SWIMMING JOTTINGS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 235, 23 December 1927, Page 10

SWIMMING JOTTINGS

ENTRIES AT CARNIVALS GENERAL LAXITY RULING By “EIGHT-BEAT" With the season so far advanced, there has been ample opportunity ot late for competitors to get in practice. A great many have availed themselves of the carnivals, but there appears to be a laxity among some of the better known swimmers. In the last three carnivals seceial of Auckland’s best men did not take pail, and this is unfortunate, because tile Auckland championships are pot tar distant, and the result of these will be the deciding factor in the men who will go to Dunedin to defend the lalilhurst Shield. It is understood that many of them are waiting until alter the holidays before racing again, ana this being so they will have to strike excellent form if they are to be chosen for representative positions. The ladies, on the other hand, have been regular and consitsent competitors, with the result that they can be relied upon to do their best for Auckland. A BIG SURPRISE

There has been nothing startling in the number of entries received at the recent carnivals, but it certainly came as a big surprise to find that the Waxtemata Club’s carnival which was to have been held on Tuesday nlglit last had to be postponed because of lack of support. This, coming as it did from the premier club of Auckland, must appear exceedingly strange. From what can be gathered the entries from other clubs than Waitemata were well up to the mark, but the club members themselves seemed to have suffered from loss of memory.

Two swimmers the enthusiasts have been waiting to see in action, A. E. Baird, ex-distance champion, and Gordon Bridson, ex-intermediate champion, appeared last week. Baird, who unfortunately cannot make the trip, is evidently not taking the sport seriously this year, and his effort on Saturday at the Ponsonby Club’s gala, while not the best we have seen from him, was indication enough that Baird would be a serious rival to anyone if he had the chance of getting away. Bridson was also in good form, although not any* thing like he was last season, when in two swims lie smashed the 220yds record by 14 sec. It is perhaps rather early to judge, but nevertheless Bridson will have to show a bit more speed to gain his right for the trip South. Miss Ena Stockley, the 100yds champion of New Zealand, is swimming better than ever. She impressed considerably at the Ponsonby Club’s gala on Saturday and was only just beaten in the final of the 100yds. A serious contender for this title will be Miss Doris Magee. She has been improving in leaps and bounds since her return from Sydney, and Miss Stockley will have to move all the way to touch first. Miss Jean Bell is also making rapid improvement and will not be far behind when the race ends. Miss Piri Page can still move over the distance, and should be vastly improved when the time for the selectors comes along Miss Edna Champion should have no difficulty in disposing of her opponents in the intermediate division. She is swimming decidedly better than ever, and stands an excellent chance of beating allcomers.

The Ponsonby Club have an asset in N. K. Sylow, the newcomer who surprised everyone last Saturday by winning the 150yds breaststroke with absolute ease, and then taking the 50yds open handicap. Sylow should work into a place for the trip away, and if his form on Saturday is any indication of what he is capable of then there should be no doubt on this score.