EMPIRE GAMES SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 22798, 5 November 1937, Page 5

EMPIRE GAMES SWIMMING

STRONG TEAM FROM WALES Welsh swimming officials -are oonfident that their representatives will perform particularly well at the British, Empire Games in Sydney in February* Three swimmers—Miss Shelagh Brown* ing, Miss Jeanne Greenland, and S. Graham Huxtable—all of Newport Swimming Club. Of the three representatives, Miss Shelagh Browning is the most prominent, and is regarded as one of _ the greatest long-distance swimmers in the world to-day. In 1934- and 1936, Miss Browning won the long-distance championship of England over a five-xnilo course, from Putney to Kew on the Thames. In 1935 and 1936 she won the Welsh open longdistance championship of Ijm, and in 1935- and 1937 she carried off the Welsh native long-distance championship of lim. Won the the Welsh mile championship in 1936 and 1937, and represented Wales in the intercountry; swimming contests in 1934 and 1935., Untii last year Miss Browning never troubled about such short races as the quarter-mile, but on learning that there were not any events above that distance at the Empire Games, she immediately decided to concentrate on the 440yds free style. In April last her time for 440yds was 7min; but after two months’ practice she has reduced her time to 6min 12sec, and is improving with every swim. Splendidly moulded, the Welsh mermaid is regarded by her compatriots as a potential Empire and Olympic! champion. Miss Jeanne Greenland has jusli finished her school duties, and after her return from Australia will, enter one of the English universities. Since 1934, when Miss Greenland won the Welsh 440yds and 100yds free style championships, her scholastic duties have prevented her from devoting suftficient time to preparing for individual events, but she has again settled down to regular training, and is expected to do especially well at both free sty Is and back stroke. Miss Greenland represented 'Wales at the British Empire Games in England in 1934, and in the intercountry contests between England and Wales and Scotland in 1933 and 1935.

S. Graham Huxtable is a fine allround swimmer who has this year won every Welsh championship, including the long-distance of IJm. In the 880 yards championship, Huxtable clipped over 20sec off the record established by the veteran Radmilovio in 1929. In July Huxtable finished a close third to H, Taylor and M. Ffrench Williams in the English 150yds back stroke championship.