SWIMMING ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21144, 30 March 1932, Page 15

SWIMMING ITEMS.

OLYMPIC GAMES TEAM. question of representation. four LEADING performers. As vet no advice has heen received in 'Auckland as to whether (he Dominion • to be represented in swimming events "tthe Olympic Games in L"s Angeles next intrust but it has been reported that the u „ ci l of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association in Christchurch av not nominate anybody for inclusion |n the New Zealand team. Such a decision , oald n0 doubt have a mixed reception in swimming circles throughout the Dominion, especially in Auckland, Canterbury and otago, as each of these centres poshes champions with some claim to Tw(; factors would largely influence the controlling body to decide against representation at the Games. The first is that finances in the overseas representation {und stand at a low ebb, there being -lightly over £BS available; the other, consequent on the first, is that the council, finding itself with the means of sending only one representative, may avoid the ill-feeling that would inevitably be aroused by a single selection by not favouring anyone Under these circumstances, there might be some justification for the council to adopt the course of making no recommendation to the New Zealand Olympic Council, in whose hands rests the final selection of the Dominion team. Nevertheless, it will be a pity if New Zealand is not represented in swimming, as the standard of performance has never been so high as at present. This is borne out by the fact that no fewer than 21 new national records have been established this season. Scope of Selection. The names of four swimmers come to mind as being in the running for selection. Thev are D. P. Lindsay, Canterbury, G. Brdson, Auckland, R. Calder Otago and Miss Ena Stockley, wno, although now a resident of Sydney, is eligible to represent only New Zealand through having been a member of the team that we nl, to Amsterdam in 1928. Impartially considered, the scope of selection presents little difficulty. Lindsay and Bridson have been the two most successful champions of the present season, hot creditable as their progress has been they would be outclassed in international competition, judging by their times to dat«s. C a !der has a fine record. Besides being the winner of the New Zealand diving tit],) sis "times, he was at the Empire Gams in 1930, when he was placed third in the diving, although he was severely handicapped by injuries sustained prior to the event. Calder is a master on the springboards and there i§ no doubt that if he were given the opportunity to compete it the Olympic Games he would give u good account of himself. | Miss Stockley's Times.

Had Miss Stockley not burst into prominence again so suddenly with her highclass Sydney swims, Calder would have had the strongest claim to nomination. Now, however, his claims appear to have been overshadowed by the brilliance of the performances of the former Auckland girl. She is definitely in world class. Her time of 72 2-ss, an Australian record, in winning the 110 yards scratch race in 565 yards pool.at Sydney on March 19, ranks her as one of the five fastest lady swimmers in the world, the other four being Miss HeJene Madison, of the United States, Miss Lenkey, of Hungary, Miss Joyce Cooper, of England, and Miss Yvonne Godard, of Fiance.

Miss Stockley's claims to selection have been strenghtened by her versatility. As an exponent of backstroke, she was a finalist at Amsterdam in 1928 and finished seventh, while recently she has revealed herself as a first-rate middle-distance swimmer by taking only 2m 45s—the New Zealand record, is 2m 47s— for 220 yards, after being placed a close second in the New South Wales championship in 2m 49 3-ss.