World’s top synchronised swimmers at Q.E. II pool

Press, 31 October 1979, Page 27

World’s top synchronised swimmers at Q.E. II pool

Canterbury- people have the opportunity to see the world’s best synchronised swimmers in action at the Fourth Pan Pacific championships at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Friday and Saturday.

A team of New Zealand girls, ail of them new to

international competition, will compete against teams from Australia, Canada. Japan and the United States. Included in the teams from the northern hemisphere are the world champions in solo, duet and team competition. For many years the Americans, Japanese and Canadians have dominated the sport, and the results of the first World Cup competition in Tokyo in late August showed that that situation has not changed. In ali three events these countries were well ahead of their rivals.

One of the four aquatic sports governed by F.I.N.A. (the international swimming body), synchronised swimming has been part of the world championships since their inception in 1973. Enthusiasts of the sport would like to see it included in the Olympic Games but there is no chance of that before 1988.

Any country bordering the Pacific is eligible for this week’s event, but the cost of travel to New Zea-

land has obviously deterred entries from Mexico, who originally made a provisional entry,” and Colombia. Both countries have entered previous competitions. Helen Vanderburg, a 20-

year-old student from Calgary in Canada, is one of the top attractions at the championships. Last year at the third world aquatic

championships in West Berlin. Miss Vanderburg won the solo title and at the World Cup in Tokyo, continued her dominance of world events, winning the solo title.

Her chief opposition is a 22-year-old Californian, Linda Shelley. With 14 years of synchronised swimming behind her, Miss Shelley is one of the most experienced entries at the championships. This is her first major competition as a soloist. She was a member of the American team that won the world champic-.-.ship team title last year, and the team title” at the World Cup in Japan.

She has a heavy schedule for the week. Besides the solo, she will combine with Michele Barone in the duet and will be ; .rt of the eight member American team. With Miss Barone, Miss

Shelley was second to Miss Vanderburg and Kelly Kryczka, the Canadian pair, in the World Cup. In Christchurch the Canadians are introducing a new pair, the Carrier twins, Lyne and Lyna. from the Y.W.C.A. Club in Quebec. The pair are making only their second appearance as a duet in international competition, but were members of the; Canadian team that finished third in both the world championships and World Cup. In the American pair they will strike strong opposition, and the Japanese duo of Yasuko Unezaki and Kinuyo Okada are also very experienced. They were third in the World Cup event.

Karen Gunby, the New Zealand soloist, as with the rest of the New Zealand contingent, will make her international debut

this week-end. It is very rich company in which to

receive an invitation, but she and the other New Zealanders will learn much from competing against their opposition. The New Zealanders have been preparing for the competition for several months under the guidance of Sally-Ann Jenkins and Anne Breekveldt. New Zealand’s entries in the last Pan Pacific competition. and the world championships last year. They have been assisted by Mrs Billie McKellar, better known as Lilly Coppiestone. a former New Zealand swimming champion.

Compared to overseas I countries. New Zealand j has a very small number I of swimmers to choose its i international team from. The sport, in New Zealand ; is still very much in its infancy. But the dedication of the’ young Kiwi swim- ; mers lacks nothing in : comparison to their illus- I trious counterparts. They spend up to five hours a day training. Routines last several minutes and a large part, of this time is spent underwater so breathing control and fitness are as. important to synchronised swimmers as to orthodox pool swim- j mers.

The American team consists entirely of girls from the Santa Clara Aquamaids, perhaps the most, accomplished synchronised swimming club in the world.

Combinations from the club won the team titles at the world championships in 1973, 1975 and 1978, and the World Cup team title in Tokyo last August. Three of the team that won in Tokyo will swim in Christchurch.