SWIMMING NOTES

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21356, 26 December 1934, Page 13

SWIMMING NOTES

TARIS AND POUSSARD HOPE FOR VISIT TO CH RISTCH U RCH ■ [Bv FREESTYLE.] If Jean Taris and. Emile Poussard come to New Zealand, it is to be hoped that their itinerary will allow a visit to Christchurch. But the details of possible itineraries which were set out in a' letter from the secretary of the Australian Swimming Union, Mr A. W. B. Fawcett, to .the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, do not encourage the hope very much. A visit of 15 days was the longest suggested by Mr Fawcett, and this was contingent on the arrangement of certain details of the Frenchmen's itinerary in Australia, while another possibility was a stay of 10 days. A visit, of 10 days would, Mr Fawcett suggests, be spent in three carnivals in the Auckland district, and one in Wellington. Unfortunately a visit to Christchurch during such a brief stay will not be practicable, so it will be much more satisfactory lor- Canterbury swimmers if Mr Fawcett can meet tihe Dominion association s re-, quest that a tour longer than 15 days be arranged if that is possible. Otherwise, Mr Fawcett is asked to conclude arrangements for tours of either 10, or 15 days as he suggests in his lettei'. Taris and Poussard should be as strong an attraction as any other swimmers have been in this '.'uuntry, for both are brilliant performers. Taris holds world's records for several middle distances, and Poussard is the present diving champion of Europe. Both, of course, will be far too strong for the opposition in New Zealand, but they should be able to give a good deal of advice as well as focus the light of public interest on the sport more effectively than have any other visitors. There is admittedly a great deal to be learnt in New Zealand about living—h. Tickle, the Australian high-board champion, who was in Christchurch recently, showed 'that. If, then, the visit of Poussard will do anything to broaden that knowledge and to improve the: standard of diving —as it undoubtedly should—any loss on the tour, as there probably will be in view of previous results, will be of little moment. Taris will be equally valuable if he can do sometiling to raise the standard pf middle distance swimming in . New Zealand. Useful and encouraging advice is badly needed, and he is as well qualified as anyone else to give it.

Charlton in Training There is a strong possibility that Andrew ("Boy") -Chariton, the former Australian representative at Olympic and Empire Games, will be successful in his attempt to re-enter the front rank of swimming. That is t/he. confident opinion t>f Harry Hay, the Empire Games coach to the Australian representatives and a former Olympic Games swimmer. Hay, who took over the supervision of Charlton's training, recently, thinks that Charlton will, with a slight adjustment of footwork, make a successful come-back. "He has developed seyeral faults which will require discipline to remove," said Hay in an interview, "but I am confident, if I judge correctly from the tests I have already put him through, that if he maintains the present progress and trains assiduously, Charlton will surprise the Australian swimming world and regain his past water prowess. He will have big things ahead. He is as strong as a horse, and has taken good; care of himself." " ' Charlton, who is employed as a chemist in Canberra, has been swimming 1000 to 2000 yards daily at the Canberra swimming pool, which holds fresh water. He will continue his training at Manly. Hay says Charlton will compete in a few club handicap races before making his comeback in public, which will be against the Japanese, French, and. American champions in the Centenary and Australian national championships, opening on January 15 at Melbourne.

Auckland Performances According to reports, very good form is being shown by prominent Auckland swimmers, while the performances of those of no great experience who had never been considered in championship class, are very encouraging. At carnivals held recently, by the North Shore and Mount Eden Clubs, the champions swam splendidly, N. Crump covering 50 yards and 100 yards in 24 3-ssec and 55 3-ssec respectively. W. Johnson ana R. Thomas returned 59sec and 59 l-ssec respectively, for 100 yards, and Miss , E. Rainey 41 3'-ssec for 66 2-3 yards. The official time credited to R. Frankham, the Dominion 100 yards champion two years ago, for this distance was 56 l-ssec. A creditable performance in the 100 yards was that of A. Pascoe, New Zealand junior champion. From the 7sec_mark he won a heat in 63 3-ssec and the final in 62 3*ssec. Automatic Pacer An automatic pacing machine for swimmers in training is to' -make its initial appearance in Austraha this season. The machine, which ispopular with prominent swimmers in other countries, is driven by a small motor. This operates a travelling Deit, i which is attached a disc or figure, and the sneed of the belt can be regulated bv gearing the motor.. It is considered a boon to swimmers in training, who can be paced by the machine at a urnform pace over distances of 50 yaras to one mile. It is said that the machine will in due course appear in New Zealand. WEST SPREYDON CLUB On. Thursday the club Wrt its first race meeting 'since its formation. AU events were keenly contested, necessitating tho junior and senior -races being run off in lieats. The final in the senior handicap proved very exciting, as all the starters finished together. Kosults wore as follows: 25 Yards Handicap, Jnmors—: heat English 1, Cusdin 2. Second heat. Clough 1, Woods 2. Final: English 1. 25 Yards Handicap, GirlB —Joyce Cross 1, NK 2s y Yards Handicap, Seniors—First heat: Chivers 1, Satterthwaite 2. Second heat. McLachlan 1, Shrirapton 2. Third h-eat. Edwards 1. Ackinson 2. >purth heat GasUil 1 Lindsav 2. First semt-flnal: Satteitln\aite 1, Ackinson 2. Second lemi-fina : bd wards 1. Chivers 2. Final: Hatterthivaite 1, Chivers Edwards 3.