BRILLIANT YOUNG SWIMMER

Evening Star, Issue 22528, 22 December 1936, Page 5

BRILLIANT YOUNG SWIMMER

L NEWELL'S CAREER HOLDER OF THREE H.Z. TITLES In L. Newell’s sensational dash to the top of the New Zealand swimming tree many people have forgotten that the Canterbury and New Zealand free style champion was, only two years ago, one of the leading breast stroke exponents in the province (says the Christchurch ‘ Star ’). During the 1935 summer Newell was well to the fore in breast stroke events, but his free style performances, though indicating promise, were not outstanding, his most successful showing being third in the Canterbury Centre’s harbour race. In the 1935 Canterbury breast stroke championship Newell swam a great race, almost taking the title from the holder, •). Bruce. He was beaten on the touch, and was a yard ahead of M. Horsfall, the presentbreast stroke champion. But last summer Newell left the breast stroke alone and concentrated on the free style distance events, so that it was an almost unheard-of Christchurch swimmer who scooped the pool in the distance events at the national

championship meeting. In the Canterbury championships he caused a stir by his sudden rush to the top, and when lie raced at the national meeting he had little difficulty in winning the, quarter-mile, half-mile, and mile events. On his form so far, Newell should retain all his New Zealand titles, and may even add to them. Only this week Mr Dudley Hellmrich, famous Australian coach, said that Newell was a potential world-beater. But Mr Hellmrich also pointed out that Newell’s leg work was faulty, thus disclosing one disadvantage of his venture into the breast stroke sphere. Newell, so far, has been unable to rid himself of the breast stroke kick action, but with hard training he may throw it off in time. If he does improve his leg work, Mr Hellmrich considers it will take 2min off his mile time. Although his best performances are over the longer distances, Newell is also becoming a sprinter of note. His best time for 100yds is 58sec, and for 50yds a shade .over 26sec. As a boy at the Sydenham School,/ Newell joined up with the Sydenham Swimming Club. He did not show any outstanding promise then, but after leaving school he settled down to hard training, \ chiefly for breast stroke events. As a member of the Sydenham Club he contested the breast stroke championship two years ago, but later joined the East Christchurch Club, for which he now swims, although remaining an associate member at Sydenham. Newell, who is only 22 years of age, has years of active swimming before him, and can look to an even greater improvement. His occupation in a coal merchant’s yard gives him hard work, hut it does not seem to affect his swimming. He trains solidly, and can stand up to a good deal more work in the water than most Christchurch swimmers. Modest and unassuming, Newell is a popular figure in the Christchurch swimming world and among his comembers of the North Beach Surf Club.