SWIMMING ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19859, 1 February 1928, Page 16

SWIMMING ITEMS.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS. SUCCESS OF N. DOWSETT. FINE PAST PERFORMANCES. One of the most popular victories at the Now Zealand swimming championships in Dunedin was the success of N. Dowsett, of Wanganui, who regained the 100 yds. championship in brilliant style from D. P. Lindsay (Canterbury) and L. Fairgray (Auckland) in the New Zealand fresh-water record time of 59 3-ss. Dowsett is a swimmer who richly deserves the honour he has won. He has now the unique record of having been junior, intermediate and national champion, and of being the first swimmer "to break the minute" in salt and in fresh water in a 100 yds. Now Zealand championship. In 1921 he won the junior title at Dunedin in 71 l-ss, and at Wanganui, in 1924, he captured the intermediate championship in the record time of 61 l-ss. It was this performance that indicated his ability, especially in view of the fact that at the same meeting J. Enwright carried off the men's title after a hard race in 62 3-ss. Dowsett's advent in the open class in Christchurch in 1925 was regarded with a certain amount of anxiety by his rivals, but although he swam well, he was able to gain only third place behind A. Adamson, who won in 61s, and N. Bachelor, of Canterbury. However, a day or two later, as at Wanganui, he swam the raslest 100 yds of the meeting in winning a handicap. In 1926 he came into his own in no uncertain manner. He won the 100 yds championship in the Dominion recorrJ time of 58 3-ss. Two months later he finished spcond to the Queensland champion R. Crier, in a scratch race at Auckland. His time was 57 2-ss, which is the present New Zealand salt water record. At Auckland last year he lost his title to Adanison, who beat him by the barest of margins. On this occasion lie "had the misfortune to break his leg some months before and consequently was not up to his best form. Sylow Wins Distinction. Fairgray showed an improvement in I form by beating J. P. Farrell, the Auck- | land champion, and J. Enwright for third place. The distinction of being the first Auck|tinder to win the 220 yds breaststroke championship falls to N. K. Sylow. For :l swimmer competing in his second championship this was an excellent peiformance. Sylow's time was 3m 6s. Owmc to ill-health E. C. Heard (Canterbury), tho holder of the title, did not start ii? the final. Heard's Dominion fresh-water record is 3m 4 4-ss. The 100 yds. intermediate boy champion, W. Cameron, of Wellington, was in a class by himself over this distance, winning easily from E. Woods, of Canterbury, in the record time of 60 3-ss, which is i only one second slower than Dowsett s jin the men's championship. Although Cameron returned a remarkable time lor a boy of his age, he was evidently not at his top form, for he was expected to "break the minute." He swam an erratic course, and fouled the ropes several times. After Cameron, Wellington has another promising young swimmer in B. Gallate, the 100 yds. and 220 yds. junior boy champion, who established new fresh water records for both distances. Gallate has an attractive style, and under careful coaching will develop into a swimmer of class. Cameron also annexed the 220 yds. intermedial.) boys' title in the record time of 2m 45 l-ss. In this event his teammate, J. Palmer, was second. He should be a good distance swinimer. The quar-ter-mile title was won by H. Gowan (Wanganui) in the record time of 6m 1 l-ss. P. Brownlee, of Auckland, swam well to be placed third in the 100 yds. and 440 yds. championships. Miss Champion's Record. Miss Natalie Stratton (Wanganui), who defeated Miss Edna Champion in the 100 yds. intermediate girls' championship in the record fresh water time of 725, has prospects of developing into a fine sprint swimmer, and her graduation to the senior division next season will be awaited with interest Miss Champion succeeded in easily accounting for the 220 yds. championship from Miss Stratton. Althorgh much slower than her Auckland time, Miss Champion's record of 2m 59 3-5s is good under fresh water conditions. Miss M. Smith, of Auckland, was un. lucky to be defeated by Miss Z. Haworth in the 50yds. junior girls' championship, but she turned the tables on the Wanganui girl by convincingly winning the 100 yds. title in the fresh water record time of 78 l-ss. Miss Smith is also a coming open champion.