The history of competitive water sports in southern Africa

WE CAN BE SWIMMING CHAMPIONS – BUT CAN KEYTER BEAT SLOVIN?

The Rhodesian Herald Monday, February 24, 1969

HOPES are high that Rhodesia will regain the Ellis Brown Trophy-symbol of swimming supremacy in Southern Africa—at the South African championships which begin Cape Town's Newlands pool this morning. Fears that the young Rhodesians will be affected by travelling 100 miles a day by bus during the. Championships are balanced by the knowledge that swimming at sea level is a decided advantage for our team.

This is probably the strongest team Rhodesia has sent to Currie Cup, with the men's squad especially powerful and capable of bringing back several titles and spearheading Rhodesia to top honours.

Last year our men won four titles—these should be retained and a couple more added. Rhodesian women managed five seconds last year, but will struggle to repeat this performance, mainly because of the presence of the "Kimberley Kid", world beater Karen Muir.

Rhodesia's butterfly ace, John Keyter, faces his toughest challenge since first winning a South African butterfly in 1965. His clashes with the American-trained, world-rated Vernon Slovin should be one of the highlights of the week.

WORLD RATED
Slovin returned from America in November,where he has been studying since 1964 and where he gained recognition as one of America's top butterfly exponent and was once ranked third in the world.
He holds the South African 100 metres record at .59.3 while Keyter holds the yards mark with 59.5sec, which is a little faster if converted.

Slovin' national 200 metres record is 2:11,7, while Keyter's best over this distance is about 2:14, 5
Thus there is little between them in both events. I expect Keyter to have the edge over

110 yards and Slovin to get the verdict over the longer distance.
Anthony Mellon (Otters, Salisbury) is now living in Durban, but is available for Rhodesia this year and should retain his breaststroke titles.

However, if reports that his training has been limited are correct he will encounter strong opposition from the ex-champion, Tony Fisher of Bulawayo, and Rhodesia's third string, 17- year old Bob Hatherley.
Hatherley (Cranborne) is one of Rhodesia's finest prospects 'and could upset the odds in his Currie Cup debut, depending on his temperament.

This country's other main hope for a title is Mount Pleasant's Rodney Hamilton, the ex-Zambian champion and the most versatile swimmer Rhodesia has produced.

TITLE HOPES
Hamilton holds Rhodesian titles in backstroke, freestyle and individual medley, while he swims second in butterfly to Keyter.
His best bet for a title is in the 220 yards individual medley for which he holds the South African record.
Rhodesia's top prospects in the women's events are Jean Burden and Kathy Tyrrell.
Burden was second last year in the 440 yards individual medley and also in the 1,650 yards freestyle. This latter event has now been reduced to 880 yards she should maintain her placing, but she will have to struggle for this place in the medley with Pretoria’s Katinka Germishuis. Karen Muir will win….. of course.

The talented Tyrrell last year made the final of every event she entered and was second in the 220 yards individual medley. Here again there is miss Muir, and so….

Our girls will just have to be content with places The battle for the Ellis Brown Trophy looks certain to be between the holders, Northern Transvaal, and Rhodesia.

The battle for the Ellis Brown Trophy looks certain to be between the holders, Northern Transvaal, and Rhodesia.

Northern s' Brian Stewart has now retired and it will be remembered that the brilliant Springbok last year won three titles and two placings.
Could this make a difference? Northerns are definitely not as strong as in previous years, while Rhodesia are stronger than before, which is a cause for optimism in Salisbury.

Transvaal are also below last year's strength, although they could overrun Rhodesia and Northerns by sheer numbers.

For the first time this year there will be two new trophies to be presented to the provinces with the best men's and women's teams.

Rhodesia have every chance of taking the men's aggregate trophy.
In diving Rhodesia again has no fears and should dominate. Don Lieberman is diving better than ever and should still champion when he returns, though he will have the challenge of former champ Terry Rossiter.