SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 175, 18 April 1908, Page 9

SWIMMING.

(Br Splash.)

The Thorndon Club closed its season on Tuesday'night with a reunion, at which tbo; prizes won during tho season were presented. A pleasant feature of the gathering was tho number (of old hands./ who ! have passed trophy winning.' who turned. out for the evening. The Club lias-a strong following ■of old supporters,, and the majority of them are keen enthusiasts. Tho list of prizes presented during the. evening has^already been published; but it has not been stated that the Sir Joseph AVard Challenge Cup was won by 11. Ronayne, who is - the first man to have his: name engraved on tile cup. Tho points for the clip stand as follow:—R. : Ronayne, 13; Fred. Roberts, 10; G. Bruce, 10 ; N. Pownall, .7.;' J. C, Smith, 7; R. Wilson, 5; W. Allen, 5; B. C. Freyberg, -5; G.M'Kellar, 3; 11. Thompson, 3; D. A. M'Leodj 3; R. A. Gower; 3 ; W. Boy, 3; U. Harty, 3;' A. AV. Smith, 2; J. Bridgman, 2; E. Picot, 2; P. Aekins, 2: A. M. Adams, 2; L. Williamson, 2. V

Tho following: extract from the American notes of an Australian paper is of.interest: —i Daniels is sure "to , retain tho title of world's' champion swimmer for many years to come"': furthermore,- that the American crack will, "ultimately hold every■rpcord for s swimming; whether at short;or long distance." - Daniels, who already possesses 240 . trophies, has just 'written, the following description of his "style" v :—

■ "In .swimming a raco I use only two ■ strokes, the trudgeon; and the crawl, and"' find that these, are better for winning- tlian .' any others known. ' The. crawl'stroke is,'-to".' my mind, the fastest means of propelling;; . the human, body through the water, and-.when , ' a swimmer masters it he may expect to get - close to the-records, if not above them. . It ■ keeps the'entire body moving along just, bo- ;' ■low the surface, of the water.. . I .use the ' crawl stroke for ..all 'distances up to 220 v yards. It is a very exhaustive stroke/- and * could nqt : .bo used .for any . greater distSnco. It is an exact reproduction of tho trudgeon, • ■but much fastor,. and'it' calls into: play a --/' special movement. of the legs which .can only ■ ; bo mastered after considerable practice. 'This : v movement of the legs! is a thing I figured i out for .myself. / Instead of a scissors kick ; with an extra snap,' it is a fluttering-up and. down movement of the,legs, which are: con- .' N jtiiiually kept iu that motion for the entire .■ distance of the'race. It will readily bo seen that this is a big tax on the. strength of the Y swimmer, and that it cannot be 'continued ' » 'for any. length of time. . , '

"When swimming more than '220 yards. I always use the crawl stroke for tho first 150 , yards or so, or until I have gained a lead * of- the other swimmers. Then .I fall' back 1 upon tho trudgeon stroke; which is the popu- . lar . among tho Australian swimmers. '. " The - effect of' the ;cra)vl, I think, will show • in any ;race._ .It sends the body through the ' wateriat such a rate;of > speed that a very ' speedy; arm', movement has" to bo developed ' in; order to get>thb ( full advantage-of-it. ■ ■ "Tliq.; trudgeon. stroke may bo described ' as follows : The' overhand motion is used, the ■arms.being raised over the head and brought I into the water rapidly in. succession.; With ' • this is cofnbined;the scissors'kick—not what is;usually, called';the, - scissors .kick,-.. but a ■ ■ kick in which the legs "are spread and;then. : brought together ivith a snap;'so-that during ; ' '-th'ei use of the. arms a!n extra motion of the ' legs may'l)o';gamed. ' The'head is'kept down ; in; tlie .water all .tho time.; The tank/of; tha 'T or .'Athletic Club is ideally-'arranged ' for.jthis. stroke, as black lines arc painted mi the-bottom:of the pool so that the/swimmer - \ ; .cani bs ilooking down into the' water contihu-j ; J 'ally to: s'eo;that ho;is 'swimming.in' a' straight: "j; :line;A:.>:Tllb !trudgebn'-vis.' a > very, - fatiguing. -I stroke,: but after constant practico' l the swim-' mer becomes accustomed to it,' and can keep at it for, iulong distance. '! ; _ v "It has boon remarked', a'number of ,times that' I -liaVo never used tho -English .< racing stroke in any of. my. races, and; this-is' true.; :iEhejEnglish racing .stroke is .hardjto' describe, •£;, lt' is'on tlie ■ ordei' of ~the trudgeon,, but v it - depends 1 more for its speed on the"; use of r the arms .than on the use of the legs. 'Tho result is a' swimmeritires. more easily using r.tlio English rading stroke than the trudgeon! : ■"The arms are brought very high out of tho 'water, and get an extraordinary sweep 1 to 'propel tho body. ' \ -

;;THE CRAWL THE .BETTER STROKE. -"I have tried the English racing stroke, and compared l it carefully with the trudgeon. I fiiid/tliat th_q crawl is tho • better' stroke if speed alone''is considered. The use of the legs; in: swiihming : is a much better means of gaining speed than the armsH .1 attribute ; inost of my speed, in the water to the ability I have gained., in the use .of my legs while swimming. '. , ' .. -\ . •

■ certain amount of training, is always •^ecessary. for 'a; speed swimmer.- Careful , selection of ;• foods is important, and much speed* may;':bo' lost: through excessive smoking,- -as that spoils a' swimmer's endurance. About two weeks before I cnfer aiswimming contest I always quit smoking. I find' it is tho best way of-'retaining my endurance in the water. By keeping in good conditiou I find that the swimming- 1 do is little tax on my strength. I have raced night after night, and felt no ,bad effects,' although sometimes I'was very hard pressed to win." :.-■■■