BIG GATHERING OF SWIMMERS

Southland Times, Issue 23741, 13 February 1939, Page 8

BIG GATHERING OF SWIMMERS

COMPETITORS IN N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAMS ARRIVE DURING WEEK-END

One of the biggest gatherings of swimmers to assemble for a New Zealand championship meeting is now in Invercargill, the Otago and Canterbury teams having arrived yesterday, the Canterbury team by car and the Otago team by the night train. Members of some of the North Island teams arrived on Saturday night. Of special interest is the fact that there are no fewer than seven breaststroke swimmers, compared with five at last year s championship meeting at New Plymouth. The average number at a New Zealand championship meeting is about two. The members of the Otago team are: Messrs E. C. Isaacs (manager) and D. Watson (assistant manager), Mrs L. L. Isaacs (chaperon); water polo A team, D. Pickard, A. Thomas, M. Taylor, N. Williams, J. 0. Burns, W. Dyson, J. W. Clulee; B team, G. O. Wootton, J. Swan, M. Goodwin, K. Butler, D. Watson, W; Williams, C. Kidd; swimming team, D. Freeman, C. Kidd W. Dyson, A. Thomas, Misses G. Rix, I. Purdie W. Dunn, C. Garvin. D. J. Shanahan, the South Canterbury swimmer, accompanied the Otago team. The team is also accompanied by the president of the Otago Centre (Mr W. A, Jenkins) and two members of the centre, Messrs S Brown and W. H. Matthews. The members of the Canterbury team are: H. Horsfall, L. Newell, A. T. F. Stokes, C. Cliff, R. Low, D. Sams and F. Guzwell. . _ H. Hatchwell, F. Pennington, K. Spry and Miss S. Gottlieb (Wellington), Misses Mona Leydon and K. Grey (Auckland), Miss Joyce Macdonald (Sduthland), J. C. W. Davies, C. Blow, W B. Milne and J. Devine, manager (Taranaki) and D. J. Ewart (Bay of Plenty) arrived on Saturday. »

EXHIBITION IN BATHS i Some of the earlier arrivals visited . the Municipal Baths during the week- j end to try the water and to loosen their muscles after the journey, and visitors had an opportunity of seeing them in ( action. The beautiful gliding stroke of J the New Zealand breaststroke chain- ( pion, J. C. W. Davies, of Taranaki, was watched with interest, and the rela *® a , poise, magnificent floating and fast leg action of Miss Kathleen Grey were also . the subject of admiring comment. An attractive display was also given by ■ Miss Sylvia Gottlieb (Wellington) the : 100 yards title holder. Among the free-style swimmers Peter Hannan (Auckland) and R. Hatchwell (Weilinston) were prominent. Peter Mamieson and C. Cliff (Canterbury) the backstroke swimmers, were also closely watched. Fresh from her educational tour Miss Joyce Macdonald (Southland) gave an interesting demonstration, using only leg thrashing as a means of propulsion, and showing a good turn of speed. Because of the big number of entries in ■ the men’s mile championship and the 220 yards men’s breaststroke championship it has been decided to hold the heats for this event tonight. SOUTHLAND POLO TEAMS The following teams have been selected to represent Southland in the waterpolo section: A Team-Goal, Jack Henry; backs, Joffre Henry, V. L. Grenfell and W. T. Springford (captain); forwards, A. Marshall, D. Davis, F. W. Springford (vice-captain). B Team—Goal, A. Duncan; backs, 1. Bath, J. Courtis, A. W. Wesney (captain); forwards, J. Cameron, I. Mitchell, A. C. Millar (vice-captain). Emergencies for both teams: G. Rask, W. Johnson, M. A. Hunt, O. Davis, R. Blue, M. Fearn, A. Brown. The A team is to play on Saturday morning and the B team on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. Players who are not available are to notify Mr H. G. Smith. at* the Municipal Baths office by 9.30 a.m. of the day of the match. The Southland relay team will be chosen from the following: A. C. Millar, D. Davis, W. Johnson, F. W. Springford ’ and J. Cameron. WOMAN SWIMMER’S SUCCESS > The most outstanding woman breast- . stroke swimmer in New Zealand today, Miss Winnie Dunn (Otago), came into , prominence last season as the result of [ consistent swimming, earning a trip to the Empire Games at Sydney. i At New Plymouth Miss Dunn was seriously challenged by the Southland . breaststroke champion, Miss Claire | > 'Lynch, whom she beat, in a splendid L finish. On the tour of New Zealand as I a member of the women’s educational t; party Miss Dunn broke the long- ' standing record held by Miss Gladys 1 Pigeon (Auckland) for the women’s 400 - metres breaststroke, reducing the time

of 7.56 1-5 to 7.11. She also reduced her own. New Zealand 220 yards record from 1.33 to 1.20 1-5 in the fast salt-water pool at Auckland in special attempts. Miss Dunn’s only opposition will come from her consistent opponent, Miss Lynch, who, as an intermediate, always succeeded in defeating the brilliant Otago swimmer, and Miss J. Hannon, a promising breaststroke swimmer who is making her debut in senior national championship competition.