CHAMPION SWIMMERS

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18069, 17 March 1923, Page 3

CHAMPION SWIMMERS

RETURN OF AIISSES SHAND AND WAGGON D. Alter a successful trip to Australia, Alisses G.witlsa, snand, of Ciiristciiureii, and Violet Walromi, or Auckland, New Zealand representatives at the Ladies’ Australasian Championship A Looting, recently held at Syune.v, returned to the Uommiou on J uhesday, in tue Alntmka.

In the course of a short interview in Auckland Aliss blinnei spoke in tulogistic terms of Inc manner in which the Australian ladies had entertained Aliss Wnurond and herself. Nothing had been left undone that-would tend to make their visit enjoyable, and her experience of the Comonwoalth was that the Australians are as good as they arc reputed to be m the matter of hospitality. As regard:, the races iu which they participated, Aliss Shand said shewould say nothing about- her Australian competitors. All the championship ci cuts were keenly contested, and in the 100yds Aliss Walrond put up a great fight, and won from the speaker by a short, distance. Aliss Wylie, who was considered to lie the best Australian girl over 100yds and up to _SBoyds, was third. Aliss Slutnd beat Miss Walrond in tlm 220vds, in which Aliss . yliej was also third ; an(f the order was the same in the 440yds. At Albiiry a - n d Goulburn Alisses Shand and Walrond gave exhibitions and participated in handicap events. Special reference to the intense heat was made by Aliss Shand. Before they went to Albiiry the temperature- had been up to 11.2 degrees, and whilst they were there it was never less than 101. Altogether, it was a thoroughly enjoyable ’ trip, covering a period of five weeks. Airs Chambers, honorary secretary of Iho Australian Ladies’ Swimming Assoeial tion, who accompanied the two New Zealand ladies and Aliss Wylie to New on land, had been kindness itself during their stay in Australia. Airs Reid, another New Zealand lady, is one of the party. She referred to the fact that the Australian Ladies Swimming Association is managed entirely by members ,cf the fair sex. “You don’t see a man anywhere,” she said. “All the handicapping and other official work is done by women, and they even manage their own financial affairs. In Alelbourne they are not such a happily united body, and the New Zealand swimmers were unable to no there, chiefly, I think, because Melbourne people were- rather timid of incurring the expense, since they Ipse financiallv on the occasion of the visit of Mi's Bloibtrev. For the same vpason, Mi<s Shand and Aliss A', alrond did not go to Brisbane.