Champions

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Peter Duncan

Posted in Champions.

Peter Duncan

Billy Steuart, Anthony Briscoe, Aubrey Burer and Peter Duncan at the Summit Club indoor pool in Hillbrow.

Peter John Duncan was born in Pretoria in 1935.

In the 1950 South African Swimming Championships in held in Kimberley, Peter won the Junior Boys 220-yard freestyle, in 2:26,8. The men's event was won by Ernie Ricklan in 2:16, 5, with Graham Johnston, Donald Johnston and Les Klenerman following him.

At the 1951 Championships in East London, Peter beat Klenerman and Graham Johnston to win the men's 220-yard freestyle Championship event. He also won the Junior Boys race. He also beat Johnston in the 440-yard freestyle and lost the 1650 to Johnston by 0,2 seconds.

By 1952, some men had left South Africa to swim for the University of Oklahoma in the United States and were absent from the National Championships. peter Duncan won the 200, 400 and 1650-yard freestyle events before he too went to the University of Oklahoma at the end of the year. In the NCAA he was an All-American in 1954, 55 and 56.

Peter had the following podium finishes at major championships: 2nd in the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games 1650 yards Freestyle, 3rd in the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games 4x220 yards Freestyle Relay (with Dennis Ford, Graham Johnston, and Billy Steuart). In the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games 440 yards freestyle Duncan finished fourth. He also swam at the 1952 and 1956 Olympic Games, finishing 4th in the 440-yard freestyle at Helsinki in 1952.

Peter Duncan to the left of coach Cecil Colwin. Olympic medallists Sue Roberts and Natalie Myburgh are in the front row.

23rd January 1951 in Witbank.

South African Swimming Championships held in East London in 1951, where Peter Duncan challenged the legendary Graham Johnston in the 1650 yard freestyle. Johnston went on the win the event at the 1952 Empire Games, beating Duncan into second place.

Peter Duncan congratulated by Les Klenerman in February 1951.

1953 April 3 Aau Champs Exiles Oklahoma Peter Duncan 2
1953 April 5 Aau Champs 400 Exiles Oklahoma Peter Duncan 2
1953 Aug 26 Exiles Oklahoma Peter Duncan Hurt In Car Crash 2
1953 Mar 16 Exiles Oklahoma Peter Duncan 2
1954 Aug 30 Peter Duncan In Canadian 2 Mile Swiim Race 2
1954 Feb 14 Exiles Oklahoma Peter Duncan De Jong 2
1954 Mar 16 Exiles Oklahoma Peter Duncan Graham Johnston Record In Big Seven 2
1955 March 25 Ncaa Duncan And Johnston In 1500 2
1956 July 30 Ncaa Peter Duncan In 1500 2
1956 March 12 Exiles Meiring And Peter Duncan 2
1956 March 30 Peter Duncan Ncaa 2

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Molly Ryde

Posted in Champions.

Molly Ryde

Molly Ryde won the ladies ' yards backstroke at the 1934 SA Championships in Pretoria. She finished second in the 220 and 500-yard freestyle. At the Bulawayo nationals in 1936, she won the 150-yard backstroke and the 220 and 500-yard freestyle events. In 1938 she only took the 500-yard freestyle title. Missing the 1938 SA Championships while competing at the Commonwealth Games in Australia, Molly won the 100 and 200-yard freestyle and 150-yard backstroke titles at the 1939 nationals in Bloemfontein. Her name does not appear in SAASU records after that.

Molly swam for the Pretoria Women Swimming Club while she worked as a typist at the municipality. Below is a description from an Australian newspaper on 31st December 1937:

A head of glorious blonde hair instantly distinguishes Miss Ryde, the freestyle champion, from her sun-tanned companions. She is the holder of the South African championship, while the records for 440 yards and 220 yards, she has held now for six years. Miss Ryde, who Is just eighteen years of age, first came into championship swimming hi1 033, with the Pretoria Women's Club, and almost instantly won recognition, and the right to represent South Africa at the 1934 Empire Games in London.

Miss Ryde in private life is a stenographer employed by the Pretoria city council and finds that training for championships occupies any spare time she may have when away from her work.

Her time for the 440 yards is 5 min. 34 sec., while she has covered 220 yards in the splendid time of 2 min. 34 sec. Both are South African records.

22nd March 1937

1st March 1939

March 1939

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Mary Morgan

Posted in Champions.

Mary Morgan

Sandy Morgan was an Eastern Province swimmer who moved to Johannesburg, where she swam with the Zoo Lake Club.

Mary finished 4th in the 220 yard breastroke at the South African Championships in Johannesburg in 1953.

In 1954 at the St Georges Baths in Port Elizabeth, she won the event in a time of 3:08,5, before winning the silver medal at the 1954 Empire Games in 3:03,3.

At Pretoria in 1955 she was beaten by Santa Pienaar, who later became a well-known coach as Santa van Jaardveld, in 3:07,3.

Her last nationals was in the fast Durban Beach Baths saltwater pool, where she again won the title, in 3:03.0.