By David

I have just arrived home after watching the first night of the New Zealand Open Swimming Championships and World Championship Trials. The swimming was pretty standard for a New Zealand national event. Lauren Boyle’s 4.06 in the 400 freestyle was probably the best swim of the night.

But real confusion was caused by Swimming New Zealand – isn’t it always – or more specifically caused by John Mace the President of Swimming New Zealand. He was asked to present Lauren Boyle with her FINA world record certificate. You may remember Boyle broke the world 1500 meter record in Wellington. The record attracted some controversy because Wellington’s Kilbirnie Pool, that we all thought she swam in, was below the minimum depth required by FINA rules.

But perhaps we were confused, because tonight John Mace told New Zealand on live Sky Television that Boyle spectacular swim was in fact swum in Wellington’s Freyberg Pool. Now that is strange because not only is the Freyberg Pool below the minimum FINA depth, it is also 33.33 yards long. However John Mace tells us that’s where Boyle’s performance took place – and as we know Swimming New Zealand are always right.

Well done Swimming New Zealand on cocking up Boyle’s presentation. You really are a stunning organization. Monty Python’s swimming circus.