Kiwi synchronised swimmers start strongly in Oceania Champs
New Zealand swimmers have begun strongly on the first day of competition in synchronised swimming at the Oceania Championships in Christchurch today.
Hawaii’s Jessie Dabrinsky holds the narrow lead after completion of the technical session in the open solo competition while New Zealanders Fendi Thien (Tauranga) and Rose Stackpole (North Harbour) lead in the age group competitions at the QEII Leisure Centre.
Competitors completed their routines to music, containing eight required elements.
Dabrinsky has a narrow lead from New Zealand’s Kirstin Anderson (Invercargill) with another Hawaiian, Ruth Ashburn third in the Open competition.
Thien leads the junior figures while Stackpole was the best of the 13-15 year swimmers, who completed a group of four set figures.
The swimmers will compete in the technical duets on Saturday with the free programme on Sunday, which is the same format to be used at the Olympics, where New Zealand will be represented by Dunedin’s Nina and Lisa Daniels, who are currently preparing for Beijing in Canada.
Results, after technical session:
Open Technical Solo:
Jessie Dabrinsky (Hawaii) 40.500, 1; Kirstin Anderson (NZL) 37.417, 2; Ruth Ashburn (Hawaii) 36.417, 3.
Junior Figures (15-18 years): Fendi Thien (NZL) 65.065, 1.
Age Figures (13-15 years): Rose Stackpole (NZL) 59.289.
