SWIMMING

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 153, 25 March 1937, Page 18

SWIMMING

Champions to Meet at Blaster WELLINGTON’S SOLE REPRESENTATIVE New Title Holders (By Tkupge.) All the pmilhern swimming champions, selected to meet Auckland champions in a series or invitation scratch races at rhe special carnivals at Auckland on Saturday and Monday will, with the exception 'of Misses S. Gotlieb, Wellington, and N. Basstian. Southland, be competing having received the necessary permission from their respective centres to participate in the carnivals. Miss Gottlich is reported to be unable to make the trip owing to illness. The Waitematn ami Eastern Suburbs Amateur Swimming and Life-Saving Clubs, who are organising the carnivals, have received advice from Otago centre that it has agreed to the participation of p. E. Mathieson and Miss Islay Piirdie, while similar decisions have been received from the Manawatu centre concerning B. Simon, the speedy Maori lad, and D. P. Lindsay. Wellington’s Sole Representative. With Miss Gotlieb unable to participate, Wellington will have a single representative in F. Pennington, the Wellington free-style champion over sprint and middle distances, who has been nominated by the Wellington centre for the 110yds., 220yds., and 440yds. men's freestyle events. Pennington will compete ar his own expense. It .will be interesting to see how the Wellington champion fares against some of the bwt swimmers in the country. Judging by his form this season he should give a good account of himself. Pennington leaves for Auckland to-night. Hopes to Lower Record.

Miss Purdie. Otago, has been in Auckland since last. Sunday, and has undergone special I raining during the past few days under the supervision of her coach, Mrs. A. Raper. She is accompanied by the Otago intermediate girl breaststroke champion, Miss W. Dunn. Miss Purdie hopes to lower her record at the carnivals. Accomplished Swimmer.

Miss r. Watts, who has been nominated by the Wanganui centre for the 110yds., 220yds. and 440yds. women's scratch races at the carnivals, is only 15 years of age. and she is reported to be an accomplished swimmer. She has registered the tine times of 29 for 50yds. and 67 for 100yds. Miss Watts will have a grand opportunity of matching her prowess against the best women swimmers in the Dominion, and in Wanganui swimming circles her chance of winning one of the events is considered bright. Hatchwell’s Record.

In winning the Wellington centre intermediate boys’ 100yds. frec-stylc championship last week, B. Hatchwell, the most outstanding boy swimmer in Wellington to-day, established a now Wellington intermediate record for the distance, clocking 62 2-5. which reduces the record by l-ssee. It was a fine race throughout, both I’. Mclnnes and K. Lines providing keen competition. As was stated in this column last Thursday, Hatchwell’s fuilire in the sport will be watched with keen interest, ns there is little doubt that this lad will prove a great asset Io Wellington. In the Nash Gup. 66 2-3yds. free-style. If. Pennington had to go all out to beat Hatchwell on the touch.

Beaten on Touch. Miss Shirley Smith, Wellington laiiie.s’ club, failed to win the Wellington centre girls' intermediate 100 yards tree-style championship by the barest of margins—a toueli. Miss Smith was regarded as a bright prospect for the honour, hut in .111 even tussle with Miss M. Saunders, Hutt club, displayed that trifle of slowness .” bringing the correct hand to the touch which meant all the difference between success nnd failure. She was, nevertheless, far from disgraced for she made a fine effort and it might be said that it was with the luck of the touch I hat the title was decided.

On the other hand Miss Saunders is to be given every credit in her success as she was required to do her best to secure the honour. This Hutt girl impressed with her style and there is no reason to doubt that she will progress with further experience and probably come into more prominence in 1938. Miss Gladys Smith, sister of the runner-up, was a good third.

Junior Girl Champion, The new junior girl free-style champion of Wellington is Miss Margaret McKechnie, who showed such promise last season when under the tuition of that tine women's conch, Miss Kathleen Miller. that her success in winning the Wellington centre junior girls' 51) yards titlt' last Thursday came as no surprise. Adhering to the advice meted out to her nt the close of last term, Miss McKeehnie made only one appearance in competitive swimming this season and was rewarded for her patience with a Wellington title. 'Phis young swimmer, who has been coached this season by Mr. 1,. Dawkins, gives every indication of developing into a sprinter of no mean ability ami mi doubt she will receive all the advice aaid tuition necessary from Mr. Dawkins lo bring out the best of her swimming ability. Next season should see Miss MeKechnie more in the limelight, probably in a higher rank.

Still Too Good. .1. Williams. Lyall Bay club, once again proved his superiority over the hackstroke swimmers in Wellington by retaining his lol) yards Wellington centre title comfortably. His brother, G. Williams. made a good effort to finish in-sec-ond place, but D. Plank, Wellington club, who was expected to be a strong contender for the title, disappointed. I'mloiibtedly .1. Williams is outstanding in this bram-h of swimming, and although not in the same class as P. Mathieson. Otago, he is consistent ami can still teach Wellington aspirants for his title many points in the art of backstroke swimming.