Swimmers permitted final trial in May

Press, 3 October 1979, Page 6

Swimmers permitted final trial in May

The New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association’s perseverance in seeking a later date l for nominations for the Moscow Olympics next year has paid : off. For the best part of a \ear! the association had sought a change in the closing date for nominations from mid-April to' mid-May. . The swimming association contended that the mid-April closing date was far too early — three months before the Games are due to start. Before the annual meeting of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association late last year, the, N.Z.A.S.A canvassed the sup-j port of other sports for a later closing date, but at the meeting: no support was forthcoming. But the N.Z.A.S.A. was not put 1 off and a couple of months ago; it made submissions to the Olympic association seeking to hold a final trial in mid-May for its swimmers. The council of the N.Z.A.S.A. j was told last, evening that it i would be permitted its final | trial in May. Nominations will still have to be made to the

r [Olympic association on April •110 but what the swimming • | association will probably do is ' nominate a large proportion on Hits international squad of about 130 — those with any real chance *|of reaching the qualifying times i• at the final trial. ■' The final trial will give swimrmers a second chance to qualify. The first will be at the New - Zealand championships in DunI edin in March. “Most swimmers will probably ; try and qualify at the nationals, but if they don’t they r will be able to fall back on the ' May trial,’’ said the chairman , of the X.Z.A.S.A. -Mr M B. .. Duckmantom. J The swimming association and -Olympic association selectors j! will meet this week-end to dis[Cuss the later closing date, but , iMr Duckmanton believes that the announcement of the full J'New Zealand team will be de!i laved until mid-May. / Incentive times, which will secure an automatic nomination for Moscow, and target [times which will be less rigid i and could lead to a nomination I for the Moscow team, will be re- ' leased by the swimming selectors some time next week.