NEW ZEALAND SWIMMER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 248, 19 October 1922, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND SWIMMER.

"WORLD'S RECORD BROKEN. MISS SHAND'S FAST QUARTER MILE. (Received 11 a.ra.\ HONOLULU, October 18. MifS Gwitha fchand, the New Zealand lady swimming champion, broke the world's record for 'he <JiM>yds free style, swimming the distance in (5 m 14 2-ds. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.)

The cable does not state tliAt Miss Phand ivon tho first of the 440 yards contests when she broke the world's record, but it is to lie presumed that she did, since only competition records are accepted. Miss Gwitha Phanrt. who is IS years of age, first came into prominence in competitive swimming in l!' 17, when flu■won the 50yds school girls' race for the Yaldhuret Shield, bhf was regarded as a most promising swimmer, and her achievements each succeeding year confirmed this "opinion. In 1921," as lady champion, she reduced the New Zealand record for the 100 yards' covering the distance in CDeecs, and also placed the quarter-mile record very close to the world's best figures. In the Dominion championships held at Wellington early this year, Miss Shand did n.it show any improvement in her eprinting powers. but in the 440 yards' event she boTe off the ladiea' championship of New Zealand after a fine performance.

The.following is a. list of her perform ances to date.—

50 Ynrds Schoolgirls' Race (Yaldhurst Shield), 475.

DO Yrrrts Schooieirl<s' Championship of Canterbury, 41 :!-">s. 25"Yarils Schoolgirls' Championship of Canterbury, 17 3-ss. "o Yards Schoolgirls' Championship of Canterbury. 6ds. 100 Yards Srholr.sirls' Championship of Canterbury, 1.43.

100 Yards Lndie*' Championship of New Zealand, 77 <t-"is. 7.". Yards Girls , Intermediate Championship of New Zealand. 58 l-3s. 100 Ynnls Girls' Intermediate ChnniiiionMiiii of New Zealand, sn 4-ss<. 1!C!1. 100 Yawls Ladies' Championship of New Zealand. CDs. 440 Yards Ladies' Championship of New Zealand, r..41 3-r.. 7.T Yards (iirls' Imermedlate Championship of New Zealand. 51 2-os. 100 Yards Girls' Interiuedlatn ■CUampfousliiji of New Zealand, 71 2-ss. 1022. 440 Yards Ladies' Championship of New Zealand, fi.2o. 440 Yards Ijullps , Championship of the World, 6.14 li-5. The -wonderful nature of the swim and the marked advance made in swimI ming in Xew Zealand are illustrated by reference to the :>'ew Zealand times made in the men's championship over 440 yards. This championship was first won by H. J. Bailey. of Auckland, in 7m 10s in IS9O. and our first Olympicrepresentative, iMaieolm Champion', took the Xew Zealand title over 440 yards in 6m 30s in 1901. Gradually the Dominion standard improved, and in lf>l2 Champion set the record figure for the race in Xew Zealand waters at Dm 48 4-f>s. Last year the 440 yards championship was won by L. Kronfeld in 5m 555. while Miss S'Tiand covered the I same distance in Cm 2(is. Her new ! record is better than any of men cham- | pions of New Zealand had done up to I the year 190(i, and is only 20s behind the New Zealand men's record.