SWIMMING ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19889, 7 March 1928, Page 16

SWIMMING ITEMS.

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SUCCESS IN AUSTRALIA.

ASSISTING OLYMPIC CANDIDATES.

After a most successful tour- of Australia, the New Zealand lady champions, Miss Ena Stockley, of Auckland, and Miss Kathleen Miller, of Dunedin, will return to Auckland next Tuesday. Both proved worthy representatives of the Dominion, and fully upheld the splendid reputation which has been earned by New Zealand lady swimmers in the past. Their successes in tha Australian and New South Wales championships again showed that the standard of New Zealand lady swimmers is still higher than that in Australia.

The ladies made their first appearance in the New South Wales championships at Sydney on February 11. Miss Stockley easily won the 100 yards championship from Miss Jean Cocks in the very fast time of 66 1 -ss, ' which, although 3-5s slower than her best time, was only l-5s outside Fanny Durack's Australian record. Miss Miller gained a victory in the 440 yards championship bv the narrowest of margins from Miss Edna Davey, whom she beat by l-10s The New Zealand girl's time, . 6m 3 9-10s, was slower than Miss Durack's record. It was 4 l-10s faster than Miss Gwitha Shand's New Zealand record of 6m Bs. A week later, at Melbourne, the New Zealand gills were successful in gaining first and second places in the 100 yards Australian championship. Miss Stockley won by two and a-half yards in 67 4-ss, Miss Miller's time was 69 2-ss. Miss Ettie Robertson's 70 l-ss, and Miss Davey's 70 2-ss. Miss Stockley's time was better than that recorded in Sydney, as she swam in fresh water over a 50 yards course. She clipped 4-5s off her Dominion fresh water record, 68 3-ss, which she returned in winning the New Zealand title at Dunedin in January.

Miss Miller's Performances. At the second meeting Miss Miller won the 440 yards Australian championship from Miss Davey, in 6m 13 3-ss. Miss Davey's time was 6m 13 4-ss. Miss Miller also won the 220 yards championship by four yards from Miss Davey in the very fast time of 2m 52 3-ss. Miss Stockley annexed the 100 yards backstroke championship in 82s. This time is comparatively slow, but it can be attributea to the fresh water and a straight-out course, When the conditions are taken into account, the time is good under the circumstances. Miss Bonnie Mealing, the brilliant Sydney backstroke exponent, competed in this race, but she veered off her course and retired. The New Zealand ladies in_their return appearance in the New South Wales championship, held at Sydney last week, did not meet wiih as much success as at the previous meeting. In the 100 yards backstroke event a great race was expected between Misses Stockley and Mealing, but unfortunately Miss Stockley could not compete owing to indisposition. Miss Mealing .ecordcd the excellent time of 75 3-ss, eclipsing by 4 2-5s Miss Stockley's Australian record of 80s, which she returned in her second backstroke race on her last visit to Australia in 1926. Miss Stockley has not since swum over fthe distance in New Zealand, but her 100 metres Dominion record of 86 2-ss, put up in fresh water at Dunedin. last month, is 2 4-5s faster than Miss Mealing's best time. Miss Mealing registered her time in the faster salt water in winning the recent Australian Olympic test. In the 220 yards championship. Miss Miller was defeated by Miss Davey by a touch. While all credit is due to Miss Davey for her victory, Miss Miller did not swim up to form Both Misses Miller and Stocklev have been swimming regularly for four months, and during this time they have competed in four championship meetings. The strenuous time and continuous travelling have, no doubt, had a detrimental effect on Miss Miller s form, causing her to develop staieness. This is indicated by the fact that Miss Davey's time of 2m 52 l-5s was only 2-5s faster than that of the New Zealander s in winning the Australian championship. Then again, Miss Miller's time was put up, in the slower fresh water, while Miss Davey returned her time in salt water.

A Record Equalled. Last Saturday Miss Stockley was responsible for an excellent performance by sprinting 50yds. in fresh water in 295. This time equals Fanny Durack's Australian record.

As a result of an appeal by the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association urging ail centres to make an immediate effort to raise money to enable D. P. Lindsay, Miss Stpckiey and Miss Miller to be sent to the Amsterdam Olympiad, the Auckland Centre has decided to hold a carnival. The proceeds will go toward sending the swimmers only. The fixture should be one of the best attractions for many years, as both Misses Stockley and Miller will appear. The cost of sending each competitor to the Games will be £4OO. so that a minimum of £I2OO is needed to cover the expenses. The New Zealand Council has already mads an offer of £IOO toward the expenses of each swimmer. It is considered that it would be unwise to rely on the Olympic Council raising ail the money required, therefore all centres should make an immediate appeal for funds. The team will sail for England at the end of April. The New Zealand Council hopes that all clubs will do their utmost id supplement this fund, so that if the task of financing the swimming team should devolve on the council, it will be able to send a team away.

Carnival in Canterbury. Swimmers in Canterbury are taking a special interest in the Olympic Games fund. A carnival has been promoted to assist in collecting funds. In addition, the Canterbury Centre is making an endeavour to collect money direct from well wishers of sport. Lindsay will attempt to break his 880 yds. New Zealand fresh water record of 11m 45 4-5s which he registered at Dunedin in January.

The Dominion backstroke champion, L. J. ■ Moorhonse (Canterbury), intends to attempt to make a New Zealand record for the 200 metres backstroke in an effort to see how close he can approach the world's record for that distance. The world's record of 2m 38 4-ss, held by W. Laufer, was put up in a 25 metres bath at Magdeburg, United States, in 1926. Moorhouse's attempt will be made in a 33 l-3yds. bath, but the difference is so slight, that itshould not have any appreciable effect when the time is being computed. At present no New Zealand record exists for this distance.

Miss G. Pideeon, the 220 yds. New Zealand breaststroke champion, will attempt to lower her Dominion salt water record of 2m 35 3-5s at the Waitemata Club's Carnival, to be held at the Tepid Baths next Tuesday evening.