Selwyn Times: July 18, 2018

18 Wednesday July 18 2018
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
SELWYN TIMES
• By Jacob Page
LINCOLN’S WAYNE Rollinson
believes his national swimming
award is a testament to everyone
in his organisation.
THe chairman of the
Swimming Canterbury West
Coast earned the Swimming
New Zealand volunteer of the
year award in Auckland last
week.
“You certainly don’t get into
this sort of thing for recognition
like this but it reflects the hard
work of everyone within our
organisation,” he said.
Mr Rollinson has been
involved with the organisation
since 2007 and chairman since
2011.
“My focus at the time was
more about rugby but my three
kids all swam at that time and
I looked at it like many parents
probably do in terms of how I
could give back to the sport,” he
said.
“I’ve always wanted to give
back to a sport in some way and
I felt the time was right.
He said, while swimming
numbers have been on the
increase for many years, the
February 22, 2011, earthquake
changed his role as the head of
SCWC in an instant.
“I learnt a lot about swimming
in the region in a short space of
time,” he said.
Mr Rollinson said the prospect
of a 50m pool in the Metro
Sports Facility as well as the
emergence of the QE II pool and
developments in Linwood, would
make swimming more accessible
and more affordable.
“THere is a financial strain on
parents at the moment getting to
and from events,” he said.
“Even getting to regional
events like South Island meets
is an added cost at this point
SPORTS
Rollinson wins
NZ Swimming
volunteer award
Wayne Rollinson
because we’re having to go to
Nelson or Invercargill.”
Rollinson said the emergence
of top swimmers like Hannah
Bates, Sophie Pascoe, Celyn and
Ieuan Edwards, had pleased
him immensely because they’d
done it in their home pools in
Christchurch.
“THere’s a perception that to
make it (internationally) that you
need to go to Auckland and we’re
producing swimmers in our
facilities.
Mr Rollinson has 12 months in
his role before his term finishes
and he is eager to ensure the
Metro Sports Facility, which
is scheduled for 2021 will
deliver an impressive space for
swimmers to excel.
“I really think with the Metro,
we’ll have a facility that other
areas are envious of and will
make them want to travel to
compete here,” he said.
Bates in the medals
at swim champs
• By Jacob Page
LINCOLN SWIMMER Hannah
Bates has made the New Zealand
team for the junior Pan Pacific
championships in Fiji next
month.
Her selection comes after a
successful national championship
campaigns last week in
Auckland which was capped-off
by her winning emerging swimmer
of the year at the Swimming
New Zealand annual awards.
Celyn Edwards, from the
Selwyn Swim Club, also won
three national titles.
Edwards will be part of the
nine-strong Kiwi team to race at
the Pan Pacific para-swimming
championships in Cairns next
month.
Bates said she was thrilled
to win medals in her first open
nationals event.
“It was a big step up from
what I’m used to, racing against
swimmers who have gone to
international events and, while
I didn’t post any personal bests,
I’m happy with what I achieved,”
she said.
“Winning the (emerging
swimmer) award just topped the
week off for me,” she said. “I was
not expecting to win it so I was
blown away when I did.”
Youth Commonwealth Games
and Australian age group multimedallist
Bates, representing
IN FORM: Two Selwyn swimmers, Hannah Bates, of Lincoln,
and Selwyn Swim Club’s Celyn Edwards, have earned New
Zealand representative honours after strong campaign at that
national championships.
Aquagym, also conquered her
nerves in the 100m butterfly
heats, finishing in 1min 10.61sec
to meet the selection criteria
for both the junior Pan Pacific
championships and Youth Olympic
Games by just one onehundredth
of a second.
Bates backed this up in the
final to take home bronze in the
event. She went on to also win
silver in the 200m individual
medley.
Edwards won two golds on the
opening night of the national
championship. The Selwyn club
member won the 50m backstroke
and 400m freestyle para
mixed multi-class events.
Edwards added to his medal
tally as the meet progressed, taking
out his third national title in
the 100m butterfly and adding a
silver and a bronze as well.
SPEED: Selwyn
Swimmer Hannah
Bates is no stranger
to representing New
Zealand.
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