N.Z. swimming gains recognition

Press, 17 January 1979, Page 6

N.Z. swimming gains recognition

The strength of New Zealand swimming has apparently gained recognition in Australia. The monthly meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association last evening received confirmation that Queensland and Victoria will send teams to the New Zealand championships in March. Queensland confirmed that it would send a team of up to 15 and Victoria a team of up to 12. In recent years teams from New South Wales and individual clubs have attended the championships at the invitation of the N.Z.A.S.A, but never have two states applied to send teams to the New Zealand: titles. For the first World Cup; swimming contest in Tokyo| from September 1 to 3, New: Zealand will be grouped with' Australia to form an Austra- 1 lasian team. The World Cup was born at the world championships in West Berlin last August. It will cover a full range of men’s and women’s events but each country, or combination of countries, will be allowed only one entry. All expenses, including air fares to the competition will be met by the organisers. Several members of the council were not happy with the selection of teams for the carnival. The United States, Russia. Japan and Sweden are entered as individual countries, but apparently a European team I will comprise swimmers 'from East and West Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, Great Britain and other European countries.

The chairman of the ■ N.Z.A.S.A. (Mr M. R. Duck- > manton) said that the comi petition would only give the i strong nations a chance to - improve at the expense of 1 the smaller countries. i However, other members > felt that New Zealand could - not refuse the chance to expose its swimmers to topI class racing, especially at no , cost to the N.Z.A.S.A. f Mr Clive Power of Christ- ; church will replace Mr Don j Inkster as the New Zealand . Swimming Coaches’ Associa- . tion representative on the , council. Mr Inkster recently . shifted to Australia. I i