PERSONALITIES IN N.Z. SPORT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 595, 22 February 1929, Page 12

PERSONALITIES IN N.Z. SPORT

WELLINGTON HAS FASTEST SPRINT SWIMMER IN N.Z. BUT HE’S AN AUCKLANDER! One thing Auckland has not got—that is New Zealand’s champion sprint swimmer. He is Billy Cameron, of Wellington, and Wellingtonians are proud of their possession. But Auckland has som? measure of claim on Cameron, at anv

rate, for lie was born in the province, at Whakatane. Then, again, Cameron likes Auckland and Aucklanders. Tuesday evening this week saw Cameron’s first appearance before an Auckland crowd. received an enthusiastic reception. When he equalled his own record time for 100 yards against difficult handicap men, he was accorded another burst of applause, and when the pleasing announcement was made that Cameron was to come to Auckland specially to race Arne Borg, enthusiasm knew no bounds. It was a successful time for Cameron, his bnci stav in Auckland. . What the public interest will d* when Borg arrives and Cameron i* matched against him with the best sprinters that Auckland can on thrown in, can be imagined. Cameron’s success with the puo’ is that people are well aware of achievement in becoming New land champion when he is °H*y years of age. Cameron has remßlw* able physique, ; nd. should he sen to Australia at any time. he will be a fine advertisement for New Zed land.

In spite of his youth he is 6ft tall and weighs about 14st. .v‘ development speaks a good deal to swimming, too. Cameron 19 , keen surfer and belongs to Lyall Bay Club. There has been conquerable athlehc talent in the Cameron familj. runeron’s father was a .veil-known ner and a keen supporter ofming. It was through him that C eron was introduced seriously to tn sport. Cameron's sister too prominent swimmer in Hawse s fur Junior and intermediate New Zealand have been held bs ram eron easily enough for years P * specialises over the 100 yards, his success this season hisenior company—was noi <«_ ® 33* unexpected. Cameron is a * R «rirsv back-stroke and breast-stroK -]*s. mer. but. for free-stvle s ' tm ' n ( !,i anP e. yards is obviously his " tion tVater polo also claims his and he is an able centre-forward

Wellington. , Twice—once at Wellington, and again at Auckland—Camero covered 100 yards in 55 - h As THE SUN has oornted out has not really been tested fully over the last few yards, sc, . Borg’s competition, he likely set a new time for h _ even if he cannot finish right UP with the Swedish star. So the fact that Cameron has * his swimming ahead of him J Perhaps ho will set definite for others to follow, but, then a S rise may have been too sudden.