NZ swimming legend Parkhouse dies

New Zealand swimming legend Pic Parkhouse has died in Tauranga, aged 92.

Vincent Parkhouse, better known as Pic, died last week, almost 43 years after the coach’s swimmers won six of New Zealand’s seven 1974 Commonwealth Games swimming medals in Christchurch.

Parkhouse’s swimmers were from Christchurch’s Wharenui Club, and two of the six medals were won by his daughter, Jaynie, who claimed a gold and bronze.

Mark Treffers won gold and silver, while Sue Hunter snared two bronzes. John Coutts, who won the seventh medal (bronze), was a Hawke’s Bay swimmer but once spent time under Parkhouse’s guidance.

Parkhouse was renowned for his successful coaching methods, which were inspired by New Zealand middle distance coach Arthur Lydiard.

His huge contribution to the sport resulted in him being awarded the highest accolade of Master Coach by the New Zealand Swim Coaches and Teachers Association.

He grew up in Hamilton and was himself a competitive swimmer, before the Wharenui Club recruited him as their coach in 1965.

Before the 1974 Games on home soil, he went to the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, where Treffers claimed the team’s sole medal.

With success comes opportunities and, after his team made a splash in the Garden City, running Parkhouse was lured to Canada, where he spent five years in charge at the North York Aquatic Club and Cambridge Aquatics.

He returned to New Zealand in 1981, where he and wife Betty settled in Tauranga.

Parkhouse coached and ran a learn-to swim programme in Greerton, where a young Moss Burmester, who later won Commonwealth Games and world championship gold medals in the 200m butterfly between 2006-08, came through the ranks.

Parkhouse retired coaching in 1994.

He is survived by Betty, son Paul, daughters Megan and Jaynie, seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren. from