LUDY LANGER

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 91, 18 April 1921, Page 4

LUDY LANGER

LOWERS NEW ZEALAND RECORD

Thor« was a large attendance »i the Tepid Bathg in Tasman-streot on Saturday evening, *hen Ludy Langer, the world's champion middle-distance swimmer, appeared a tima before the Wellington public. He swam two invitation races—lsoyds and 440 yds— at a epeoial carnival tendered him under the auspices of the Wellington Swimming Centre. In both his events Langer experionced no difficulty in overtaking his opponents, notwithstanding the big starts thoy had. In the 150 yds Langer had pitted against him three of Wellington's best swimmers—E. Pateraon (Evans Bay), P.- Edwards (Maranui), and W. M'Gill (Lyall Bay). Langer conceded l&seo to tho limit man. At the end of the first lap he had reduced the gap by half, and by the time the second was completed was in a position a little to the rear of Edwarda and M'Gill, the three Bwimmers practically turning on tho last length together. Langor then overtook the other two and won comfortably by' about six yards, with Edwards second and M'Gill third. Langer's time was 133 4-6seo. The second big event "of the night—the 440 yds handicap—showed the champion at his best. Whereas the looal jnen visibly tired towards the finish, Langor kept steadily plugging on with not the slightest symptom pi fatigue. In this race C. Claridge (Wellington), B. Pocock (Napier), and H. Veitoh (Wanganui) competed against the champion. Veitch and Pocock went at "go," Claridge at 38, and Langer at 80. Tho ohampion took the water as the two limit men, Veitch and Pocook, completed their first hundred yards. Langer's time for his first hundred was 70aeo. He was swimming with a long, powerful stroke, and never at any time appeared at all hurried. At tho twolfth lap ho caught Pooook, who was leading. Ths ohampion led as he turned on the thirteenth lap, and 'forged ahead to win comfortably by thirteen yards from Pocock. Gross time, 6min 55seo. The world's reoord for the 440y<1» is smin 22iseo, and the New Zealand reoord smin 46eeo. Lariger's time was smin 35sec, so that he covered the distanoe in lOsoo less than the New Zealand reoord. At the conclusion of the programme tho ohampion gave an exhibition of various strokes, showing; how and how not to swim. Following are the results of the various events: —

66|yds Inter-Club Handicap.—First heat: B. King, 1; Allan, 2. Second heat: L. Turner, 1; R. Wakeland, 2. Final: L. Turner, 1; E. King, 2. Won easily Time, 46seo. 33|yda ' Boys' Handicap.—Gibson, 1! Ross, 2. Time, 23seo. 150 yds Firet-olasa Invitation Handicap. —Ludy Langer, 1; P. Edwards 2; W. M'Gill, 3. Gross time, 148 4-sseoN Junior Diving Championship. —J. M'MiUao.

Ribbon Dive.—V. Salek. 66|yda Ladies' Handicap.—Miss 0. Warring, 1; Mrs. Bosher, 2. Time, 70 eeo.

Plunge.—W. J. Look, 3'7ft lin, 1; R. Smith, 35ft 3in, 2. 100 yds Breast-stroke Handicap. —G. Bvatt, 1; F.. Ferguson, 2. Timo, lmin 26 l-sseo.

440 yds First-olaas Invitation Handicap. —Ludy Langer, 1; B. Pooock, 2. Grow time, 6min 55seo.

Diving Competition (open).—T. Bolton. A water-polo match concluded the carnival.