Fluctuating fortunes for Canterbury swimmers

Press, 5 March 1982, Page 17

Fluctuating fortunes for Canterbury swimmers

By

KEVIN TUTTY

Canterbury swimmers met with a share of success at the Hansell’s New Zealand age-group swimming championships at Masterton last week-end. Eighteen of the 39 team members returned with medals. In total, the 18 swimmers collected 47 medals — 13 gold, 17 silver and 17 bronze. The performances were mixed, with some competitors exceeding expectations and others not quite reaching the times it' was hoped they would.

Kim Dewar, seeking a place in the Commonwealth Games team, was hoping to win the two breaststroke events in the girls 16 years age-group, but had to be

content with the silver medals behind Sarah Mahon. It will now take a bold effort from Dewar to beat Mahon and achieve the Games standard at the national championships in Hamilton next week.

It was not a lost week-end for Miss Dewar, though. She startled her opponents, and probably herself, in the 400 m medley final, winning the gold medal in smm 11.595. She is still about 10s from the Games qualifying time in this event, but more significantly she easily beat Gail Jonson (Waikato); regarded at the top 400 m medley swimmer in New Zealand at the moment.

The most successful Canterbury swimmer was 12-year-old Rachelle Black. She won the 100 m freestyle and butterfly gold medals, and silvers in the 200 m freestyle

and medley. Her twin sister, Tracey, also collected four medals — three silvers and a bronze. In the 100 m freestyle the sisters were first and second.

Kara Taumaunu was near his best again after illness curtailed his training in January. He won the two backstroke races in the 16 years section comfortably, and was just pipped for the gold in the 400 m medley. Tina Kerr had a 100 per cent success rate in the girls 12 years section. She won both the breaststroke gold medals, and in smart times for a girl of her age. Andrew O’Donoghue had similar success, winning the gold medals in the boys 16 years 100 m and 400m'freestyle. O’Donoghue will need a vast improvement in times, though, to get within reach of the Brisbane Games targets at Hamilton.

One other swimmer, Michael Culley, won two gold medals. His success came in the boys 12 years 100 m and 200 m breaststroke. Nicola Chambers won the girls 15 years 100 m butterfly gold medal, but was edged into second in the 200 m event by Wellington’s Margaret Hesketh. Miss Chambers earned another silver in the 400 m medley and a bronze in the 200 m backstroke. It was a good result from a tiring schedule.

Jennifer Queen, as expected. won the girls 16 years 400 m freestyle gold medal, but earlier at the championships was beaten by Pamela Croad in the 100 m freestyle. Miss Croad must now be favoured to win the freestyle sprint at the national championships next week.

In the 13 years age-group Kirsten Mclntosh could not

break the dominance of a group of Auckland swimmers, and had to be content with five bronze medals. But her swims were all gritty efforts.

Just as commendable were the swims of Craig Winter to win two backstroke bronze medals against strong competition in the boys 13 years section, and Susan Willis to collect two bronze medals in the girls 15 years lt)0m butterfly and 200 m medley. Other Canterbury swimmers to win medals were Anthony Beks, second in the 14 years . 200 m breaststroke and third in the 100 m breaststroke; Brent Milligan, second in the 12 years 100 m backstroke and third in the 200 m backstroke; Jane Bishop, second in the 14 years 100 m and 200 m backstroke; Lisa Chamberlain, second in the 15 years 100 m and 400 m freestyle; Dale Mclntosh, third in the girls 100 m butterfly; and Megan Russell, third in the girls 12 years 100 m and 200 m breaststroke.