36 Records Broken At Swimming Championships

The 1964 Hawkes Bay-Poverty Bay centre swimming championships, held during Anniversary weekend at the McRae Baths, were notable for the number of records broken.......a total of 36, in more than half the events contested, making the meeting the most notable in the history of the H.B.-P.B. centre.

Outstanding competitor of the championships was the Comet Swimming Club's wonder boy, Greg Meade, who personally added seven records to the grand total, and claimed every title in his section, the boys' 12-14 years. He also won the men's medley event.

The start of the girls' under 14 years 220 yards backstroke race

Top record breaker Greg Meade

Competitors in the boys' 14-16 years 220 yards freestyle dive from the starting block

The placegetters in the senior men's 220 yards freestyle. From left: Ricki Lowe (Havelock North), 2nd; John Palmer (Havelock North), 1st; and Robbie Turnbull (Olympic), 3rd. Palmer, who is considered the fastest sprint swimmer in New Zealand, was joint winner with Lowe, of the Cooper Cup, for the most points in the men's section.

Time-keepers Bill Hocquard, Reg Gardner, and Ray Meade click their stop-watches as Vivienne Scott touches the end of the pool to win the girls' 14-16 years 100 yards breaststroke.

Spectators cheer wildly during a closely-contested race.

Robert Powell (Comet): three records in boys' 14-16 years

Chris Griffin (Gisborne), at right, who took three titles and broke two records in boys' under 12 years, with Selwyn Pohio (Havelock North), a close rival in all the events.