SOME SURPRISES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 299, 17 December 1937, Page 15

SOME SURPRISES.

Surprising features of the selection of Aucklanders are the omission of the free-style sprinters Noel Crump and Bob Frankham and the inclusion of J. Davies and L. Newell, Crump won the 110 yards trials last Tuesday in 625. On their times he and Frankham would have a better chance of winning than would the other two men in their events. Both Davies and Newell have so far failed to reach the standards set by the New Zealand Council to qualify for selection. The standard for 220 yards breaststroke was 3.0, but Davies' time this week was 3.5 2-5. Furthermore, whereas the standard for 440 yards freestyle was 5.10, Newell's strongest effort ha» been 5.11 2-5. Apparently, however, both must reach standard at the national championships in three weeks. A further surprise is the reluctance of the selectors to choose Cliff and Mathieson unconditionally. Auckland enthusiasts will also argue that Miss Kathleen Grey should have been preferred to Miss Purdie. The pair have never met, so it is mostly a matter of conjecture who is the better.

Gwen Rix took up diving three years ago and won the national ladies' title at Auckland in 1935, retaining it at Dunedin early last year. She is 19 years of age.

Since 1933, when she scored her first I victory at Napier, Mona Leydon, now 21 years of age, has won the 440 yards national ladies' free-style championship. She_ has also won the furlong in 1933, 1935 and 1936. Early in 1935 she was first in the 880 yards and ojie mile championships of New South Wales. Her time for 440 yards, 5.39 1-5, was the best for the Empire, and she holds the 880 yards New Zealand record, 12.23. Joyce Macdonald, only 15 years of a?c s reccntlv covered 110 yards back stroke in 85 l-ss, only 4 .Is above Ena Stockley's record for 100 metres. A good free-style sprinter. Miss Macdonald is Southland intermediate champion. A Record Breaker. Winnie Dunn earned her place tlirouph her success in establishing a new Dominion record of 3.22 2-5 for 220vds breaststroke at Dunedin last week. Aged 18, she was New Zealand intermediate champion and competed in Auckland with Islay Purdie last Easter. The brilliant time of 64 4-5s for 100 yards, equalling the New Zealand senior ladies' record, was put up by Islay Purdie in 1936, when 16 years of age. At Auckland last Easter she swam 110 yards in 735, the best time since Ena Stockley did 71 4-5s for 100 metres, and also lowered the national ladies' record from 2.45 4-5 to 2.40. Reports from Dunedin state that she has not exerted herself this season. With Misses Macdonald and Dunn she will probably complete the New Zealand team in the ladies' medley relay.

Peter Hanan, Auckland sprint and middle-distance champion, is holder of the New Zealand record for 110 yards. 60 4-ss. He is 22 years of age and began competitive swimming in Morrinsville.

Clive Cliff has jumped into the top flight of backstroke exponents within the last few month*, recently breaking P. E. Mathieson's 100 metres record by 2-ss, taking 71 4-5. His age is 21. Peter Mathieson is present New Zealand breaststroke champion and holder of the Australian and New Zealand records for 200 metres and 400 metres. He defeated Australia's best in Australia early last year. He is 22 years of age.

J. Da vies was runner-up to L. Smith, of Wangiinui, in the 220 yds men's breaststroke championship of New Zealand at Dunedin last year. A few days ago he covered the distance in 3.5 2-5, four seconds above Smith's record. He is 20 years of age. L. Newell, competing at first national championship meeting at Dunedin in 1936, won the 440 yds, 880 yds and one mile men's titles. On Wednesday he lowered G. Bridson's 440 yards record by 2s to 5.11 2-5.