Swimming.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 108, 3 November 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

Swimming.

[By Natatoh.]

During, a conversation with Mr. G. J.G. Smart, delegate to 'the New Zealand) Amateur Swimming Association, who wus in Wellington on the opening day of the swimming season on his way to Christchurch, he gave some hints on swimming which may be useful to members of our local clubs. Asked as to what he thought of the "styles" in vogue among }ocal swimmers, he remarked— "Your swimmers have no doubt a good turn of speed., but your divers are behind the other to\pns in the grace and flourish of the art. From long experience and practice I have forma that Itfew Zealand diving is far from what it should, be. . Graduated, stagey should bo erected to encpu.rage swimmers to practise high diving and; become perfect. Many people attempt high diving feats without any previous training and tho consequences &rp that many lives hava been lost through foolish leaps from high platforms. The swimmers should invariably be taught from gradual -heights and never attempt a jump from tbje top<*

most stage until they have mastered those below. Our divers seldom eiiiter the water head first with grace and in the most scientific form. It the legs are thrown too for upwards the body is likely to turn over, and a nasty fall results. I have noticed that many divers have a habit of leaning forward in a doubled up position, with the result that they drop into the watter with a terriblo splash; thi3 is generally "due to nervousness." In judging diving, proceeded Mr. Smart, judges usually take into consideration the position in leaving the stage, the line of the body during the descent, the method of entering the water the smaller the splash the greater the credit to the diver. To popularise the art of diving Mr. Smart suggested 1 that all swimming clubs should tholude in their programmes at each carnival or club's sports a. few more diving ovents. The many friends of Mr. C. J. Todd, now in South Africa, and who was at one time Secretary of the Thorndon Club, will be interested to learn that he was at recent advices a. member of Kitchener's Imperial Light Horse, and was enjoying the best of health. He enrolled in the corps because that was the lonly means by which he oould proceed to Johannesburg immediately. * The amalgamation of the various crabs in New Zealand which is at present being freely agitated, will, if adopted, result in the establishment of a centre in each