SWIMMING RECORDS SET

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1933, Page 9

SWIMMING RECORDS SET

FITZROY CLUB’S CARNIVAL

APPEARANCE OF AUSTRALIANS. ENWRIGHT’S FINE PERFORMANCE. MISS CARNCROSS’ PROMISE. The visit to New Plymouth of the Australian swimming team, Misses Frances Bult and Claire Dennis, on Saturday night, when they swam at the Fitzroy Surf Club’s carnival, was an eyeopener in every respect, and the large crowd was treated to a display of swimming strokes which will almost certainly cause repercussions in the Taranaki swimming world. The Australians showed themselves complete masters of style, and some of the races in which the pair took part were wonderfully exciting. One Taranaki record and a New Zealand record, both for women, were shattered during the evening. The Australian party, Mrs. W. Chambers (chaperone, who started all events), Misses Bult and Dennis, were introduced by Mr. J. D. Moorhead, of the Fitzroy Surf Club. The Mayor (Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour) in welcoming the visitors to New Plymouth said he hoped the party would have a royal time during their stay in New Zealand. He congratulated them on their fame and performances and said he hoped they would hold their records for years to- come.

Great interest was roused when Miss Bult stepped on to the board for the first heat of the 220 yards open handicap. Miss Bult was giving away starts up to 225., and as she plunged in for the first lap her easy style was emphasised. She did the first lap very quickly, turning like a flash—to make her turn she dives about a yard from the end of the baths and almost somersaults under the water, gaining a'great push. The crowd became excited at she drew level with all except W. Coleman, and in her last spurt for the tape she just managed to touch ahead, of J. Ryan for second place.

The second heat of the same race was a notable one in every respect. Miss Claire Dennis, off 325., swam breaststroke all the way, and her beautifully easy style was a wonderful sight. She held her lead to the end, revealing great stamina as she sprinted for the tape. Her time, 3m. 12 3-55., was approximately 235. faster than ’Miss Gladys Pigeon’s New Zealand record of 3m. 35 l-55., for the same distance, established in 1928. Her Olympic record for the 200 metres breaststroke is 3m. 6 3-10 s. As 200 metres is about two yards short of 220 yards, it can easily be seen that Miss Dennis was in her best form; < Her best Australian performance for the 220 yards is 3m. 9 l-55., established on February 9 this year. '

ENWRIGHT’S APPEARANCE.

No less interesting was the appearance of \Jack Enwright, of Auckland, one ofi the greatest swimmers New Zealand has ever ; produced, and a master of style. Enwright. was giving Miss Dennis 325., and, peculiarly, 32 years. He is 50; she is 18. He swam a brilliant race, return-; ing approximately 2m. 40 3-ss. for the race. >'.

Miss V; Carncross, a 17-year-old girl from Eltham, broke the Taranaki women’s* 50 yards record by one second . in the final of the 50 yards ladies’ handicap. : Miss ’ Carncross swam a fine race, her time being 33 3-ss. Miss Bult was especially interested in the young/ swimmer, and said that, -with improvement in style, her time could" be reduced by three seconds at least. She very kindly offered to give Mias Carncrosssome totelake, ■ and will spend half an hour with her at the Hawera baths to-day. Miss Camcross is ineligible for the intermediate championships, but should her time, as Miss- Bult considers is possible, be reduced by three seconds, she is a potential New Zealand champion. One of ..the most interesting of the events of the eveniing. was a demonstration of'strokes .and. styles by the Australian girls. Miss Bult. demonstrated the now-famous Japanese style, and her own turn, while-Miss Dennis, besides showing her breaststroke style, gave a very amusing and remarkable display of trick strokes. These included the jazz stroke, done by the body rolling over after each alternate arm-stroke, a whale stroke, riding a bicycle (especially interesting), waist-high breaststroke (a difficult accomplishment), and the Fitzroy Flapper, in which Miss Dennis swam side-stroke while gently waving her hands. Then Miss Dennis demonstrated her remarkable versatility further by swimming the American style of backstroke, while Miss Bult, who holds a Victorian backstroke championship, used the Australian style. It was an enjoyable performance. A word of praise is due to the handicapers, Messrs. Moorhead and C. G. Campbell. The events without exception were closely contested, with particularly exciting finishes. The working of the carnival was "praised by Mrs. Chambers, who said that the arrangements were better than at any previous carnival in which the Australians had appeared in’ New Zealand. The baths, also, were, in the opinion of the swimmers, up to first-class standard. The results are:—

