Surf life-savers in the swim for titles

Press, 29 January 1988, Page 18

Surf life-savers in the swim for titles

By

KEVIN TUTTY

Canterbury surf lifesavers eyeing titles at the New Zealand championships at Muriwai next month, will be able to gauge the progress towards their goals at the Rheineck Canterbury championships at North Beach this week-end. The provincial event is the first of two major competitions building up to the nationals. The other is the South Island championships at Waikuku on February 13 and 14. Lars Humer (Taylors Mistake) will be one of those in contention for a national title — in the open iron man. He has been in outstanding form in inter-club carnivals in Canterbury this season, and is showing the benefit of several weeks training and competing with the Sydney club, Manly, before Christmas. Humer was awarded a

scholarship donated by Johnson’s Wax which enabled him to make' the trip. A New Zealand representative, it is doubtful that anyone will be able to match Humer’s allround ability ' either this week-end, or at the South Island and national championships. Grant Forbes (New Brighton) has just completed a strenuous three weeks of pool swimming in Australia and New Zealand and should be in peak condition to defend the open surf belt and individual surf race titles. Forbes will have doughty opponents in the belt event. David Newlands (North Beach) is noted for his long distance pool swimming and could be the surprise in the field. Others with the ability to win the event are Paul Bethell (South Brighton), lan MacDonald (Taylors Mistake) and Duncan Doig (New Brighton). Forbes and Newlands should be the dominant pair in the surf race with their background of pool training, although Humer, also a former pool swimmer of note, could be close on their heels. The craft events are well supported and 30 competitors will be chasing the malibu board title including the defending champion, Dave Condor (Taylors Mistake). Geoff Walker (Waimairi), an ageless competitor, is among those who will be trying to relieve Condor of the title. Humer, Simon Davis (Taylors Mistake) and Luca Soulos (Waikuku) all have the ability to win the title. North Beach A, after a hesitant start to the season, is performing with all its old authority in open surf boat events. South Brighton A and Waikuku have both helped to keep the North Beach crew honest at inter-club carnivals and are certain to do so again this week-end. The breaking surf at the end of the race can play a vital part in results, but the North Beach crews have traditionally been adept at controlling their craft in diffi-

cult conditions. The rescue and resuscitation events, a discipline in which Canterbury teams have always done well at national level, have good entries. Taylors Mistake A and South Brighton A are the chief protagonists in the open four man and six man events. The women’s four place has attracted 16 entries. The two strongest clubs, Waimairi and South Brighton, have supplied six and four teams respectively. Waimairi is currently experiencing a resurgence in its club strength. Women’s events in Canterbury this season have been boosted by the arrival in the province of Nicky Chambers (Waimairi) from Dunedin. She will be dominant in the swimming events, although there will be ample competition for her. Janice Murdoch (Waimairi), a former holder of the Canterbury surf race title has already beaten Chambers once this season. Others who will make their presence felt in. the surf race are the South Brighton trio of Jane Bishop, Shelly Pemberton and Lynette Griffiths. Mary Davie (Waimairi) the titleholder in the women’s beach sprint, will be hard pressed to retain it this week-end. Lisa Smith (South Brighton) has won the majority of beach sprints at earlier carnivals this season, but Davie and Helen Mahon (Taylors Mistake) are hardy competitors who will ensure Smith has to battle for the title.