SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 5, 30 September 1922, Page 15

SWIMMING.

LADIES’ HONOLULU TOUR

ILL-ADVISED, SAYS SYDNEY CRITIC Misses Shand and Hoeft left for Honolulu by the Makura.

“Though great swimmers, the two New Zealand girls are taking on ss heavy contract in visiting Honolulu to compete against the stars there without anything like fitting preparation foS tho ordeal,” says the “Referee.” “The fame of New Zealand’s champion girl swimmers—Gwitha Shand, of Christchurch, and Ppula Hoeft, ..of Auckland—has spread. The Hawaiian Swimming Association, anxious to tes* its stars- —-Misses Wehselau, Bowmer, Moses,, and Cassidy—has invited tho ' New Zealand girls to visit Honolulu to compete at a big gala there next month. ' ; “It is to be regretted that the New Zealand champions are visiting Honolulu at this time of the year, as they arc out of training and short of swimming- Gwitha Shand at the close of last season was forced to take a holiday for health reasons. She has just returned, and had not had a swim sine® April. Paula Hoeft, through lack of swimming practice, must be far below tier best As the New Zealand girls will probably have less than a week in which to strike form after their arrival at Honolulu, the local girls, who have been swimming continuously, will hold a great advantage over them. To have done themselves justice, Misses Shand and Hoeft should have visited Hawaii in May and June. Had they done so, they would have met the Hawaiians on equal terms. “The two New Zealand girls are wonderful jierformers, and under equal conditions would extend the Honolulu stars. Miss Marieschon Wehselau, the speediest Hawaiian, is credited with 50 yards in 28 4-ssec.; 100 yards ’in 65sec.; 220 yards in 2min. 52 4-ssec.; and 440 yards in something like 6min. 30 2-ssec. Misses Downier, Moses, and Cassidy are very* little inferior to her. Paula accredited best times for the distance’s mentioned are: 50 yards, 28 3-ssee.; 100 yards, 63sec.; 220 yards, 2min- 54sec.; 440 yards, 6min. 25 l-ssec- Gwitha Shand is, perhaps, a little slower over sprint distances, and speedier over the 410 yards, for at this distance she proved too fast for her compatriot last season. “Australian swimmers will await the result of the Hawaiian contests with interest. Miss Sha-nd and Miss Hoeft are confident that they will do well.

Beyond a wistful eye on the weather, swimmers are as yet taking no serious steps towards preparing for the season’s contests, though a few intrepid surfers have hardly braved the breakers. The prospects for the season are therefore not easy to forecast at present, but from what one hears tho number of swimmers will be a good deal in excess of last year.

The membership of the Maramii Surf and Life-saving Club stands at 107, made up as follow: —66 active, 31 non-octive, and 10 lady members.

It has . been decided by the Maranui Surf and Life-saving Club that a small white star, to be worn on the swimming, costume, shall be presented, to every member of a team effecting an actual rescue. As this will be the ’most coveted, distinction that the club can award, and which every member will be proud to wear, it is hoped by the committee that it will have tbe effect of making members keen to* be included in the patrol teams, and to make themselves available as often, as possible.

It is considered by the committee o f tlie Maranui Surf and Life-Saving dub that it is an urgent 'necessity that a surf lifeboat- should be purchased for the club so that proper control of ihe bathers could be exercised. Such boats have now been generally adopted bv surf clubs in Australia, where it is* realised that they are. an indispensable part of. a life-saving club s equipment. An illustration was given during last season when a man lost his life in tho surf and sank out of sight before a beltman could reach the spot. It would be possible in a boat to patrol up and down outside the bathers, and so be on the scene on any possible accident. The committee lias already commenced a campaign to raise the necessary funds te purchase such a boat, and it is hoped to be able to procure it before the close of tbe season. The club 8 very best thanks are due to Mr. A. Tripe, for the enthusiasm he has shown in this matter.