50 yards ladies’ breaststroke handicap: Miss L. Wickham (Stratford) 3s. 1, Miss H. Florence (New Plymouth) ss. 2, Miss D. Charters (Fitzroy) Bs. 3; time 495. Won by two yards. 100 yards boys’ handicap (under 18): First heat: R. Eagar (Stratford) 3s. 1, D. Gayton (New Plymouth) 6s. 2, A. Crombie (Fitzroy) 7s. 3; time, 71 4-ss. B. Milne was disqualified. Second heat: L. Eddlestone (East -End) 2s. 1, N. Turnbull .(Stratford) ss. 2, A. Morgan (East End) ss. 3; time, 77 4-ss. Third heat: J. Spedding (Fitzroy) 9s. 1, L. Charters (Fitzroy) Is. 2, J, Henderson (East End) 3s. 3; time, 74 3-ss. Fourth heat: L. W. Bennett (Fitzroy) 3s. 1, B. Huntfer (Fitzroy) 4s. 2; time, 78 4-ss. First semi-final: Spedding 1, Turnbull 2, Gayton 3; time, 74 3-ss. Second semi-final: Eddlestone 1, Bennett 2, Eagar 3; time, 76 2-ss. Final: Spedding 1, Turnbull 2; time, 75 3-ss. Won easily. 220 yards open handicap: First heat: C. Maclean (Fitzroy) 15s. 1, Miss F. Bult (Australia) ss. 2, J. Ryan (New Plymouth) 15s. 3; time, 3m. 7 2-ss. Miss Bult’s time was 2m. 48 4-ss. Second heat: Miss C. Dennis (Australia) 325. 1, J. Enwright (Waitemata) scr. 2, W. Wright (East End) 12s. 3; Miss Dennis’ breaststroke time was 3m. 12 3-ss. Enwright’s time was 2m. 40 4-ss. Final;j Maclean 1, Enwright 2, Ryan 3; time, 2m. 56 3-ss.

50 yards ladies’ handicap: First heat: Miss J. Alleman (Inglewood) 2s. 1, Miss K. Frost (Waitara) 4s. 2, Miss J. Davidson (Fitzroy) 2s. 3; time, 38 2-ss. -Second heat: Miss V. Camcross (Eltham) scr. 1, Miss L. Fox (New Plymouth) scr. 2, Miss J. Richardson (Fitzroy) Is. 3; time, 39 l-ss. Final: Miss Carncross 1, Miss Frost 2; time, 37 2-ss. 66 2-3 yards men’s handicap: First heat: J. Davis (Stratford) ss. 1, J. Campbell (New Plymouth) Is. 2; time, 50s. Second heat: A. Robson (Stratford) Is. 1, Skipper (New Plymouth) ss. 2; time, 45 4-ss. Third heat: E. Coleman (East End) Bs. 1, R. Girling (Stratford) 2s. 2; time, 475. Fourth heat: H. Anthony (New Plymouth) ss. 1, N. Lealand (New Plymouth) ss. 2; time, 47 3-ss. Fifth heat: H. Watkins (New Plymouth) 4s. 1, H. South (New Plymouth) 7s. 2; time, 44 l-ss. Sixth heat: J. Caldwell (Okato) 3s. 1, R. Perkins (New Plymouth) 4s. 2, C. Mac-

lean (Fitzroy) 4s. 3. First semi-final: Coleman 1, Perkins 2; 48s. Second semifinal: Gayton 1, South 2. Third semifinal: Skipper 1, Robson 2; time, 44 2-ss. Final: South 1, Coleman 2; time, 465. Open dive: R. Williams (East End)) 24pts. 1, L. Hannan (N.P.) 23pts. 2, H. V. Hogg (N.P.) 21 l-3pts. 3. 50 yards scratch race: First heat: I. J. Haughton (Stratford) 1, .R. Macfarlane (East End) 2; time, 29 l-ss. . Second heat: H. St. George (Fitzroy) 1, Miss F. Bult (Australia) 2; time, 27 3-ss. Final: St. George 1, Haughton 2; time, 28s. Six-a-side scratch relay: Stratford (T. J. Haughton, A. .Robson, R. Girling, B. Lonsdale, R. Clayton and R. Eagar) 1, New Plymouth 2; time, lm. 55 2-ss. Misses Bult and Dennis will appear at Hawera this evening, where a special carnival has been arranged. Both the Australians will be seen in events in which they will be seen at their best. A good supporting programme has been arranged, including a polo match between Hawera and Stratford. Officials at the carnival were: Club president, Mr. W. N. Stephenson; judges, Messrs. W. N. Stephenson, H. V. S. Griffiths, P. E. Stainton and R. Day; starter, Mrs. W. Chambers, Olympic chaperone; check starter, Mr. F. J. Eggleton; marksmen, Messrs. G. F. Bertrand and M.

Smale; timekeepers, Messrs. C. H. Stephenson, J. Bennett and F. Clarke; handicappers, Messrs. J. D. Moorhead and C. G. Campbell; committee, Misses L. Hammond and J. Davidson, Messrs. W. J. Toomey, J. W. Moorhead, C. G. Campbell, L. W. Riley, L. Charters and L. W. Bennett; treasurer, Mr. N. J. Gardiner; secretaries, Messrs. R. Grace and N. J. Gardiner. FLANNAGAN CUP CONTEST. DATE FIXED BY CENTRE.. A meeting of the executive ofiihe Taranaki Swimming Centre was'€'hel;d on Saturday, when it was decided (that January 27 be the date of the Flannagan Cup ocean race. The tide is at 8.30 on that evening, and complete arrangements for starting times have therefore not yet been decided upon. CHILDREN’S CARNIVAL. Surprisingly, there was a poor attendance at the Saturday afternoon carnival, given especially by the Fitzroy Surf Club for children, for the purpose of allowing the children to see the styles adopted by

the Australian swimmers Misses Frances Bult and Claire Dennis. The swimmers gave an interesting display of their strokes, which they explained to the spectators by loudspeaker, and the educational side was shown when later in the afternoon one of the most promising swimmers in the boys’ intermediate division was noticed practising Miss Bult’s famous turn.

Later the party was taken for a drive around the New Plymouth beaches.