AUSTRALIA'S STARS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 134, 8 June 1932, Page 10

AUSTRALIA'S STARS.

OLYMPIC GAMES TEAM. WHO'S WHO IN THE PARTY ? YOUTHFUL GIRL SWIMMERS. " A splendid lot, and I hope they do well." That is how one Aucklander who returned from Sydney by the Mariposa yesterday described the Australian Olympic Games team who are travelling to Los Angeles by the liner.

As soon as the Mariposa berthed yesterday the young Australians were eager to get ashore. The swimmers made a

bee-line for the Tepid Baths, and the runners went to the Domain. In the afternoon some of the party were taken on a sight-seeing tour.

Young Aucklanders will envy the Australians. They are a wonderfully happy party, and they are going to Los Angeles in plenty of time to prepare for the big Tests ahead. Who is everybody in the tram? A Swimming " Find." Eighteen years of age, Miss Frances Ijult was the swimming " find " of the last Australian summer. She possesses a. powerful stroke and remarkable stamina, and is considered to have a wonderful future. She holds tho Australian 100 yards record of 02 3-5s and the 111) yards record of 72 3-ss. A stenographer by occupation, Miss P. M. Mealing, widely known as "Bonnie," is 111 years old, and represented her country at the Games at Amsterdam in 1!)2S, when, owing to her fast rate of growth, she did not do herself justice. She is the holder of all national baok-

slrokc records, and also holds tho world's record for 100 metres of 1.20 3-5.

Miss ('. Dennis only completed her high school education last year. She is 10 years of age, and is the present holder of the 220 yards national brcaststroke championship, and holds the national brcaststroke records for 100 yards, 100 metres and 220 yards. Domestic duties occupy Miss E. Wearnc (20 years) when she is not running. Possessing a polished style, she holds the 100 yards national record of 11 l-ss, the 220 yards national record of 20s, and the; 100 metres national record of 12 3-10s, all times made on a grass track. "Perhaps the Greatest." Six feet tall and weighing over 14 stone, "Boy" Charlton is said by experts to Ik? perhaps the greatest sportsman Australia has produced in the matter of Olympic qualifications. He has attained his life's ambition of equalling P. E. de Beaurepaire's record of representing his country at three Olympiads. His sensational rise to fame when 14 years old, ten years ago, is known tho world over. At Paris in 1921 he won the 1500 metres free-style championship in the then record time of 20.0 3-5. At Amsterdam in 1928 he was placed second in both the 1500 and 400 metres events, although he recorded better times than at Paris. On his return to Australia, Charlton, who is a pastoralist and wool expert, contracted rheumatic fever and did not compete again until the present season, when he won the New South Wales half and quarter-mile titles, and the 1050 yards national title. His "comeback" is regarded as being without parallel. Described as a bank officer, Noel Ryan (21), is well known to Auckland swimmers. He has been prominent since 1928, and has won six New South Wales and four national championships over distances from 220 yards to one mile. He won two events at the Empire Games in 1930. Three Athletes. Powerfully built, G. A. Golding is 24 years old, and is the present holder of tho 440 yards flat and hurdles national championships, with records of 48 3-lOs. and 53 9-10s respectively. Ho went to the Empire Games two years ago.

A. J. Hillhouse (23) is a school teacher, popularly referred to as the " mighty atom" —ho weighs only 1241b. He holds the one mile and three mile (14.23 4-5) national records. Pie also went to the Empire Games in 1930.

Also a school teacher, E. W. Barwick is 20 years old. During the last track season ho "gave up long distance running and concentrated on the mile event, winning the national title in the record time of 4.10 4-5. Wrestler's Great Record. That he has never had a fall recorded against him is the record of Eddie Scarf, the wrestling representative with the team. Ho has held the New South Wales and national heavy-weight titles for four years. Ho is 23 years of age and a butcher by trade. A carpenter when not on the sports field, E. L. Gray is 25 years old. He is a very versatile pedaller, having won championships on grass, board, concrete, and dirt tracks. Ho has held the New South Wales and national titles since 1928. At Amsterdam four years ago he finished third in the 1000 metres time trial.

Born of a sculling family, R. H. Pearce is the present amateur sculling champion of the world, and is considered by exports to bo the greatest oarsman of the day. Ho is 20 years old and is a carpenter by trade. He was successful at Amsterdam four years ago, beat all corners at the British Games in 1930, and won the English Diamond Sculls last year. Although he is not officially attached to the team, Mr. Harry M. Hay, exsprint swimming champion of Australia and trainer of Charlton, is going to watch the interests of his " Boy." He represented Australia at the 1920 Olympiad and was coach in 1924 and 1928. He was responsible for Charlton's comeback, and feels confident that he will win at Los Angeles.