SWIMMING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 88, 15 April 1899, Page 4 (Supplement)

SWIMMING.

The fifth meeting between Lane and Eishop over a 100 yards course took place last Saturday week at Sydney over a straightaway course. Bishop ■was just ahead at 50 yards,, and he increased his lead tintil at the finish he was 4ft away from his rival. In the Sydney 'Referee' 'Natator' says, referring to this race: The time taken (Imin 1- 3-ssec) is surprisingly fast. It is 1 4-ssec quicker than the previous Australian record, standing in Lane's name, and is rendered still more remarkable by the fact that it was put up over a straightaway course, which, according to the world's best authorities, is very much slower than if the same distance were swum with turns. A strong wind was behind the swimmers the whole way, and this would probably account in part—but not by • any means wholly—for the wonderful time. To the writer's way of thinking, the best explanation is that both men .specially prepared themselves for the race, and both consequently toed the mark in unusually good form. ,

Even 'Natator' does not seem sure in his own mind about the times; note his 'explanation,' and the remark about the wind, and the fact that r.hia is about the fifth 'record' wired from Sydney that he has challenged. That the times, c.la.imed.lor the Sydney men were ever approached is very questionable. We all know that whatever differences may exist in New Zealand between North and South, both have been honest in timing championship

events. Now, when Lane swam i$ Lancaster' Park Bath (one turn) }a&i year he finished second to Cavil], tm3 his actual time was 70sec, aided by the said 1 turn and the light Australian costume, 2sec better than that in vogue in New Zealand. In other words Lane in New Zealand for a straightaway course was a 73sec man. In New South Wales last season he was only equal to some 66sec, aided with turns and costume. To improve down to the times now given is a physical impossibility, and cannot be explained away either by the fact of the strong wind or 'Natator's' remarks about the 'special preparation' of the swimmers. Who measured the course? and were the watches proved accurate before the event? In Bishop's case there is the same anomaly as With Lane. In the course of a fortnight or so he improves so much that he cuts out 100 yards, straightaway, in 2sec faster than over a 2-turn course. This is equal to nn improvement of 4sec in the 100 yards, which is incredible, considering how the times have already been finod down. Bishop and Lane are evidently about equal to 68sec on a straightaway course in New Zealand costume, and this time is not considered by any means phenomenal on this side of the water.