SWIMMING CHAMPIONS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 865, 8 January 1930, Page 13

SWIMMING CHAMPIONS

BRIDSON MAY CAPTURE ALL TITLES SELECTORS’ BIG TASK Eighteen championship contests, besides handicap events, are to be decided tomorrow evening at the Tepid Baths, when the Auckland Swimming Centre will hold its annual championships. At this carnival, with the New Zealand championships at Grevmouth fixed for January 24, the attention of the selectors of the Auckland team will be fully occupied. The season so far has been so restricted that training operations in Auckland have been seriously disturbed and club activities have been handicapped. The result is that hardly any reliable indication of the merits of swimming in Auckland this season has been gained. In fact, some officials go as far as to say that the only certainty, at present, for selection in the Auckland team is Gordon Bridson, of Grammar, who

has the principal New Zealand distance records, and has accounted for Noel Ryan. Bridson is ambitious. These Auckland championships, he is entered. in the main sprint race, the men’s 100yds. He has more than a good chance. J. 3?. Farrell (University), the present champion, is unable to compete and bridson is faced by A. W. Raper (Ponsonby), It. A. Sellars (Helensville), who may figure prominently, J. E:nwright (Waitemata), \\£ho is still in good form, L. Fairgray (Waitemata), and R. Porteous (Mount Eden), Raper has been regarded by some as Farrell’s successor, but he has beem absent from the city—and training! In a furlong race recently, Bridson caovered 100yds in 59secs, a faster time than Raper’s, so he may take all the Auckland titles. He meets D. P. Lindsay over 220yds. MISS ROBERTSON’S CHANCES Miss Marie Farquhar (Waitemata) has returned to oppose Miss Peggy Robertson (Parnell), who, earlier this season, was pointed to- as the 1930 champion of New Zealand, in the women’s events. In competition, Miss Robertson has not yet reproduced last season’s form. The Gcammar Club girl, Miss Lila Coutts, is- expected by some to acquit herself well in the club representative position oocupied last season by Miss Ena Sioc;kley. Miss Jean Roberts (Parnell) will be prominent. Whether the 220ycte race will produce a girl swimmer of' the ability reached last season by Miss Dorothy Grant, now in Suva, remains to be seen. Wilfred Hassan, AucklancFs champion diver, and Barry Young,, formerly New South Wales champfion, are matched in the diving event. In the women’s breasfe- stroke race, M iss Gladys Pidgeon, formerly New Zealand .chamjpion, is entered after retirement for-several seasons. Should she swim, she will race against a promising young Parnell girl, Miss Jean Thoonpson. In the intermediate races excellent talent is shown. North Shore has its girl champion, Miss May Elwarth, and Miss Billie Anderson, a girl recently arrived from the Islands, who has established creditable times; Mount Eden has Miss Marjorie Smith and Miss Sybil Brown. Thomas, Lockiie, McBeath, Smyth e, Cleghorn, McGowan, McGregor and Spraggon are clever young swimmers in the boys* events. Magee should win the intermediate boys’ breast-stroke, but the isssue is not clear iri the men’s race. T. Lowe (North Shore) is favoured should N. K. Sylow (Ponsonby) not compete. Misses E. Strong, E. James, G. Sadler, E. Rainey, A. Grange and J. Webster will be prominent among J.he junior girls. The entrants in the championship events are: IOOYds Men’s Championship.—G. Brfidson (Grammar), A. W. Raper (Poiasonby), J. Enwright (Waitemata), R. Ay Sellars (Helensville), R. Porteous (Mount Eden), and L. Fairgray (Waitemata). 220Yds Men.—G. Bridson (Grammar), D. P. Lindsay (Waitemata). 220Yds Men’s Breast-stroke.—N. K. Sylow (Ponsonby), T. Lowe (North Shore), E. J. Riesterer (Mount Eden). 150Y3s Men’s Back-stroke.—W. Stockley (Grammar), L. Fairgray (Waitemata), D. S. Hyauiason (Grammar), W. Japeth (Helensville). Men's Dive.—W. Hassan (Ponsonby), A. Spraggon (North Shore), Barry Young (Ponsonby), H. Neale (Ponsonby). IOOYds Women.—Misses Peggy Robertson (Parnell), Marie Farquhar (Waitemata), Lila Coutts (Grammar)., Joan Roberts (Parnell). 220Yds Women.—Misses P. Robertson (Parnell), J. Roberts (Parnell), M. Farquhar (Waitemata), L. Coutts (Grammar). 220Yds Women's Breast-stroke.—Misses 1 Gladys Pidgeon (Waitemata), Jean Thompson (Parnell). IOOYds Intermediate Boys.— A. Lockie (Ponsonby), A. Mcßeath (Grammar), A. Spraggon (North Shore),' H. McGregor (Waitemata), A. McGowan (Grammar), 11. Thomas (Grammar), L. Smythe (Ponsonby), 11. Cleghorn (Grammar). 220Yds Intermediate Boys. R. Gee (Waitemata), A. Spraggon (North Shoi*e), L. Smythe (Ponsonby), A. Lockie (Ponsonby), A. Mcßeath (Grammar), H. Cleghorn (Grammar), R. Thomas (Grammarl. H. McGregor (Waitemata). IOOYds Intermediate Boys’ Breaststroke.—J. Magee (Parnell), K, Given (Whangarei), A. Spraggon (North Shore) IOOYds Intermediate Girls. —Misses B. Anderson (North Shore), M. Smith (Mount Eden), M. Elworth (North Shore). S. Brown (Mount Eden), J. Keeping (Wai temata). 220Yds Intermediate Girls.—Misses S. Grange (Mount Eden), D. Guthrie (Ponsonby), M. Smith (Mount Eden), S. Brown (Mount Eden), B. Anderson (North Shore), M. Elworth (North Shore). 75Yds Intermediate Girls’ Breaststroke. —Misses W. Whit combe (North Shore), M. O’Mera (North Shore), J. Webster (Mount Eden), D. Dorman (Waitemata). IOOYds Junior Boys.—N. Crump (North Shore), V. Carey (Waitemata). 220Yds Junior Boys.—N. Crump (North Shore), V. Carey (Waitemata). 50Yds Junior Girls.—Misses E. James (North Shore), E. Rainey (North Shore), .A. Ryan ( Waitemata), G. Sadler (Mount Eden), A. Grange (Mount Eden), S. Kit-

