A FAMILY TRADITION

Evening Star, Issue 24003, 30 September 1941, Page 12

A FAMILY TRADITION

SWIMMING CHAMPIONS AND OFFICIALS ALEX STOKES’S GREAT RECORD [By Hookkr,] :V familv tradition lias been carried on 1 1 y A. T. I'"'. S'.okvs, famous Canterbury free s;vio swimmer and surf life saving enthusiast. Uis father before him was an outstanding' performer in championship compciiliu.., aim belli father and son have laid me distinction of silling as delegates on (he Now Sealant] Swimming Council. Alex. C'.okcs inis been the Otago delegate for a number of years. if, D. Stokes, fa Dior of Alex, has been a member of the Hast Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club for 49 years, and is also patron of the New Brighton Surf Life Saving Club, with which his son lias been so prominently associated. When H. A. Creagho, who hailed from Queensland and had a brief bus meteoric career in Otago swimming, won the New Zealand 440yds championship at Lyttelton in 1904, second place was filled by I' - . I). Stokes Mr Stokes, sen., played a prominent part in Canterbury swimming over a long period of years, wa» a member of the centre, and later became a member of the council. There is only one other instance) of a father and son both serving on the council. Mr Stokes played Rugby wiili the Linwood Football Club. Ho was awarded tho Royal Humane Society's bronze modal in •d for great bravery in rescuing swimmers from drowning at New Brighton.

Alex, Stokes's association with swimming goes away back to 1919, when lie became a. member of the Fast Christchurch Club at the age of 11. In 1928 it will be recalled bv iminv Otago enthusiasts how gamely he swam against the Olympic representative, U. P. Lindsay, Stokes swimming into second place in the 220yds, 440yds, 880yds, and onemile free style championships. Ho held every Canterbury free style championship from 50yds to the mile, in 1929-30-51, and in 1929 won New Zealand honours for the first lime, collecting both tho national 220yds and one-milo tides at Wellington, his 2min 31scc for the furlong at that time being a New Zealand record. With the rise of Gordon Bridson, the big Aucklander, Stokes swam second to him in every event, from IGOycls to one mile at the rational championships in 1930 and 1931 at Grpymouth and AVa.ng.niui respectively. He I was second to Dave Lindsay in the next t.vo years in (lie haif-milo and mile, and then’had a spell from swimming competition, confining his attention mainly to water polo and surf life saving activities. Remarkable Come-back. The point to bo emphasised, however, is that, Stokes kept himself in a good state of physical fitness, and in 1939, when he set himself the task of making a come-back in Dominion .championship competition the ground work had already been completed. .Every swimming enthusiast knows that the Canterbury man made swimming history Dial year’, winning the national 440yds, 88liyd, and one-milo free style championships at Invercargill in times which were considerably faster than anything lie had returned in earlier years. In swimming to victory at Invercargill, Stokes defeated Len. Newell, tho 1958 Empire Games represent alive and New Zealand rccordholdcr, whoso progress was due in no small measure to tho coaching and advice lie had from his clubmalc and friend. Stokes’s success was ono of the sporting events of tho year, and was popular all over New Zealand. Alex, lias been in many Canterbury champion water polo and flying squadron loams, and has always been rated as one of New Zealand’s best water polo exponents; He was the first Canterbury swimmer to break ibo minute for 100, vdg and dn for 880yds. A member of the Now Blight,on Surf Club for many years, ho was captain of the New Zealand surf life saving team which visited Australia, in 1938. He has also boon president of ttie. East Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club, was at one time club captain of tho Christchurch nothall Club, and is now a senior Rugby referee in Christchurch. Taught to swim by his father, Alex, was subsequently coached by Carl Atkinson, who also coached Dave Lindsay. Atkinson had the distinction of having held every >ew Zealand championship, free style, breast stroke, and back stroke, • A champion is not made in one or two years,” Alex. Stokes declared to tho writer a few weeks ago. “ A senior swimmer requires at least seven or eight years, and in some cases up to 10 years to become, a. champion.” H advises medium-pace work in the initial stages, concentrating'on stylo, balance, pull, and the legs. This should go on for two or three mouths An average -'wimmer should cover 440yds a day and for distances from’sooyds to I,2ooyds a" day.