A BIG TEAM

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 571, 25 January 1929, Page 6

A BIG TEAM

Auckland Swimmers Seek National Titles EXPERIENCE AND YOUTH After a wave of enthusiasm, fully justified, the Auckland swimming championships have ended. And, what matters more, Auckland’s big swimming team of 22 has been selected for the quest for the Yaldhurst Shield at Te Aro baths, Wellington, early next month. There were no great sensations at the championships. Ena Stockley and Gordon Bridson were outstanding and placed the name of Grammar Club in large letters on the map. Then there was J. P. Farrell, who beat decisively a -flock of contenders for the men’s 100 yards title, while breaststroke champion N. K. Sylow had the simplest of wins in the 220 yards breaststroke. Among the juniors there jvas much promise. NO SPRINTER? As The Sun expected, the three selectors of the Auckland team paid strict attention to choosing a formidable set of girl swimmers. It will be in the women’s events that Auckland will hope to pick up points in its claim for the Yaldhurst Shield. More so than in the men’s races, where there is a decided lack of a sprinter to trpuble Billy Cameron, of Wellington, who is practically a certainty for the 100 yards. True, Farrell quashed the challengers for his title in great style, but his time was over three seconds slower than Cameron’s recorded best. Dowsett, of Wanganui, is generally expected to run next to Cameron, but his time at the Wanganui championships the other evening was hopelessly slow’, even for cold water. Possibly, he did not have sufficient competition, and he should do much better at Wellington. Jack En wright is Auckland’s next hope in the sprints. He will be useful, naturally, but is certain to be chiefly prominent in the 220 yards and the quarter-mile. The veteran has been showing several of the younger hopes who came down so badly in the

championships what judgment can mean in swimming. Most of IDnwright’s success hinges on his ability to plan out a race. Gordon Bridson, of course, is in all the distance races. David Lindsay, the national champion, will partner with him in the 220 yards and the mile, the only events in which Lindsay will have time to compete. Bridson seems most likely to win the quarter-mile, and his stamina should stand him in good stead in the halfmile. To add weight to Auckland’s wonderfully bright chances in the distance events, Ren do Loree, of Mount Eden, has been chosen as another string. He is racing in every event, l'or he is also entered in the 100 yards. His chances of gaining a place in the sprints are remote, on the face, but he will be a useful pacer in the longer events. Ponsonby’s clever diver, Wilfred Hassan, has been chosen for the team. His tussle for a place with Barry Young was highly interesting, and here is no doubt that Hassan will shape well. The Wellingtonian Hassan will have to meet is D. Muivihill, who won the intermediate diving title for Auckland in 1927. ENA STOCKLEY DOMINANT Ena Stockley has dominated the women’s events. Her selection was obvious. In the 100 yards, for instance, her feat in swimming within two-fifths of a second of her own record of 65 3-ssec. was remarkable considering her comparatively late

introduction to competitive swimming this season. Her time was better than that in which she won the New South Wales title a year ago. Doris Magee, of Parnell, is second string in the sprint. Her selection is popular, as her consistency and prominence during the season have placed her practically on a level with Miss Stockley*. Although she lost her Auckland title, Miss Magee proved more than a match for the champion in several previous events. Dorothy Grant will be Auckland’s main hope in the 220 yards and the quarter-mile. Her judgment and steadiness over both distances are unusually good. With her, Edna Champion will race. Miss Champion is gradually swimming herself into form, and has all her swimming in front of her. Although the time in the women’s 220 yards on Tuesday evening was slower than Miss Champion’s record for the same distance in the intermediate girls’ section, Miss

Champion can improve vastly by the time of the championships. FULL OF PROMISE Peg gy Robertson, of Parnell, will show better form in the intermediate girls’ 100 yards than in the furlong, although she is busy developing her style in the latter event. She is one of the most promising swimmers in action at present, and her turn is a lesson to older swimmers. The Waitemata girl, Miss M. Smith, will pair with Miss Robertson over the two distances, and Jean Thomson will race in the 75 yards breaststroke. Miss Smith is rapidly rising in prominence. Misses Sylvia Grange and M. Elworth are the representatives in the junior girls’ sprints, and Miss J. Webster is a neat breaststroke swimmer. The intermediate boy’ champion, S. Speight, cannot go to Welftngton, so Auckland’s representative will be L. Smythe. Jimmie Magee is in great form in the breaststroke, and set a new record for Auckland at the championships. Ronald Pidgeon will race in the 100 yards. Among the junior boy’s, the Whangarei entrant, A. Walker, has bad a rapid rise to prominence, with T. Strong, of Helensvillc, and S. Gardiner, the former champion, running next. It is unfortunate that X. Iv. Sylow, New Zealand breaststroke champion, who had such an easy win at the championships, cannot go to Wellington to race against the Wanganui swimmer, L. Smith, who lowered Sylow’s record the other evening. A race between the two would be a great attraction, as Sylow is in great form. TOOK THE HONOURS Parnell Swimming Club scored most points at the championships, with Grammar a close contender for honours. Both clubs are rising rapidly in prominence. Last championships they had a somewhat lean time when the youth of their members was pitted against the experience of older clubs. Now, youth is claiming its own. Points and positions are: Parnell, six firsts, two seconds, two thirds, 24 points; Grammar, six firsts, one second, one third, 21 points: Ponsonby three firsts, four seconds, three thirds, 20 points; Mount Eden, three firsts, two seconds, two thirds, 15 points; Waitemata, two firsts, three seconds, three thirds, 15 points; Devonport, three seconds, 6 points; Whangarei, two firsts, 6 points: Hellensville, one second, two thirds, 4 points.