SWIMMING NOTES

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 70, 15 December 1933, Page 16

SWIMMING NOTES

Cameron Going to Sydney AUSTRALIAN yiSITORS (By “Trudge.”) Just' when Wellington held high hopes of being represented at the New Zealand senior championships, to be held at Christchurch in February, with at least one outstanding performer in I. W. (Billy) Cameron, and the prospects of a few titles coming this way. Cameron informed the writer that he would definitely be leaving for Sydney early in the new year, probably the second week of next month. As a consequence he will be unable to represent Wellington at the Dominion championships. He regrets very much at not having an opportunity to meet the present champions, W. Whareaitu, R. Thomas, R. Frankham, and N. Crump. In the 50yds. handicap event at the opening of t'he Wellington season last Saturday, at Te Aro Baths, Cameron showed rare form in covering the distance in 23 3-ssee., clipping 4-ssec. off Whareaitu’s New Zealand record established at Napier last February. This performance, however, will not be otlidaily recognised. In 1928 he coveted the distance in exactly the same time. Cameron is at the zenith of his swimming career and although Whareaitu may prove his superior over the longer sprints, it can be safely stated that there is nothin" in the Dominion to touch Cameron over 50 yards. It is to be regretted that enthusiasts and' swimmers alike will not have the pleasure of seeing this speed merchant at the Dominion championships. . To Attempt Local Record.

Cameron will be seen m action at next Thursday evening’s carnival at Riddiforu Baths, Lower Hutt, when he wi 1 make an attempt to capture the 50yds. provincial championsliip in record time.

Thursday’s Big Carnival. The iuitiirl carnival of the season in honour of the two Australian women swimmers, Misses Frances Bu t and Claire Dennis, who will conclude then New Zealand tour on that date, will be held at the Riddiford Baths, Lower Hutt, on Thursday evening next, commencing at 7.45 o'clock. Keen interest is being taken in this carnival for it will math the only appearance in M elliugton of the crack Australians who have been drawing large crowds wherever they have appeared in the North Island. . No doubt the Wellington public will give them a memorable reception when they make their appearance on Thursday. The honorary secretary of the carnival, Air. N N. Oldershaw, has everything in order for the day, and it only remains with the weather to make the function an unqualified success. Tift* programme mapped out for the evening is of a very attractive nature and will include : — t 50yds. Wellington centre championship, 60vds. junior girls’ centre championship, 100yds. junior boys centre championshilj, 220vds. open breaststroke handicap, oO yds. ladies’ open handicap, 60 2-dyds. men’s open handicap, 100yds. relay race. (3 a side) handicap, dive, novelty event (beltmanb 33 l-3yds. schoolgir s handicap, 33 l-3yds. schoolboys handicap, water polo, Hutt v. Lyall Bay A. Intending competitors are notified that entries close with the hon. secretaries of the Lyall Bay and Hutt Clubs, or the caretakers of Te Aro and Riddiford baths, to-morrow. Competitors are asked not to enter for a race unless they intend to be a starter.

Water Polo Acquisition. The crack Canterbury water polo player and captain, Jim Meikle, who led the South Island province’s team during the period when Canterbury held the> water polo banner for a number of years, is now residing in .Wellington. The Lyall Bav dub is fortunate m securing his sei vices in its A grade water polo team. Meikle is a clever and attractive player to watch, and is going to prove a great acquisition to the Lyall Bay team.

Swimming Well. . J. Watkinsoil, Wellington club, is swimming well at present, and on Tuesday the local champion, J. Blakeley,_could not concede him two seconds over oOyds., making little impression on Watkinson. The Wellington club representative has a nice style which is improving with each swim. He should be seen to advantage during the present season. , Misses Bult and Dennis. After breaking the 100yds. and 220jds , and equalling the sUydsl New Zealand swimming records, since commencing, a tour of the North Island last week, Miss Frances Bult, the Australian Olympic sprint champion, went pne better at tue Auckland carnival on Saturday. In the test over 150yds. the Victorian clipped 2- off the Australian record of linni. 45 l-ssec. established by Miss Jean Docks, at Coogee, Sydney, on February 9, IJ2J. She also bettered the New Zealand record held by Miss Marie Farquhar by 2 3- ... „,, Following her usual tactics, Miss Bult went to the front from the start, and at the end of the first lap led Miss E. Rainey. The next lap saw Miss Bult increase her lead to two yards from Mp s B. Lewin, who hod displaced .Miss Rainey. Miss Bult had a three yards break on Miss Lewin at the completion of the 100 yards. Misses Mona Leydvn and Rainey moved up in the fourth lap to join Miss Lewin on the turn, with Miss Bult about four yards,out in front. A. strong sprint was sustained by tne Australian over the last, half of the baths, and she won by five ..ards Ironi Miss Leydon, who had more reserve than did Misses Rainey and Lewin, who deadheated for third place. Miss Leydon swam exceptionally well mid combined accurate judgment with her stamina. With six of the best free style women swimmers in. the Dominion to compete against, Miss Bult showed herself to be in a class by herself. She may be called upon to meet W. Cameron at the carnival to be held at Riddiford Baths, Lower Hutt, next Thursday evening, as, there is no outstanding woman competitor in Wellington who could make a race of it Claire Dennis must find it very disconcerting to have to compete agains the men in the breaststroke events, such as has been the case at the Auckland carnivals. Nevertheless the world s champion woman swimmer of this style ot acquatic art went much faster than any other New Zealand woman has yet sueceeded in doing in her duel with Jim Magee, the Auckland breaststroke champion, last Saturday. Miss Dennis who did not show any sign ot disappointment or fear in having to compete against men in the breaststroke tests at Auckland, will’ be remembered by northerners as one of the pluckiest sportswomen ever seen there in any field of athletic endeavour. . Miss Dennis will be called upon , to compete against the Wellington champion, Keith Spry, at next Thursday evenings carnival at Riddiford Baths, Lower Hutt. SP Durffig their stay in Auckland Misses Frances Bult and Claire Dennis gaiii»d much popularity because of their skill and sportsmanship. Miss Bult., for instance. was frequently seen showing some

o f her Auckland women rivals in the frec-style tests how to gain the maximum advantage from the racing turn. The best all-round swimming done at the Auckland -carnivals last week was that of Miss Barbara Lewin. In the 133 1-3 yards handicap she proved she was in excellent form, beating Misses Mona Leydon and Marie Farquhar by more than the start she received from each, and, after an exciting tussle with Miss Rainey to whom she conceded one second lost by a touch in 1.35. This time indicates that Miss Lewin was moving faster than when she finished second in the 100 yards Dominion and 150 yards Auckland championships last season. Miss Lewin’s fine burst of speed did not however, detract from the merit of Miss Rainey’s performance. This girl, the intermediate champion, swam _witb accurate judgment and returned 1.35’3-5. She promises to have a very successful term this season. Club notes for publication in this column should -reach “Trudge.” c/o “The Dominion.” not later than Tuesday of each week.