Quests for National Swimming Titles Begin To-Morrow

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

Quests for National Swimming Titles Begin To-Morrow

Auckland s Chances Brightest For'Years —Powerful Team Goes South to Recover Yaldhurst Shield W ellington May Prove “Surprise Packet” —Several Old Records in Danger of Falling Lindsay to Swim for Auckland; Miss Miller for Wellington.

New Zealand’s big swimming public is absorbed in the national championships, which make their bow at Te Aro baths, Wellington, to-morrow. The curtain will be rung down on February 9. Auckland’s chances are much brighter than those of other centres. The seniors are confidently expected to recover the Yaldhurst Shield from

Canterbury, and the intermediate and junior representatives, the War Memorial Shield from Wellington. Water polo is likely to be the weakest Nurvliern link. Auckland looks like missing in the men’s 100 yards, in which Cameron, ol' Wellington, who lias been clocked to break 57sec, and Lowsett, of Wanganui, title and record holder, are almost certain to be and second. Far-

rell should do better than Enwright for Auckland, but, even then, the Wellingtonian, Claridge, will be troublesome. D. P. Lindsay, holder of all the distance titles, will have time to swim for Auckland in the 220 yard:, and the mile only, but Bridson is in all the distances, and Enwright in the furlong and the quarter-mile. Lindsay is expected to win his two races, but Stokes, the Canterbury man, may be too much for Bridson in the quartermile and the half-mile. Stokes has been doing so well this season that he may trouble Lindsay, too. The 220 yards will be the most interesting race. Enwright should be third in the quarter-mile and Claridge in the same position in the half. Loris Magee, of course, will not now string with Ena Stockley in the women’s 100 yards. The New Zealand champion girl sprinter should have no difficulty in quashing the challenges of Wellingtonian Kathleen Miller, and the improving Wanganui girl, Natalie Stratton. Miss Magee’s absence is unfortunate, as she was expected to be second. Miss Stockley is at the top of her form and should repeat her recent performance of improving on her winning time in the New South Wales championship Inst season. Miss Miller should be second through sheer experience, at least. Loris Grant, Miss Stockley and Edna Champion, are challenging Miss Miller for her 220 yards title, and Miss Grant, Auckland champion, will be the closest contender. In the quarter-mile championship, Miss Miller should be able to keep her litle. Misses Grant and Champion will be much more evenly matched in this event, and Miss Grant may be beaten for second place. Peggy Robertson, who is the most promising competitor Auckland has produced this season, does not look like being troubled to the

slightest degree in the intermediate girls’ 100 yards and the 220 yards. Here are two titles Auckland’s almost for the taking. Jimmie Magee, the intermediate Toy breaststroke champion over 100 yards, is in the same happy position. Walker, the Whangarei boy, will probably win for Auckland the junior Toys’ 100 yards and 220 yards. In any ease, he has Strong and Gardiner to assist him. Sylvia Grange and Una Elworth should be first and second in the junior girls’ 50 yards and 100 yards, too. Miss Webster, who has sprung into prominence this season, will have little trouble in the junior girls’ sprint breaststroke. More doubtful is the intermediate girls’ 100 yards breaststroke, in which the champion, Jean Thomson, of Auckland, will have to stave off Maxeine Mathieson, of Otago. Sir.ytlie and Pidgeon, Auckland’s pair in the intermediate boys’ free-style, should swim into places in a class lacking in efficient talent. Several who will strengthen Auckland’s water polo team are the speedsters, Farrell and Enwright. Bridson and IToneyfield will be solid and Moore will be valuable for his judgment. Wellington has the best chance of winning and CanterbLiry. v » ich has won monotonously in years past, will give very little trouble. Wilfrid Hassen has an excellent chance in the diving. He has had extraordinary success this season. With such an array of talent it is hard to see that Auckland can be displaced. No other centre has entered a as solid as the Northern representatives, although Wellington is considered to be dangerous.. Order of championship events: Saturday Afternoon.—looyds and one mile men's, 100yds women's, 75yds. intermediate girls’ breaststroke, 220yds. intermediate boys’, 50yds. junior girls’, 100 yds. junior boys’, water polo (rounds). Monday Afternoon.—22oyds. men's, 220yds. women’s. 150yds. men’s backstroke, 100yds. intermediate girls’, 440yds

intermediate boys’, 75yds. junior boys’ breaststroke, 50yds. junior girls’ breaststroke, intermediate boys’ diving (high and low boards), water polo (.rounds), women’s diving (high and low boards). Wednesday Afternoon.—SoOyds. men’s, 220yds. men s breaststroke, men’s diving (high and low boards'. 100yds. women's

backstroke, intermediate boys' diving (final), 100yds. intermediate-boys', 220yds. intermediate girlie', 100yds. junior girls’, 220yds. junior boys , water polo (rounds). Saturday Afternoon, February 0. 110 yds. men's, 440yds. women’s. 220vds women's breaststroke, 500yds tlvin°squadron relay race (teams of five men each), men's diving (final), women's diving (final). EOyds. invitation scratch race, 100yds. intermediate boys' breaststroke, water polo (final). Oil Thursday afternoon, February o,' the three-mile race for the Annette ixeilerman Cup will be held. Webster, Bridsen tativ nwris ' ht ure Auckland’s repre-