THE WHIZZ KIDS

The late 1960's and early 1970's these three swimmers rewrote the Southland Records book from the 9 and Under age through to open records for Nevill and Diane.
All coached by Ted Treffers as members as Penguin Training Squad.
In the early years, they shared wins between them and nearly every time they hit the water to race one, if not all, would break a Southland Record.

CHRISTINE FRENCH

Christine was a Butterfly specialist, having a technique that was well ahead of her time.
She was also proficient in Freestyle and Backstroke.
Christine held the Southland Age Group Records in Butterfly for the 33 and a 1/3 Yards (30.48 M) and the 66 and 2/3 Yards (60.96 M).
From the age of 9 to 13 Years of age, Christine represented Southland at Teleprinter where she finished with Southland placings, Otago/Southland placings and also placings at South Island Champs.
She was chosen for a NZ Coaching Camp as a 9 Year Old along with Nevill and Diane.
Christine retired at an early age from swimming to concentrate on school but came back some years later to help coach our younger swimmers.

DIANE SANGSTER

Diane was amazing at all strokes but undisputedly her number one stroke was Backstroke.
She broke many records in all strokes from the age of 9 until her early retirement from swimming at 14.
As a 14 Year Old, Diane held the Southland Junior and Open Records for Backstroke.
Diane represented Southland at all levels starting with Teleprinter, where she won numerous NZ and South Island Titles with 1969.
Also in 1969, Diane won 2 Gold and a Silver at Nationals, travelled to Otago/Southland and South Island Champs winning countless titles.
1971, at the NZ Age Group Champs, she returned with 3 Golds and a Silver.
1972, Diane attended her first NZ Open and NZ Winter Champs, where she returned the following year to make it to the finals of the 100M and 200M Backstroke.
Anybody swimming at this time, would remember the battles in the pool between Diane and Nevill - and the battles out of the pool between Mark Treffers and Diane who would duke it out at the 'end of season ice cream eatting competition.'
First to eat a 2 Litre of Boysenberry ice cream - Mark always won but Diane was never far behind.

KAREN COOKE

Karen was another 'Wizz Kid' of the late 1960's. A Backstroke and Butterfly swimmer, Karen broke several Southland Records and in 1966 gained a National 3rd in the 110 Yards Backstroke at Teleprinter. 

NEVILL SUTTON

This is what Mr Ted Treffers wrote about Nevill
"If you don't know his name yet, you certainly would have heard his voice, urging his team on. In the meets against Dunedin's swim club, Zenith.
However I am sure that everyone in Waverley knows Nevill Sutton - our 6 Foot 4 Inch swimming giant.
Many of us have known Nevill some 10 years ago, when as an 8 Year Old he joined our squad.
His dedication to training soon bought him his first Southland AGe Group Record in the 8 Years adn Under Widths Backstroke on 30 September 1967 at the first Age Group Carnival ever held in Southland.
From then on Nevill has set and broken many Southland Records. 
Not only is it Backstroke in which he is strong but Butterfly, Freestyle and now Breaststroke are all strokes Nevill excells at.
As a 9 year Old, Nevill had his first taste at National Competition in the Teleprinter Carnvial at Christchurch in December 1968 - which gave him a NZ 1st in the 110 Yards Backstroke and a NZ 3rd in the 55 Yards Butterfly.
Back home in Southland he became the Under 10 Champion. The 1970 Age Group Championships in Hastings where he gained a 4th placing.
​​​​​​​In 1971, in Palmerston North, Nevill gained 2 Silver Medals and became Southlands Under 12 Champion.
Nevill has been to all Teleprinter Carnivals possible in the years that he was eligible to attend.
His A.G record for Backstroke gained in 1968 is still in the record book as is in the Under 12, Under 14  and Senior Backstroke Records.
Nevill's approach to training sessions is complete dedication, the amount of pain he is willing to put himself through each year seems to me to behis key to success, to be able adjust to any situation without placing unnecessary  stress or tension upon himself.
He enjoys life and people and is able to handle the defeat as well as the triumphs. Nevill has now finished his High School study successfully and will soon leave us to carry on hsi studies at Dunedin Teachers College and I am sure that every Waverley Swimmer will wish him every success and happiness for the rest of his student years.
Nevill, a big "Thank you" for the wonderful years I have had with you in swimming."
- Ted Treffers