SWIMMING ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20243, 1 May 1929, Page 18

SWIMMING ITEMS.

REVIEW OF PAST SEASON. SUCCESS OF LOCAL SWIMMERS. MANY PROMISING JUNIORS. The swimming' season now closed in Auckland was as eventful as it was successful. It "witnessed the annexation by Auckland of tho coveted Yoldhurst arid War Memorial Shields, emblematic of swimming supremacy of both senior and junior swimmers,. The gaining of these honours speaks for itself of the- high standard of Auckland's swimmers. Several also registered record-breaking performances. An event in which was manifested great interest was a visit from the world-famous Swedish swimmer &rne Borg. Some years had elapsed sjrico Auckland was favoured by a visit of an overseas champion and Borg's appearan :c was a welcome attraction. For the Auckland Centre it was profitable, too, Auckland furnished a national champion over middle distances in G. Bridson. Tho fact that ho is tho first Aucklander to win a distances championship since 1926 was gratifying, as- the local standard had been on a low plane. Competing at the New Zealand championships he did not begin very auspiciously, gaining only third place in the one-mile and 220 yds. championships, but during the latter half, of the meeting ho came into'his own in no uncertain manner, and won the 440 yds. and 880 yds. championships. His time for the former distance was only 2-5s above tho New Zealand record of 5m 24 2-ss. His form in the mile indicated that he is capable of improving his time by a considerable margin. A misjudged race undoubtedly cost him tho 220 yds. championship, as prior to this he had bettered the winning -record time of 2m 31s, established by A. Stokes, of Canterbury. Later Bridson lowered it to 2rn 295, which is tho existing record. D, P. Lindsay in Auckland.

A notable acquisition to local ranks was tho Olympic representative, •D. P. Lindsay, formerly of Canterbury. -Although he did not Compete at the Auckland championship.'! ho was/ included Jn the representative team. At the New Zealand meeting his long sequence of victories was broken when Stokes defeated hiin in the 220 yds. and one-mile championships, As lie had to return to Auckland he was unable to defend his 440 yds. and 880 yds. titles. Limited training preparations prevented him from doing himself justice in the distances over which he suffered defeat. He still possesses the distinction of being the best distance swimmer the Dominion has produced, for his records remain intact. After the national championship he did little swimming in competition, wisely taking a spell, which •should stand him in good stead in his effort to regain his lost honours next season.

Sprint swimming among men was again of a mediocre standard and lower than that attained a few years ago. Now that I. W. Cameron, of Wellington, has covered 100 yards in 55 4-5s it is obvious that local sprinters who have not shaded 60s have yet to make great strides in order to equal this time. The Auckland champion, J. P. Farrell. made little improvement. He was a finalist in the New Zealand championship and was narroivly beaten for third place. The veteran, J. Enwriglit, who retains his form in a remarkable manner, was again runner-up to Farrell in the Auckland championship. Improvement was made by R. Cellars, of Helensville. who gained third place. Two Young Sprinters.

R. de Loreis and A. Raper were two young sprinters, to show the most progress, both putting up good performances, indicating that they will be strong contenders for championship honours next season.

A pleasing feature of the season was the revival of diving. The decision of the Auckland Centre to include a title event on the championship programme was a happy one. Good entries were received and a high standard was attained. The champion, W. Hassan, was third in the Dominion championship, his display impressing Southern critics, who regard him as a diver of great promise. G. Johnston and H. Neale, both members of the Poii son by Club's troupe, which has delighted spectators at carnivals with spectacular exhibitions, arc divers of class.

Of the ladies, Miss Ena Stockley was the outstanding swimmer. She headed the Dominion list, of record-creating performances for swimmers of both sexes by setting four new records, one of wl.iicil she /improved on twice. She is the titleholder of the 100 yds. free-style and backstroke New Zealand championships, having had the honf'ar of winning' the freestyle championship for five successive years. Miss Stockley has completed her seventh seascn in competition and it is remarkable J hat at this stage of her career she should have shown better form than ever before. Miss Stockley's New Records, Her free-style supremacy was challenged twice during the season. In 'the Auckland championship, when opposed by the title-holder, Miss D. Magee, she regained the honours the latter had wrested from her in 1927. Then her record of 65 3-5s for 100 yds. was equalled liy the intermediate champion, Miss P. Robertson, but Miss Stockley dropped the figures down to 655. Three of her freestyle records., namely, those for 50yds. (28 2-55.), 100 yds. and 100 metres (71 4-55.), a e faster than the Australian records. Her best performances were those for the 100 metres free-style and the* 100 yds. backstroke. The former, in comparison with the times returned at the Olympic Games,, would have earned her third place in the event over that distance. Her time for the backstroke, 76 2-ss, cq lals the time in which the American championship was won recently.

Although 10 other Auckland lady- won a senior national title, Miss Dorothy Giant, the local, middle-distance champion, again filled second place to Miss Kathleen Miller, of Wellington, in the 220 yds. nnd 440 yds. New Zealand championships. Continued improvement was made by Miss Grant during the season and in this respect it was particularly noticeable in her sprinting, especially over the latter part of the season. She is a fine, all-round swimmer. i Success of Miss Robertson.

In the intermediate girls' division .Miss Peggy Robertson was the'most conspicuous figure. • She is a remarkable swimmer for her ago and undoubtedly the best, girl sprinter the Dominion has ever produced. Named-as a "find" last season, she iiK.de rapid .progress and early iu the scascn won the Auckland 100yds-. championship for her .class in 69 ,2-55,. A week or so later she had her first Dominion championship success in f>B 2-55., which was incidentally a New Zealand record. Her best, however, had yet to come, for shortly afterwards she covered the distance in 65 3-55., which time, besides eclipsing her own record, also equalled the existing senior ladies' record. Sl'o has the attributes of a champion, possessing a fine physique, allied with a good style. The great improvement n her swimming powers during the pest season indicates that, she is capable of greater performances as sh<i gets older. Next season Miss Robertson will have graduated into the senior division.

Two i'inii exponents of breaststroke. Miss J. Thomson and J. Magee, captured Nev, Zealand intermediate titles;, The Mount Eden Club unearthed a Now Zeal: nd breaststroke champion in Miss J. Webster, a junior girl of exceptional ability.