ARMY SWIMMING

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 226, 19 June 1940, Page 5

ARMY SWIMMING

' N.Z.E.F. Activities In Egypt News of N.Z.E.F. swimming activities in Egypt is contained in letters received by a member of the literary staff of the Dunedin “Star” from Staff,sergeant D. C. Berry and Private A. D. Williams, both of whom are very well known in Otago and Southland swimming circles. Berry, as a schoolboy, competed at the national men’s championships in Dunedin in 1936, and also represented Southland at water polo. At that time he'stood out as one of the outstanding distance swimming prospects in the Dominion, but subsequently he turned to back-stroke with great success, and he was placed iu national title events in Invercargill in 1939. Williams, a member of one of New Zealand’s best-known swimming families, was the New Zealand intermediate diving champion in 1933, and also a good back-stroke exponent and water polo player, as well as being very active in surf life-saving activities. His brother, Neil Williams, well-known Otago water polo representative, is a member of the second echelon.

Both Williams and Berry refer to the N.Z.E.F.’s new swimming pool at the camp, which was opened by Major-Gen-eral Freyberg, after which a successful carnival was held. Tlie baths are about tlie same size as the Dunedin municipal pool, and were completed within live weeks, costing approximately £7OO. The water is changed daily ami there is ample accommodation for spectators. Among the well-known swimmers taking part wore N. Crump (Auckland). W. Johnson (.Southland and formerly of Otago and Auckland), D. Berry (Southland), and M. McGibbon (Southland). It is of interest to recall that when Williams won the , intermediate diving chant pionship of New Zealand at Invercargill in J 933 he was billeted with McGibbon, and as he bad not seen or heard of him since he was very surprised to find him taking part. The 100yds. invitation race was won by Cruniip in CO 3-s.sec., Johnson being second and Berry third. Tlie piacings were the same in the 33 l-3yds., Crump's time being 16see. iii the 100yds. breaststroke. D. Webster (Auckland), who won the New Zealand intermediate buys’ lOO.vds'. breaststroke championship in Timarti in 1935, finished first in 83sec. J. L. Mcfiidue '(a funnier president am! now patron of Hie Otago Swimming Centro), was present at Hie opening carnival, and took part in the diving. Tite New Zealanders intend organizing a waler polo team and challenging other regijnents in Egypt.