SWIMMING

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 86, 6 January 1926, Page 6

SWIMMING

(l'.y

“Overarm.")

Tho thrilling rescues effected in the surf at Lyall Bay on Sunday only go to show how necessary it really is for everyone to know how to swim. Several of those who were brought in from the sea knew nothing about swimming, and would surely' havo drowned had it not been for the good work, on the. part of the life-savers. Some time ago a correspondent suggested that .swimming should be made compulsory in the schools. Tn a way this seems a good idea, as all children should be taught to swim. Very few parents indeed would havo a word’to say against the suggestion if it were carried out. ‘ The personnel of the Auckland team to compote at the New Zealand swimming championship meeting at Napier at the end of the month will be decided after the provincial championships arc held at the Tepid Baths on January 12 arm 14. The selectors have plenty ql tine material at their disposal, and ii is expected the team will bo .st run go i than the one which won the ahihurst Shield last year with a record numbei C? points. Entries for the championship and handicap events at both carnivals will close to-day. 'The main event deemed at the carnival presented by the Waitemata Club on Tuesday' week last was the attempt of A. E. Baird on ihe SSU.vds. Now Zealand record of 12rain. 1 4-ssec.. held by E. V. Cunnold. . After a great race Baird succeeded in reducing the record by 2 2-ssec. The winner swam strongly all the way and overhauled five other men. to win by 30yds. Enwright, who filled second place, was also responsible for a masterly display of swimming. Unfortunately. Cunnold, tho previous record holder, did not start in the race. Had he done so it would ha-vij been indeed interesting to see Hio way in which he would have shaped against Baird. ~ , ~ It is not often that all place-getters succeed in shattering a .record, but this actually happened in a remarkable 100 yards ladies' championship recently held in England. Miss Phyllis Harding won the championship of the southern counties and in no doing cut out the 100 yards in tho smart time of Gh l-.isec. ns against the previous record of <0 l-sscc., put up by Miss Tanner in 1923. The latter was second in tho race tips vear, being only a few inches behind Miss Harding, whilo Miss M. Hamblen was a close enough third to register the distance in 68 4-ssec. Not even in the ladies’ championship of England had three girls ever previously finished under TOsee , , . . News from Home by the latest mail Informs us that in an attempt to loiver tho Scottish 500 yards record of 6min 43sec., J. Robinson. Arlington, the Scottish quarter-milo champion, covered the distance in 6min. tl’.sec., defeating W. E. Barnie, (he -Scottish half-ratio champion, by b yards.