BACK IN CHRISTCHURCH

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 18, 22 January 1938, Page 23

BACK IN CHRISTCHURCH

The New Zealand sprint champion, W. J. Fitzsimmons., has left Napier, and has returned to Christchurch to ( reside. Fitzsimmons is a former Cantetrbury representative and member of the Sydenham Club in Christchurch, and for several seasons was a wellknown athlete there. In those days, however, J. B. MacFarlane was just a little too good for him. After leaving Christchurch, Fitzsimmons came to live in Wellington, and later moved to Napier. At Auckland last year he won the two national sprint titles, but his form was not good enough at the trials held in Wellington last December to win him a place in the Empire Games team for Sydney. His performances in Christchurch will be noted with interest, '- : • -•■ ' ;

ciala were loud in their praise of the efforts made. On the score of efficiency and ability the Taranaki centre has little to learn from any other ■ centre. Special mention should be made of ''the untiring efforts" of the honorary secretary, Mr. Jack Devine, who'worked hard and long to ensure that -everything . went off without a hitch. The spontaneous gift given to him by all of the visitors was little recompense for his courtesy and kindness, but it does reflect the opinion and good will they hold of an extremely capable and energetic secretary.

NEWELL'S CHANCES

: Comment on the;various events has already appeared in. "The Post," and it is not necessary to go over the same ground again, but there were some features worthy of additional description. Firstly, the great improvement made by Len Newell over his previous performances rates him the flncs't distance ' swimmer yet to have been produced in the Dominion, and ho uzs by no means yet reached his peak. His greatest effort was, of course, his,,mile swim on the opening night, when he reduced the existing record by nearly a minute.'' His speed and endurance has not been equalled, and the further he went the more pace he seemed to show,' with the result that 'those .who were keeping a close eye on their watches were easily enabled to see that the record would be substantially reduced.

On his long journey he had bettered' the quarter, and half-mile records, and apart from his winning of the championship events over those distances, the merit of this performance alone must have easily earned a place for him in the Empire Games team. Newell may not be prominent in the shorter distance event at the Games, but over the 1500 metres he will be definitely a prospect. He is a stayer of rare ability, and as yet has not been fully extended, but opposed by some of the leading swimmers in the world today as he will be at Sydney, the opportunity to display his real prowess will be offered, and Newell is the type to seize that opportunity with both hands and make good at it.

MISS MONA LEYDON.

The name of Miss Mona Leydon is so closely allied to sterling performances that to make further mention of her implies another outstanding

played great pace over the-first two laps, and the lead.gained was sufficient to carry her to victory. Limited experience has been all against the Wellington lady, and this undoubtedly tells in big events, but. once she gains additional experience she will.reach the very top class; Provided she continues to improve, as she probably will, Olympic representation is not beyond her. • ... .■ ~. ....„•.■ .'■,■. ;..'■.■■■.;.;- ;,..-,,

..Restricted training d acuities prevented Peter Mathieso'n'from getting into, form,, and his performances, 'while good, were far removed from his best. This was unfortunate for him, and no doubt cost him a place in the Empire Games team. . >