AUCKLAND’S GIRL SWIMMERS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 311, 23 March 1928, Page 10

AUCKLAND’S GIRL SWIMMERS

Brilliant Ena Stockley is Within Ace of Perfection CUTHBERT’S GIRL A COMING CHAMPION AUCKLAND girls have led the Dominion for years past in swimming. The close of the 1928 season finds Miss Ena Stockley swimming as well as ever, and a new star looms on the horizon in Miss Peggy Robertson, who joins a select company comprising Ena Stockley, Gladys Pidgeon, Doris Magee, Dorothy Grant, Jean Bell, Edna Champion and others who have placed Auckland in the first flight of New Zealand swimming.

If ever Miss Ena Stockley justified her inclusion in the Olympic Games representative team, she surely did at the Grammar Club carnival on Tuesday evening. To come within 2 3-ssec of the world’s record for the 100 metres backstroke is something to be proud of. As was the case in her attempt on the 100 metres free style record last week, Miss Stockley would have done faster time but for losing ground at the turns. Apart from this aspect ot her swimming, she was well nigh taultless. With such speed and such possibilities of lowering the world’s record, Miss Stockley may be expected to make a big effort to improve this important detail in her work before she leaves for Amsterdam, although as far as the Olympic Games are concerned, the council’s campaign for iunds will need to be much more strongly supported in the next week or two to allow of any sort of New Zealand representation at all. Provided Miss Stockley can be sent, her prospects as a backstroke representative are decidedly rosy, if she can retain her form and not over-do it in the meantime. The Grammar carnival was an excellent one, and except that the officials forgot to give the times in several events, there was nothing to complain about in the handling of the sports. STILL WINNING Miss Peggy Robertson, the 15-year-old wonder, was again victorious in the 100 yards women’s handicap. She set a great pace from the start, and after the second lap never looked like being beaten. Miss Robertson has a wonderful record for so late in the season, but she would be well advised to steady up next season. Miss Robertson has a long time ahead of her, and if, next season, she contented herself mainly with competing in school events, and not over-doing it in open competition, she would find that two seasons hence she would be feeling more fit and more capable of standing the fast swimming that seems to be coming the way of the lady swimmers. Innumerable girls have started just like Miss Robertson, but they have been finished before they were 17 years of age. A growing girl must watch herself, and by taking things easy for a season or so, Miss Robertson will go much further than she imagines. She is approaching a standard that is truly remarkable for one of her age,

and the possibilities open to her if she goes quietly are ten-foi l. It was bad luck for Miss Gladys Pidgeon that she failed in her attempt on her own 220 yards breaststroke record by 3 2-ssec. Miss Pidgeon commenced well, but seemed to tire over the latter stages. Should she make another attempt before the season closes, admirers of a fine swimmer will hope that she will be successful.