m freestyle champion, Clarke competed in three finals at the national age-group championships.

Within a week or two, he was also a Canterbury representative in the nat-

ional surf lifesaving championships, winning the junior inter-districts surf race and coming third in the inter-club title. He was also chosen for Canterbury under-19 and senior B water polo teams — earlier, he had been a member of various agegroup teams — but was unavailable because of his other heavy travelling commitments. Now, the notable record of representation has been completed and Clarke has followed an older (John) and younger (Lewis) brother into a Canterbury rugby team. He has been selected as a centre, and it is unusual that three of the four Clarke boys have worn Canterbury colours in the 15-a-side game, where their father and uncles achieved distinction in the 13-a-side code.