Canterbury swim pair complete mission

Press, 18 December 1989, Page 48

Canterbury swim pair complete mission

From

KEVIN TUTTY

in Auckland Fiona Ross and Grant Forbes, of Canterbury, successfully completed their four-day mission at the New Zealand swimming championships on Saturday when they were named in the swimming team for the Commonwealth Games next month. Ross joins her older sister, Michaela in the team, while Forbes will swim at his third Games. He was also at Brisbane (1982) and Edinburgh (1986). The Commonwealth Games Association selectors, Bruce Cameron (convener), Dave Gerrard and Bernie Fraser, named an additional 15 swimmers — 10 men and five women — to the 18 selected in September. The original list has since bedji-i reduced by one after the withdrawal of Anthony Beks, of Christchurch. The swimming team for the Games totals 32 and the Games selectors also named two synchronised swimmers and four divers at the conclusion of the championships at the West Auckland Swimming Centre on Saturday night.;; . Ross has made spectacular/pro - gress in the last year to earn tier selection. At the 1988 winter cham-

pionships her 200 m breaststroke time was 2min 56.585. Last week she swam 2min 40.375. Since the last nationals in Auckland in March she has improved her 100 m time by three seconds and her 200 m time by four seconds. Rainer Goltzsche, the coach of the sisters at the Wharenui club, said there was friendly rivalry between the pair and the other members of the Wharenui squad, and this had helped Fiona improve her times. . Forbes, who retired from competition 18 months ago, launched a comeback earlier this year. He was disappointed with his 100 m breaststroke time at the championships, but won his place by bettering the qualifying standard at a meeting at Queen Elizabeth II Park in September. Forbes, and another breaststroke swimmer in the team, Richard Lockhart (Auckland), are aged 25 and 26 respectively. There were no surprise inclusions or omissions ini.thei' Jatest group named at 11 p.m.'on ! -Saturday after a 45 minute discussion between the Games and swimming federation selectors. <■ J ' ' - ? . All swimmers who had bettered qualifying times were included." 1 Several - were tantalisingly close

but will now have to set their sights on the world championships in early 1991 in Perth. Most of the additions to the team ensured their places with top performances at the championships. _ Although she did not meet a qualifying time at the championships, Sharon Hanley (Otago) bettered the 100 m butterfly standard at the Pan Pacific championships in Tokyo in August. The full team for the Games aquatic events is: Women: Nicky Cooney (Bay of Plenty); Tania Paterson, Ginnie Flynn (Waikato). Men: Tony Young (Waikato). Synchronised swimming Lizzie Burslem, Mandy Zukerman (Wellington). Swimming Women: Danielle Bates, Megan Luff, Monique Rodahl (Auckland); .Michelle Burke, Toni Jeffs (Wellington); Sharon Hanley (Otago); Phillippa Langrell, Linda Robinson, Fiona Ross, Michaela Ross, Anna Simcic£ Nichola West (Canterbury); Sharon Musson (Hawkes Bay). Men: Ross Anderson, Tim. Bowen, Brent Foster, Paul Kingsman,/Richard Lockhart, Anthony Mosse, Bryce Milsom, John Munro, Nicolas Sanders, ’ John Steel, Kirk Torrance, Mark Weldon (Auckland); Peter Doig, Simon Percy (Wellington); Craig Ford, Dapyon. Loader (Otago); Grant “ Forbes (Canterbury); Byron Reid (Manawatu);. Richard Tapper (U.S.) J , ; .