Deirdre Dunford and Lois Bridson May Be New Swimming Stars.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 3, 4 January 1941, Page 2 (Supplement)

Deirdre Dunford and Lois Bridson May Be New Swimming Stars.

AUCKLAND'S champion lady /I swimmer Kathleen Grey may be forced out of the limelight this season by two younger girls in the intermediate class, Deirdre Dunford and Lois Bridson.

Willi the Auckland championships carnival only nine days away, the question is which of these two girls will win the intermediate championships, and whether their timee for 100 yards will be faster than that of Miss Grey in tin* senior event. Both arc eterling swimmers. Neither has yet put up scintillating performances, but their progress hae been eure. This reliability has given the impression that ultimately their success will be greater than if they had been ewunmers who ehowed but a flash of brilliance.

Blonde Deirdre Dunford has been an Auckland junior and intermediate champion j»nd has been away to two New Zealand championship meetings without irnining any distinction. Hut toward the end of last season she etii red up the foam in the local nwiiuming world. After several consistently good exhibitions in •handicap events sJic won tflie 50 yards ladiee , championship of Auckland.

The time, 31e. was not remarkable., <ind Kathleen Grey, it is true, was {.beent; yet the vigorous manner in which Mise Dunford outpaced strong senior opposition raided her stocks high. Being just 16 year* old she emphatically increased respect for her ability. It was wondered liow well she oould do a hundred yards. No scratch race was pwuin at this dit-tance, 'but Mi<|s Dunford will provide the answer to curiosity on tin* point next week in her contest with Loic* Bridson. As befits a police r-ergeant's daughter, determination is one of her chief qualities and, having this backing to her ekill, she is well endowed for the severest test.

Lois Bridson seems certain to build up & proud reputation. In spite of the fact that she has been spectacular in performance than Miss Dunford, opinion is solid that she will become the greater sprinter of the two. Already slio has to her credit a 100 yards victory over her rival, having beaten her for the Auckland intermediate championship last summer. The time was 725. This was not exceptionally fast, but a year can make big differences in the speed of young •swimmers. Miss BridsoTi reinforces a good *tyle with grit, and. no matter how strong the challenge of Miss Dunford or anyone else, she will resist it from start to finish with an unyielding will to win. As k to be expected, rivalry between Misses Dunford and is keen. However, they are clubmates, l>om<r with the. Xorth Shore Club.. Auckland is badly in need of talented girl swimmers to uphold it in national competitions during the next few years, and these two may yet play a large part in such a pleasant task.