Canadians collected 66 medals at the last Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1970. They hope to do even better at the next Games in New Zealand this month (January).

Two of their best competitors this time are high jumper John Beers and diver Beverly Boys.

Beers has already broken the Canadian and Commonwealth high jump record with a leap of 7 feet 4 1/4 inches. It is his first Commonwealth Games and he should be one of the most exciting new attractions. His record was no freak dump, he had cleared heights of 7 feet 3 inches twice before the Commonwealth Games trials in Vancouver last year.

Beverly Boys is no newcomer. She took gold medals for the women's springboard and highboard diving at Edinburgh and came fourth at her fist Olympics in Mexico two years before. She is once more in top form for the Commonwealth Games after winning the Canadian Diving Championships in Vancouver last month.

Both Beers and Boys are in Christchurch, New Zealand preparing for the Games which begin on January 24. Canada came third in Edinburgh -- behind England and Australia.