chingman (North Shore), E. Strong • (Helensville), A. Thomson (Parnell), B. ! Page (Ponsonby). IOOYds Junior Girls.—Misses G. Sad- j ler (Mount Eden), PL Strong (Helens- i ville), S. Kitchingman (North Shore), f E. Rainey (North Shore). E. James ! (North Shore), A. Grange (Mount Eden), j A. Thomson (Parnell). £l5O EXPENSES SWIMMING TEAM FOR NEW ZEALAND EVENTS The high cost of sending a swim- ; ming team from Auckland for a few I days’ competition at Greymouth was ; shown last evening when the Auckland Swimming Centre voted £l5O as the maximum sum for defraying travelling expenses. Mr. H. Moore, secretary to the centre, was appointed the njanager of tho team. Supporters who intend accompanying the team are to notify Mr. Moore not later than tomorrow evening. An application from Lower Ilutl Club for an appearance by Aucklanders before the championships at Greymouth, which begin on January 24, was declined. Little time is at the disposal of the centre in preparing for the national contests. There will be four days of competition and the Annette Kellerman Cup, for distance swimming, will be swum on Lake Brunner. TWO BIG CARNIVALS Carnivals, important as tests for the swimmers selected to represent Auckland, will be held at the Tepid Baths on January 14 and 16. The Waitemata Club has the first night and on its programme is the half-mile championship of Auckland race. Teams of six will compete in a championship inter-club relay. At an expense of probably £6O, the Mount Eden Club has arranged for the appearances on January 16 of the improved Australians, Noel Ryan and Owen Griffiths. They will arrive from Wellington on Saturday morning so will have over five days for training. The meeting of Ryan and Griffiths with the Aucklanders, G. Bridson and D. P. Lindsay, over 220 yards will be the feature of the evening. Ryan has been establishing fresh-water times in New Zealand, but he lias yet to equal Bridson’s salt-water records.