GREAT SWIMMING

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 181, 27 April 1921, Page 6

GREAT SWIMMING

LUDY LANGER AT TEPID BATHS

NEW ZEALAND RECORD BROKEN

Swimming is dying hard in Wellington this season, and in view of the cold and wintry conditions it was not surprising that there was only a moderate attendance at the Tepid Baths last night to witness the farewell appearance of I.udy Langer, the world’s champion middledistance swimmer. Langer, who is entitled to rank as one of the foremost swimmers of the day, represented America at the last Olympic Games, and later ho put up five new records in Australia. He followed this up by breaking three records in New Zealand, and last night he attempted to lower the 220y<la. record. In this he was signally successful. Although he conceded the limit man a full minute, he won the event and broke the Dominion record for the distance by five seconds, his time being 2min. 32sec. This is only five seconds off the world’s record. Langer, who is a powerful swimmer with ’a variety of strokes—his backstroke work is a revelation—also competed in the 15Cyds. Divitation Handicap, which he won on the tane with magnificent dash. During the evening a number of inter-club races were held, together with other acquatic events. Appended are the results in detail 33 l-Byds. Inter-Club Handicap.—First heat: G. Green, ssec., 1; L. Green, ssec.. 2. Time, 23 l-ssec. Second heat; L. Turner, 2sec., 1; Allan, ssec., 2. Time. 21 2-ssec. Final: L. Turner, 1; V. Allan, 2. Time, 21 l-ssee.

Ladies’ Diving.—Miss Radford, 1; Miss Norwood, 2. 662-3yds. Boys’ (under 1G) Inter-Club Handicap.—Horne, 3sec., 1; Humphries, scr., 2. Time, 53 l-ssec. 150yds. Invitation Handicap.—Ludy Langer, scr., 1; Edwards, 13sec., 3; M'Gill, 21sec., and Patterson, 9sec., dead heat, 3. M'Gill led for two laps, . but Edwards, swimming strongly, caught up in the fourth lap and assumed the lead, which he held till the end of the fifth lap. Thence onwards Langer gradually overhauled him and beat him by a touch. The remaining placed men were about four yards behind. The time of the race was Imin. 59 2-ssec., while Langer’s time was Imin. 38 2-ssec. Ribbon Dive. —V. Salek, 1. Plunge.—C. V. Fordham, 1; S. Prince, 2. S3l-3yds. Boys’ Institute Handicap.— Horne, Isec., 1; Atkinson, scr., 2. 66 2-3y<fe. Ladies’ Breast-stroke.—Miss A. Walker, 4sec., 1; Miss J. Post, ter., 2. Time, Imin. 13 2-ssec. ■ 100yds. Inter-Club Handicap.—First heat: Leslie, 14sec, 1; L. Salek, Isec., 2. Time, 80sec. Second heat: Atkinson, 12see., 1; Look, Ssec., 2. Time, 85 2-ssoc. Final: Leslie, 1; Atkinson, 2. Time, 79sec.

Diving.—Coogan, 1; Hicks, 2. 220yds. Invitation Handicap..—Ludy lan ger, scr., 1; L. Turner (Maranul), 35sec„ 2; C. Claridge (Lyall Bay), 18sec., 3. Prince (Wellington), 60sec., also started. It was a splendid race. Prince, the limit man, was just completing his first lap when Turner left the board. Prince pulled out of the race at the end of his fourth lap, and Turner then assumed the lead from Claridge and Langer, in that order. The American caught and passed Claridgo in the fifth lap, and, increasing his pace at every turn, he overhauled Turner at the completion of the sixth lap, and finished first with a good three yards to spare. Claridge, who was about ten yards away, finished third. Time, 2min. 32sec. 331-3yds. Ladies’ Handicap—Misa M. Walker, Isec., I; Miss Padford, 3scc., 2.