SWIMMING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1926, Page 25

SWIMMING.

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS. To-day marks the commencement of the New Zealand Swimming Championships at Napier when the champion swimmers from, all parts of the Dominion will endeavour to carry off the Yaldhurst Shield, the most coveted trophy in the swimming world. According to reports, and meagre reports at that, of the activities of other centres, it is apparent that next to Auckland, Hawke's Bay is the only centre that is really entering into the championships with any great interest. Canterbury, Otagro and Wellington, all of which offer undoubted facilities for the furtherance of the sport, have been very lax this season, and seldom of late have any reports of their activities been received here. Otago lately spoke well of McLean for the 100 yards, but, strange to say, there has never been any mention of his time. It is only recently that a Canterbury ' writer expressed the following views: "Although Auckland is almost certain to win the Yaldhurst Shield at the Dominion swimming championships by a substantial margin, Canterbury may provide several title-holders. E. C. Herd's chajices of winning the- 220 yards breast-stroke championship look rosy. In a recent swim, Herd, after having competed in a backstroke event, covered the distance in 3m 10s, which is 3 4-5s faster than the time in which the event was won in last year. Herd, who was absent in England last season,holds the Dominion record of 3m 2 l-3s. Herd may win honours in the 150 yards backstroke, too. Another aspect for congratulation is that L. Hill seems to have recovered all his old form; he went over 'a mile on Monday evening in 25m 16 2-ss. It was a brilliant effort, the result justifying the policy he. followed of taking a long rest from swimming. His time is 29s faster than that taken by E. V. Cunnold in last year's championship. Moreover, Hill passed the half-mile' mark in 12m 245, this eclipsing by 6 3-5s last year's winning performance. Another swimmer who has created a surprise is W. Fitch, who has attained a rush of form which may win him honour in the 100 yards championship in the intermediate division. Another likely champion is Miss L. Copplestone, who has made substantial improvement as a diver. The prospects for Canterbury look much better than they did a few weeks ago." Despite the reports that have and have not been received there is little doubt but that Auckland will provide a formidable combination. The 100 yards men's championship will come to Auckland, although A. D. Adamson will not be competing. L. L. Kronfeld, whose time was 59s over the distance, can be looked to for the lowering of his own time, while Enwright and Fairgray are by no means out of the running. It will have to be a fast man that can wrest the 100 yards title from Auckland. The 220 yards will be contested by A. E. Baird, D. Pelham, J. Enwright and L. L. Kronfeld, and Baird's time (at the Auckland championships) was 2 2-5s outside the New Zealand record held by Kronfeld, so that this event should come Auddand way. The same men will take the mark in the 440 yards, and their prospects are very bright. Cunnold, Baird and Enwright will start in the 880 yards and may be relied upon to keep the rest of the field going all the way. These same three will start in the mile, and the placings should be Auckland in each position. L. Fairgray, the record and title holder for the ISO yards backstroke, should have little difficulty in scooping the pool. Among the ladies, it is quite on the cards that Miss Piri Page, Miss Ena Stockley and Miss J. Bell will give the remainder of the competitors ample to do to keep up with them over the 220 yards and 440 yards. Present form indicates that Miss Page will annex both these titles. The 100 yards seems quite safe with the title holder, Miss Stockley. Miss G. Pidgeon was swimming consistently before she departed for Napier, and it would not be out of place to predict that she will retain her title with ease. If there is a boy in New Zealand to touch G. Bridsonin the intermediate division, he is vet to be heard of. Bridson should have no- difficulty in breaking a few more records, and bringing to Auckland the 100 yards, 220 yards, and 440 yards intermediate championships. Among the intermediate girls, Miss Edna Champion, Miss M. Farquhar, Miss D. Magee and Miss M. Bell may be relied upon to worthily represent this centre, and, judging from past performances, Miss Champion will be very hard to beat over the 220 yards, while Miss Magee, Miss M. Bell, and Miss Farquhar will be handy in case of .trouble. . Among the junior boys Auckland has a worthy representative in W. Stockley, who has been showing great form arid speed of late. His efforts will be watched with interest. Misses B. Hanlon, S. Brown, and 0. Harvey are the junior girls who are looked to for some great attempts. Taking the championships all round, Auckland's chances are even better than they were last year, but, whatever is the final result, the swimming public of Auckland may depend on their representatives to worthily uphold the highest traditions of the spprt, and do their best for their own city. The best men will win, and all good luck follows the competitors to-day. A regrettable state of affairs exists in local swimming circles, -says a writer in a Wellington paper. The national championships are very close, and so far nothing has been done to decide whether Wellington will send any representatives. No selectors have been appointed, no polo matches played, and altogether nothing has been done. In other centres intending competitors have been selected, and are entering into training with enthusiasm, carnivals have been held, new records have been established, while not a word is heard of Wellington. Time is very limited, and it is hoped that the officials will get busy and give the swimmers a chance.