Personalities In N.Z. Sport

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 577, 1 February 1929, Page 7

Personalities In N.Z. Sport

Keen Auckland Swimmer — 10 Years a Representative — Capable Water Polo Goalie *♦ ~~ _}

To have represented Auckland at swimming for 10 years in succession is the remarkable record of Len Fairgray, the prominent Waitemata Club member. And even now he is only 23 years of age Fairgray’s consistent showings year after year have been all the more interesting because he has received no regular coaching from anyone. As all Aucklanders know, he has been something of a specialist over the 150 yards back-stroke distance. When the American, Norman Ross, long since a professional, raced in New Zealand some years ago. young Fairgray patched him swimming back-stroke, r alrgra y picked up Ross’s style to a remarkably accurate degree, and prac-

tised it steadily. He soon rose much above the ordinary. How true this is is seen in the fact that he still holds the New Zealand record for the distance. It is lm 32 3-ss, put up in Auckland. For three years in succession Fairgray was New Zealand back-stroke champion, but he lost his title to the Canterbury man. L. J. Moorhouse, last year. This year Fairgray won the Auckland back-stroke championship in ridiculously easy style. Even now, Auckland can produce no one to trouble him at the style. He has held the Auckland title for the past four years. This season, Fairgray knew he could not get away to the New Zealand championships, so he did not enter the

competition very seriously. lie can still go near to two minutes over the back-stroke. Over the 100 yards, Fairgray has not won a title, but he has always gone close to winning in championships. The Waitemata Club veteran, Jack Enwright, has given Fairgray one or two hints in sprinting, but he has not attempted to specialise in the distance. At water polo, Fairgray is recognised as the best goal-keeper Auckland has produced. He has represented the North for four seasons past, and the team now in Wellington could do with his services. Playing for his club, Fairgray is generally found as centre-back. He thinks that water polo could be taken up more seriously in Auckland, and -is emphatic about the good qualities of the game. 1 Fairgray bold the 100 yards record for the intermediate boys’ class for two t years. When ho was only 13 years old 3 he was second in the Auckland junior 1 boys’ championship. He won an Auek--2 land championship for boys under 10 1 r when he was nine. In his intermediate ? days, he used to try distance swimming, but soon gave up the long swims when he rose to senior ranks. Fairgray still intends to continue in ! competition with all his enthusiasm. At the present time he is a repreJ sentative of the Waitemata Club on j the Auckland Swimming Centre, and „ is on the centre executive. He is also a member of the committee of his club. Fairgray is one of the noted swimi liters in New Zealand, and he will he 1 missed when the championships begin ? at Wellington to-morrow.