SWIMMING

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 119, 13 February 1929, Page 8

SWIMMING

(By

"Trudge.")

New Records. In the New Zealand championships carnival just over, the best of the Dominion's swimming talent has been seen in action, and some excellent performances have been witnessed. Six records have been broken, as follows :— W. Cameron (Wellington), new record of 55 4-ssec. for men's 100 yards. Former record by N. Dowsett (Wanganui), 57 2-5. Difference of 1 3-ssee. Miss K. Miller (Wellington), new record of Oniin. 6 2-ssec. for ladies’ 440 yards. Fortner record by Miss G. Shand (Canterbury), Oniin. Bsec. Difference of 1 3-ssec. R. Geddes (Otago), new record of 60 4-ssec. for 75 yards junior boys’ breaststroke. Former record by L. Olds (Otago), of 62 l-ssec. Difference of 12-5 sec. . A Stokes (Canterbury), new record of 2min. 31sec. for men’s 220 yards. Former record by L. L. Kroneld (Auckland), 2min. 31 3-ssec. Difference of 3-ssec. L. J. Moorhouse (Canterburyl, new record of Imin. 52 l-ssec., for men's 150 yards backstroke. Former record by L. Fairgray (Auckland), Imin. 52 3-ssec. Difference of 2-ssec.

Miss, P. Robertson (Auckland), new record of Imin. 8 2-ssec. for 100 yards girls’ intermediate. Former record by Miss D. Magee (Auckland), Imin. 8 4-5 sec. Difference of 2-ssec. In addition, there was the magnificent

swim by W. Cameron (Wellington) whose time of 23 3-ssec in the 50 yards invitation scratch race beats by l-ssee. the previous best time recorded ,in Australia or New Zealand-for the distance. This, however, cannot be‘taken as a new record, as there is no 50 yards event included in the championships of New Zealand. Delegates recently discussed in Wellington the question of including this distance in the championships, but it was decided to take no action in the matter, as the distance is considered too short for senior competition. Why not go the whole hog, they say, and include 25 yards for seniors? Consequently, Cameron’s time may be regarded only as the best recorded for the- distance in Australia or New Zealand, and not as a new record. Form Compared. '

What has this year brought forth in regard to relative form ? Of chief note is the decided success of I. W; Cameron, who, after performing brilliantly in the junior and intermediate divisions, is now 100 vards champion of New Zealand after a record swim. He did not attempt the 220 ■yards senior event or longer distances, but he has great prospects. The minute for the 100 yards was first established in 1920, when E. G. L. Paterson took the title with sixty seconds. Six years later this was beaten by N. .Dowsett (Wanganui), whose 57 2-ssec. stood as the record until Cameron clipped off 1 3-ssec. A. Stokes.

A Stokes (Canterbury) has proved a better man than D. P. Lindsay (Auckland), who lost his titles in the 220 yards and one mile, and did not defend them in the 440 and 880 yards.| Stokes was not ‘expected to take the mile, but while his time was well outside Lindsay’s record, it is very doubtful if Lindsay, at his best, could have beaten him. When Stokes followed up by taking the 220 yards also in record time, his stock rose still higher, and he was looked upon as a certainty for the quarter and half-mile. G. Bridson.

Since G. Bridson had not availed*against Stokes, it appeared that the powerful young Aucklander had been over-boosted. However, he justified the faltli placed in his form, and redeemed his fade-out in the mile by beating Stokes in both the 440 and the 880 yards, in the latter event leaving Stokes far behind, and in the half-mile closely approaching the record. Thus these two young swimmers share honours with two titles apiece.

Tlie Coming Champion. With further regard to the form shown by the swimmers, I have no hesitation in pointing out Miss P. Robertson (Auckland) as the future senior champion of New Zealand. - A new competitor at championships she is a real discovery. She has a .beautiful style and great speed, which she demonstrated by bettering by twofifths of a second the record for the 100 yards girls’ intermediate championship, while in winning a 100 yards handicap event she equalled the senior record of 03 3-ssec„ held by Miss E. Stockley (Auckland). In addition, Miss Robertson captured the 220 yards intermediate title. She is a pupil of Mr. D. Anderson, who lias successfully sponsored a number of Auckland juniors. Miss M. Smith, who came second in the 100 yards intermediate championship, also is a pupil of the same coach. Intermediate Grade.

There appears to be nobody else In the intermediate grade of outstanding merit. Certainly R. Sutherland (South Canterbury) won both the 220 and 440 yards titles against E. McConville, the Christchurch champion, while McConville won the 100 yards against Sutherland, but the time in each case was too slow. A Promising Boy. A rosy future is indicated for R. Geddes, the Dunedin boy, who won the 75 yards junior boys’ breaststroke in record time, and also took the 220 yards junior title, coming second in the 100 yards junior.

Against his competitors he showed superiority tn starting and turning. He was one of the youngest competitors at the carnival. , Miss M Elwortli (Auckland) is another junior swimmer with good opportunities, and her win in the 100 yards in one second outside the record is promising. She was only just beaten to first place in the 75 yards junior event. Notes. While Miss E. Stockley (Auckland) has shown herself still superior to Miss K. Miller (Wellington) in the 100 yards. Miss Miller continues to bold her own over tlie longer distances. Indeed. Miss Stockley just snatched victory in the 100 yards, while Miss Millar loft Miss Stockley wall

behind in both the 220 and 440 yards, in the latter event setting up a new record. Bv her easy win tn the 100 yards ladies’ backstroke. Miss Stockley showed that in this style of swimming she cannot be beaten in New Zealand. Miss E. Champion (Auckland) has been disappointing after her promise of last year, when she won the 220'yards Intermediate event in record time. This year she was far behind those placed in the 220 senior event, and was third to Miss D. Grant (Auckland) in the quarter-mile. Arne Borg.

Although tentative arrangements have been made with regard to the proposed visit of Arne Borg, nothing further has yet been heitrd with regard to his intentions. Resisting Cold.

With regard to swimming Cook Strait, and the question of whether the recent attempt is any criterion as to how long the cold waters of the Strait can be endured, it is interesting to note that women are supposed to be able to endure cold better than men. “Women have a thicker layer of supeutaneous fat than men." states a specialist. “Fat acts as a tea cosv. as it were. It is a non-con-ductor of heat. Therefore, the heat generated by exercise is not radiated off the woman swimmer as it is in the case of the man. Most of the long-distance women swimmers are pretty plump, beefy, even. It stands to reason that they are more impervious to the cold than men. One might liken men and women swimmers to metal teapots, but the one has a cosy to cover it the other has not. The practice on tlie part of long-distanee swimmers of applying grease to their bodies is partly due to the fact that it acts as a .container of heat."