FIGHTING BAN

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31001, 5 March 1966, Page 2

FIGHTING BAN

Girl With One Leg (N. Z. P. A.-Reuter—Copy rioht) LONDON. A 13-year-old English girl who is a school champion butterfly swimmer has been disqualified from a county championship because she has only one leg. The ban on the girl, Monica Vaughan, a member of the Northsea Swimming Club, Portsmouth, may go before the national body of the Amateur Swimming Association. Monica finished fourth in the butterfly event at a championship at Southampton on Saturday, but was disqualified. No reason was given, but the president of the Hampshire A.S.A., Mr John Moorey, said: “It was because she has only one leg. “The laws say that the legs must move simultaneously. If one leg moves up and down surely she is not breaking the rules. I was angry at the decision.” The disqualification was the decision of two judges, Mrs Mary Howe, of Bournemouth, and Captain Dows, of Aidershot “To Be Admired” "The girl is to be admired and encouraged,” said the A.S.A. press officer, Colin Pope. "If she has any part of her leg remaining—lf it Is not severed at the hip—it would seem that she fulfils the conditions of the appropriate law which says that both legs must move simultaneously.” e Monica said last night: “I was a bit upset, but I am not going to let it get me down. I hope the rules are made clear so that I can enter championships in the future.”