Division II Swimming Competition - Day 1

The Canterbury pair of Riley Taylor (Timaru) and Ben Sutton (Christchurch) were the only double winners on the first day of finals at the New Zealand Division II Swimming Competition in Dunedin today.

The 14 year old Taylor, from the Timaru Swimming Club, won the 200m backstroke and 400m freestyle in an impressive opening night effort at the Moana Pool, while 17 year old Ben Sutton from the Wharenui club won the 16-18 years 50m butterfly and 400m freestyle.

Three hundred swimmers from 86 clubs around the country are competing in the long course (50m) competition for swimmers aged from 13 years.

Sutton’s efforts helped his Wharenui club to jump to a big lead in the team competition with 395 points from the TBSS Central City Swimming from Auckland on 189 the two clubs with the biggest representation at the competition.

The local Neptune club are third on 172 ahead of Tawa Swimming Club on 148 and Howick Pakuranga on 147.

In the girls’ competition Neptune’s Danielle Walsh, Elen Barr (Dolphin Club, Manawatu), Teigan Tarapi (Neptune) and Kate Blincoe (Stratford) were double medallists on the first day.

Walsh, 14, won the 400m freestyle and was second in the 100m breaststroke while Barr, also 14, won the 100m breaststroke and was third in the 50m butterfly.

Other double medallists in the boys’ competition were Noel Bisson (Wanaka), James Fleury (Tasman) and Blair Masters (Wharenui).

Public are welcome to attend the competition which runs from Wednesday until Saturday, with heats from 9am and finals from 6pm each day.

Leading club points:

Wharenui (Canterbury) 395, TBSS Central City (Auckland) 189, Neptune (Otago) 172, Tawa (Wellington) 148, Howick Pakuranga (Counties Manukau) 147, Napier Aquahawks 120, Aquagym (Canterbury) 110, Capital (Wellington) 103, Papakura (Counties Manukau) 91, Nelson 80.

NZ Division II