SWIMMING TOPICS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 788, 8 October 1929, Page 14

SWIMMING TOPICS

HEAVY LOSS SUFFERED IN WOMEN'S SECTION BUILDING UP JUNIOR TALENT Until 1923-30 club lists are drawn up correctly at annual meetings, which are already being arranged, there will not be a reliable indication of the strengths of the swimming clubs of Auckland. October, the month before serious training activities, is always a time for speculation, and there has been more than one rumour so far of fairly important transfers of club swimmers. Yet swimming is affected in a comparatively small degree by club changes. Last season, for instance, the transfers were of no great moment as far as club swimming was concerned. Numerically, such clubs as Waiteniata, Ponsonby, Parnell and Mount Eden will retain their strong positions again. Auckland can usually depend on' seasonal increase in club support. Grammar Club, which has enjoyed the benefits of having prominent national champions in its ranks, although its actual club members have not attained an impressive figure, is a club which should add considerably to : its strength. That young and keen ; ciub, Devonport, is also looking for- J ward to a successful season. There has been talk of the addition of notable j swimmers to Devonport’s ranks. In club form, Waitemata and Parnell ! did excellently last season, and should not be handicapped for lack of talent this summer. Mount Eden, too, is likely to on collective performances, at least. Grammar has suffered severe setbacks in the departure of Ena Stockley for Sydney and Dorothy Grant for Suva. Miss Stockley last season sustained record-breaking form to a remarkable degree, and Miss Grant gave indications of considerable improvement this season. Gordon Bridson, New Zealand’s long-distance champion, will have to be Grammar s mainstay. according to the prospects of the moment. LINDSAY AND FARRELL Waitemata will have David Lindsay as long-distance star. Johnnie Darrell, Tack En wright and probably Len Fairgray in the sprints. The extent of the girls’ swimming power has yet to be determined, but the club is in the ?nviable position of having promising junior members. Ken de Lorec will be in action again for Mount Eden and Don Plank will be an able assistant. Parnell’s faith, after the loss of Doris Magee is, of course, rightly placed in Peggy Robertson, who is undoubtedly the girl swimmer standing out as the next national championship hope. Miss Robertson should be Auckland’s first string in girls’ swimming when the Yaldhurst Shield is defended at Greymouth. But it is to the junior swimming that Auckland’s attention will htyve to turn. [True, the North possesses the New Zeaj land junior title, but there is still to bo found an Auckland challenger in men’s senior swimming to Bilil Cameron, of Wellington. The senior swimmers could not approach Cameron last season, and it seems that newer talent will have to be encouraged. Besides the keen club interest developing in the improved water polo competitions in view, under the direction of the Water Polo Control Board, there is the satisfying prospect of the affiliation of the University Club with the Swimming Centre. In spite of sudden losses, officials are justified in hoping for a season in which Auckland can retain its supremacy.