SWIMMING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 299, 19 December 1933, Page 4

SWIMMING

AUSTRALIAN VISITORS LADY CHAMPIONS’ TOUR CARNIVAL AT GONVILLE BATH Judging by the number of entries received for the Gonville Swimming Club’s carnival, to be held in the Gonvillo bath to-morrow night, the visit of the Australian lady champions, Misses Claire Dennis and Frances Bult, is arousing keen interest, and if only the weather proves satisfactory there should be a capacity attendance at the carnival. Close on two hundred entries have been received, for the sixteen competitive events on the programme, and this will necessitate swimming some events in as many as three and even five heats, with the result that there will be approximately thirtysix races or diving competitions, forming a very lengthy programme. The Gonville Club officials can, however, be relied on to run these events through without unnecessary delay. " It is on the appearance of the Australian champions that most attention will be focussed, for seldom is the opportunity' provided of seeing in action such swimmers as these. Miss Dennis, as is well known, is the world’s breaststroke champion, while Miss Frances Bult is the British Empire free-style champion. The appearance of the vis itors at New Plymouth on Saturday night was the signal for scenes of enthusiasm on the part of the large crowd of spectators, estimated at upwards of 1500. One of the most interesting of the events of the evening, states the Taranaki Daily News, was a demonstration of strokes and styles by the Australian girls. Miss Bult demonstrated the nowfamous 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 breast stroke (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 the Victorian backstroke championship, used the Australian style. It was an enjoyable performance.