More records for young New Brighton swimmer

Press, 28 February 1986, Page 24

More records for young New Brighton swimmer

By

KEVIN TUTTY

The 12-year-old New Brighton Hertz swimmer, Dallas Hibbs, added another fistful of records, and the coveted Life Members’ Trophy, to the swag of records he had already established this season, at the B.N.Z. New Zealand age-group championships at Feilding last week-end. Hibbs’ performances were the highlight of the meeting, and were a comfort to the Canterbury team whose 20 titles paled in comparison with the 44 won by the dominant centre, Auckland. That figure represented 35 per cent of the 124 titles decided.

Competing in the youngest age-group -—l2 years and under — Hibbs won six of the seven finals he contested and was second in the other. He

won the Life Members’ Trophy, awarded by the New Zealand selectors, to the swimmer who produces the most outstanding performance at the championships.

Hibbs also set three new meeting records in his age-group, and three new Canterbury records.

A slight lad compared with some of his opponents, Hibbs compensates for a lack of strength with a fine stroke technique. He broke meeting records in the 200 m and 400 m freestyle and 100 m butterfly.

In the 100 m butterfly, 100 m and 400 m freestyle he also set new Canterbury 12 years records.

Another member of the Canterbury contingent of 47 swimmers who competed with distinction was Linda Robinson, from the Wharenui club.

She won four gold medals, one silver and two bronze from her seven starts and set two records. Competing in the 14 years age-group Robinson broke the meeting records for the 200 m freestyle and 200 m individual medley. In total the Canterbury team returned with 20 gold, 25 silver and 14 bronze medals.

Three Canterbury swimmers returned with two gold medals each. Michelle Timms (Avon

Aquatics) won the 100 m freestyle and 100 m breastroke in the girls 16 years age group and added' a silver in the 200 m breaststroke.

Jane Collins (Wharenui) continued • an impressive run of good times in the girls 13 years when she won the 100 m freestyle and 100 m butterfly. In the boys 14 years Carl Harris (Wharenui) won two very different events — the 100 m backstroke, and the gruelling 200 m butterfly. Four other swimmers — Anna Simcic (Avon), Tania Rahurahu and Robin Wisely (both Wharenui), and Julie Renwick (New Brighton) — each won a gold

medal. Besides Hibbs and Robinson, four other Canterbury swimmers set pro-

vincial records. Nichola West (Wharenui), set a new mark for the girls 12 years 100 m backstroke, although she is still only 10; Renwick set a new time for the girls 12 years 400 m freestyle; Richard Smith (Wharenui) set a record for the boys 15 years 400 m individual medley; and Collins set a new time for the 13 years 100 m: butterfly and equalled the 100 m freestyle record.

Many of the Canterbury swimmers recorded personal bests, an indication that the standard of Canterbury swimming is starting to rise again after a static period. The most encouraging feature for the Canterbury coaches was that just about all competitors improved on the times they recorded to qualify for the championships. • -

Swimmers from Nelson, Blenheim, Timaru and Ashburton were also successful at the championships. Carol Whitley, of Timaru, won the girls 16 years 200 m breaststroke; Stuart Doig, of Ashburton, the boys 16 years 200 m backstroke; y and Trudi Wadsworth, of Nelson, the girls 13 years 100 m backstroke. '■

These successes, along with 15 gold medals won by Southland swimmers and two by Otago competitors, substantiate a resurgence in swimming in the South Island; It is, after all, well equipped to mount a challenge to take over supremacy from the north. By the end of this year there will be indoor pools from Invercargill to Nelson, plus two on the West Coast.