Moana Pool will be buzzing over the next five days when the
Otago and Canterbury championships are held in Dunedin.
The Christchurch earthquakes have destroyed the international
pool at QE2 Park and forced a re-think of South Island
swimming.
Moana Pool will be back to its former glory when the best
competitors in the South Island compete together.
The Southland championships were held in December and their
best swimmers and those from the Eastern Districts centre
will also be competing.
Waves coach Andy Adair said it would be the forerunner of the
proposed South Island long-course championships coaches have
wanted for a long time.
"It will produce quality racing and help to lift the standard
of swimming in the South Island," he said.
The Otago and Canterbury titles will be decided on times from
the morning heats and this will force swimmers to be at their
best at both the morning and evening sessions.
There will be combined South Island finals in four grades at
night with the best swimmers from the two provinces pitted
against each other.
Because of the increased numbers involved, Swimming Otago
raised the qualifying standards for swimmers to enter the
championships.
Adair said Canterbury swimmers in the age-group 19 to 23
"have been the casualties of the earthquake and not so many
older swimmers from Christchurch have entered in the open
events".
The distance swims over 800m and 1500m will be contested
tonight with the results decided on times.
On four days, the first session to determine the Otago and
Canterbury champions will be swum in the morning from 8.45am.
The championships start at 5.45 this evening.
The evening session also starts at 5.45pm tomorrow and Friday
but at 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.
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