GIRL SWIMMERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3756, 9 March 1926, Page 73

GIRL SWIMMERS.

NEW ZEALAND’S PAIR. (From Our Own Correspond**^.) SYDNEY, February 26. By her success in the 100 Yards Championship of Australia, Miss Ena Stock ley, of New Zealand, showed herself to be one of the finest girl swimmers tb:it have crossed the Tasman Nor did her team mate, Miss Firi Page, occupy a much lower place, when, obviously swimming out of her distance, slie failed by only two or three yards to catch the flying Miss Stoeklev, an 1 shaded all the local aspirants. The winner’s time, flflsec, was three seconds out si d e Miss Fanny Durack’s long-standing record by an Australian for the distance. 4 2-." sec outside Ethcldra B lei b trey’s record, and slower than her own best. All the newspapers paid tribute to Miss Stockley’s performance, but most of the critics professed not to be impressed by her stroke. , * It is interesting to read the remarks or the two generally accepted here as the most informative—' “Spectator” of the Sunday Times an 1 “Trudgeon” of the Daily Gnardian. The former wrote: . Her stroke amazed many, because she Ims a propellorlike cut with her hands under water. ‘Her style will get her results, declared Mrs (iateley (nee Miss Fanny Durack), after the race And as no Australian girl had yet beaten this lady’s time, she ought to know In fairness to the sprinters it should be stated that they swam against a high tide, and had a breeze against them “Trudgeon V remarks were: Miss Stockley's style did not impress. bhe swims ill spite of her stroke whichi m contrary to the accepted style. Her armwork is too short, and one-third of the recovery is made under water, resulting [ n retarding actions. I am confident tha. iveie she to make her arm catch above water instead ot floating it into position the Dominion star would eclipse lier previous best time without effort, and t am amazed that her faulty arm-work has not been rectified by her coach. Miss 1 age is bv far the better stylist. Miss Page, indeed, seems to nave impressed all the critics with her style- One describing the race, said: Vei a 1 a\\ley —the Sydney Champion— thanks to a magnificent burst of speed, led till about half wav, but then Miss Stockley s staying powers- asserted themselves, and as the Svduev girl ‘died’ Ena came along and passed her. So did i’iri Rage, the other \ew Zealand monnn’.v. Just before the start she told me that she did not like ncr chile e of getting a place, but she finished gamely, and in the furlong and quarter-mile championship races I think it's the Commonwealth Bank to a China orange on tiio visitor. Mew Zealand readers will know when this appears m print how that prophecy worked out. There was an unfortunate incident at the start, of the race. There were seven coiui.ulilorn, but only six lanes had been laid down. These lanes, in use here since the last Olympic Gaines, are marked by cork-supported ropes. The result was that two of the competitors, Miss Ethel Mealing, of Sydney, and Miss Lily Venning, of Brisbane, were left with only one lane to swim in. “Put Ethel on the fence, screamed one turbulent female enthusiast, referring to the plight of Miss Mealing, who was nearest the side of the bath. Ena Stockley seemed upset. Lady officials dashed about the baths, while the crowd cheered. ‘This waiting is awful,” remarked Miss Page. “I’d give anything for an ice cream,” said Miss Ettie Robertson, a local swimmer, satirically, as she stood in a thin racing costume in the face of a keen breeze. To overcome the objections of Miss Mealing and Miss Venning the outside lane was removed, the pair being given rpen water to swim in. With no guide being provided, Miss Venning veered across and bored Miss Mealing shorewards, thus nullifying whatever chances these two possessed. “Had a little common sense been used,” remarked one caustic newspaper critic, “and the line between the Misses Venning and Stockley been removed, all three competitors would have had ample room in which to swim and an even chance of victory.” But the public’s view was that the committee erred on the right side by refusing to endanger Miss Stockley’s chances.