RECORD BREAKING FORM

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21280, 25 February 1939, Page 16

RECORD BREAKING FORM

Consistency of Winnie Dunn and Joyce Macdonald

The consistent record-breaking performances of Miss Winnie Dunn (Otago) and Miss Joyce Macdonald (Southland), both members of the women’s educational team, who are to appear at various country centres in Otago later in the month, have been features of the present season, indicating that the experience gained by both girls at the Empire Games last year was not in vain, says the Dunedin “Star.”

Miss Dunn holds every New Zealand women’s record for breast stroke. Last season she set national marks for 100 metres and 220yds. breast stroks, and at the Otago Championships in December she lowered her own mark for 100 metres to lmin 31 2-ssec., establishing a new record for 100yds also for lmin. 24sec.

During the appearance of the educational team at the Auckland championship carnivals, Miss Dunn put up a new record for 200yds. breast stroke of 3min. 20 l-ssec, 2 2-ssec faster than her own record. Two nights later she

took 45sec. of Miss Gladys Pidgeon’s 400 metres breast stroke record, being timed in 7min. Usee. Ten days later at Gisborne last Saturday, she competed in a 220yds. scratch race, and further improved her figures to 3min. 19sec. Miss Dunn is one of the most conscientious swimmers in competition, and her success has been the result of able coaching by her mentor, Mr Alex Greig, and of careful training and hard work.

Joyce Macdonald, who _ steps Into senior ranks at the national championships at Invercargill this month, has been equally successful. This girl is coached by Mr Horace Smith, former Canterbury representative, who is now one of the national coaches. Last season, after her return from the Empire Games, she lowered Ena Stockley’s time of 76 2-ssec. for 100yds. back stroke at Gisborne during the course of an educational tour, her time being 76 I.ssec, and it is not out of place to mention that when Miss Stockley put up her record a decade ago it was sufficient to give her world ranking. Miss Macdonald began the present season with a new record of 3min. lOsec. for 200 metres women’s back stroke, but subsequently this was improved upon by Miss Rita Stackpole, the Auckland intermediate, who in the interim had also established a New Zealand intermediate girls’ 100yds. back stroke record of 77 l-ssec. It was this latter mark that Miss Macdonald attacked in a special effort at the Auckland championship carnival, and she not only succeeded in lowering it easily, but also bettered her own ladies’ record, her time being 74 3-ssec. Two nights later she lowered Ena Stockley’s long-standing 200 metres back stroke record, bringing the time down from 84 2-ssec. to 82sec. At the end of the same week she clocked 74 3-ssec. for 100yds. back stroke in a handicap event at Otahuhu.

At Rotorua last week she had a swim-over in the 100yds. back stroke intermediate girls’ championship, and yet she managed to return the excellent time of 74 l-ssec., all the more astounding in view of the heavy water of the Blue Bath.

Two nights later at Gisborne, the scene of a former triumph, she returned 3min. 0 3-ssec. to regain the New Zealand 200 metres women’s back stroke record.

Miss Macdonald has not yet turned 17 —she celebrates her birthday after the national championship meeting—and unquestionably she stands out as probably New Zealand’s greatest prospect in the sport at the moment.