Two golds for Gary Hurring

Press, 16 March 1979, Page 24

Two golds for Gary Hurring

By KEVIN TUTTY Gary Hurring, with two gold medals, was the outstanding swimmer on the first evening of finals of the New Zealand swimming championships at Queen Elizabeth II Park pool last evening. Hurring coasted to wins in the 100 m backstroke and the 200 m individual medley and left behind him the enigma of disqualification brought about by his faulty turns. In the backstroke he went quickly to the lead and he was a length and a half ahead at the 50m turn, with such an advantage he was able to glide into his turn, making sure there was no cause for disqualification. His time of 59.35ec was a second outside his national record but not as fast as Hurring had hoped for. His slow precise turn probably cost him half a second. In the medley, Hurring kept with the field in the butterfly leg and on the backstroke leg he drew away to a healthy lead.

Again he slipped into his backstroke turn, making sure he touched the wall before turning on his back. Mark Biancotti (Queensland) who trailed Hurring throughout the race could make no impression on the breaststroke and freestyle legs. He was challenged by Scott Wilson (Otago) for second place. Over the last 100 m Wilson gained 3m, but was still half a length behind at the finish. Linda Hanel (Victoria) made amends for losing to the New Zealand pair, Rebecca Perrott (Wellington) and Penny McCarthy (Auckland) at the Australian championships in Perth two weeks ago when she won the women’s 100 m butterfly, edging out Miss McCarthy by a foot. It was a thrilling race. After 15m Miss Perrott was in front by a metre, her strength carrying her to an early advantage. But the fast start might have been her undoing. At the 50m turn, the trio, and Susie Woodhouse (Victoria) turned wi-

thin a split second of each other, but Misses Hanel and Perrott came out of it with a slight advantage. Miss McCarthy quickly drew up to Miss Hanel and Miss Perrott dropped back slightly. Over the last 30m. it was a sprint between Misses Hanel and McCarthy, the Australian having slightly more strength. Paul Rowe (Canterbury) sprang a rriild surprise in the first final. In the last 50m, he mounted a sprint that gathered in Barry Salisbury (Wellington) — who had led from the start — with 25m left. Rowe got his shoulders in front of Salisbury and held the advantage. Murray Parker (Northland) and Richard Wells (Waikato) made late sprints, but could not head the other two. After the morning heats, the race promised to be the closest of the evening. Only 1.67 s separated the eight qualifiers, but the competition was not as hot Rs expected in the final. The visiting Australians won their second gold medal

in the 200 m backstroke, but only after Michelle Pearson (Queensland) and Janette Clarke (Victoria) had been challenged all the way by the diminutive Canterbury girl, Melanie Jones. It was only Miss Jones’s smaller frame that probably prevented her from creeping ahead of the other two over the final 20m. An indication of the closeness was just O. separated the three place-getters. Abbreviations used in the results are: Auckland (A.), Bay of Plenty (8.P.1, Canterbury (C.), Hawke’s Bay-Poverty Bay (H.B.P. Manawatu iM.), NelsonMarlborough (N.M.), Northland (N.I. Otago (O.). Southland (S.), Waikato (Wk.), Wairarapa tWp.l, Wanganui (Wg.), Wellington (W.). Queensland (Q.). Victoria (V.>. MEN 200 m freestyle Championship—P. Row e (C.l, 1:53.7, 1; B. Salisbury (W.), 1:59.0, 2; M. Parker (N;), 2:0.1, 3. Consolation.—K. Brown (O.), 2:2.0. 1; M. Davidson iA.), 2:2.6, 2; M. Turner (Q.), 2:3.2, 3; R. Laing (O ), 2:4.4, 4. 100 m backstroke Championship.—M. Kalaugher (A.). 1:9.8, 1; S. Anstee (V.), 1:10.7, 2; L. Leech (Q.l, 1:11.8, 3 B. Austin 'Wk.),"1:12.0, 4; G. Forbes (C.l, 1:12.4, 5.

Consolation.—P. Shrivers (V.l, 1:13.0, 1; G. Hern (C.), 1:15.6, 2: D. Connor (O.), 1:15.8, 3; M. Pearce <C.), 1:16.0, I. 100 m backstroke Championship. — G. Hurring (A.i, 59.3, 1; B. Coulter (8.P.). 1:1.6, 2; G. Hart (V.l, 1:2.2, 3; G. Gillard (C.), 1:2.6, 4. Consolation. —D. Orbell (V.). 1:5.1, 1; M. McNamara (W.l, 1:5.8, 2; K. Taumauna (C.i, 1:6.3, 3 B Baldwin (N.M.I. 1:7.3. 4. 200 m individual medley Championship. — G. Hurring (A.). 2:15.7, 1: M. Biancolti (Q.) 2:17.1, 2; S. Wilson 10.1, 2:18.6, 3 Consolation.—D. Orbell (Q.) 2:22.1, 1; P. Tozer (Wk.), 2:22.7. 2; D, Greenwood (W.), 2:23.7. WOMEN 100 m butterfly Championship.—L. Hanel (V.). 1:2.7, 1: P. McCarthy (A.), 1:3.1. 2; R. Perrott (W.), 1:3.6. 3; S Woodhouse (V:), 1:4.6, 4; M Tohill IO.), 1:6.3. 5. Consolation.—S Falconer (Q.). 1:7.4. 1; S. Kirkup (A.), 1:10.5, 2M. J. Ledgerwood <O.i, 1:10.8, 3: C. Smillie (Wk.), 1:11.1, 4. 200 m backstroke Championship. — M. Pearson (Q.l, 2:20.3. 1: J. Clarke (V.) 2:20.4, 2; M. Jones (C.i, 2:20.8, 3 M. Rodahl (A.), 2:23.6, 4; A Hawcridge (A.), 2:26.9, 5. 400 m freestyle Championship.—K. van det Graaf (Q.), 4:19.0, 1; T. Housman (Q.t 4:23.1, 2; P. McCarthy <A.) 4:33.1, 3: T. Grayburn (A.), 4:36J 4; M. Hesketh (W.), 4:38.2, 5.