SWIMMING

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 102, 30 April 1921, Page 12

SWIMMING

(By "Csrawl.")

THE CURTAIN RUNG DOWN

LANGER*S PERFORMANCES

There was a good attendaiK« at ths Tepid Baths last Tuesday night, when Ludy Langer, the champion distance swimmer of the Hawaiian touring team, made his final appearance in Wellington. A fine programme was got off, aad some remarkably good swimming was witnessed by those present, for the benefit of the local centre, all competitors gave their services free, and they are to be complimented, hot only for the high standard of swimming they displayed, j but fox their very sportsmanlike ■ action in assisting the centre to recoup some of its financial loss over previous carnivals. It was indeed the true sporting spirit, and one that, it is hoped, will always remain in the swimming game. Langer's. exhibition© were wonderful, his effort® in both the 150 and SSOyds rousing the audience to a high pitch of enthusiasm. The hearty cheers that greeted him at the finish of each event were fuDy earned. Mr. A. A. Somerville's handicapping was excellent, his effort in. bringing his field so dose together in the 150 yds being a veritable triumph for him, and it is doubtful if such a slashing race has beea seen hefore in Wellington. Nearing the finish it looked as if PhD. Edwards would win, and his name, was being loudly called, but over the last twenty yards Langer put in. a. brilliant sprint, and just won on the touch, with Paterson and M'Gill a dead heat for third place, two yards away. In the 220 yds, langer had an easier win, despite very, plucky efforts by Laurie Turner and Claridge, but that he did not loiter on the journey is clearly proved by the fact that he lowered the New Zealand record by five seconds, a very fine performance, considering the slowness of the water. Ludy also gave an instructive exhibition of the various strokes used in swimming, hk backstroke being somewhat of a revelation to those present. Ladies' races, open sprints, [ diving, and comic stunts filled up a lengthy programme. They were produc- ! tive of some really good efforts, by the. various competitors, and considerably added to the evening's enjoyments A word of praise is due to Mr. Jones, the bath caretaker, for the'splendid condition of the, baths, the water being quite clear. Ludy Langer, accompanied by his popular manager, Barney Farnall, left on Thursday for Auckland. He is going into solid training there before leaving for Honolulu, where he intends to com- ! pete at the big swimming games in com- I petition with Ross and Beaurepaire. All local swimmers will .wish him the best of luck. Ho is undoubtedly a great sport. j REASON FOR GRATIFICATION. I Tuesday's carnival rang down the curtain on the swimming season, and. all things considered, those responsible for the controlling of the sport have, every reason to feel gratified with the lesult of their tffortt.t The mcon h« bf«ti v«i'V notice»bl« for th« great revival that took

place during the last few months, one that, it is hoped, will remain for years to come. There can be no doubt that swimming generally was at a very low ebb at the commencement of the season, and it has been duo to the able efforts of those in authority, both on the clubs and the centre, that the sport has regained something of its pre-war popularity.

The Wellington Club is to be congratulated on ite progress, and from present appearances it looks as if this fine club will regain the prestige it held some sua-. sons ago. The Lyall Bay, Maranui, and Worksa" clubs were all live and strong es, especially the former, and hnve held their end up well, though, of course, they realise thai their main efforts must be confined to the beaches. And in this respect they have rendered valuable service to the public arid the city, as illustrated by the fact that no accident of any kind has occurred on the beaches where they operate. A great work these clubs are doing, and one which, unfortuately, doe 3 not receive the recognition it should. .

The Post Office Club has kept going well, and has a good list of members, who were well catered for with races during the oeason. The club should run a carnival nest year and make its presence felt. Thorndon Club is -unfortunate in that it has no facilities for swimming, the Esplanade Baths having been closed. Thb is indeed bad luck, but I hope the enthusiasm of several of the members will not allow the clvb —which has an exceptionally fine pre-war record —to go out of existence. V.M.C.A. Chib hae held races during the season, and although its membership is small, what it lacked in numbers was more than balanced by keenness. It is confidently oxpected that next season will ace this club as strong as it used to be a few yean back. It is to be sincerely hoped that the Swifts and OH Boys -will be revived next season, as both .these dubs were very prominent in the swimming world in years gone by, and though, they lost severed of the finest members at the front, I am sure thero are still a few enthusia»<* left who can be depended upon to use their influence in effecting their reentry into the sport. GOOD WORK BY THE CENTRE. The centre has done a lot of good work, and the members of that body can rest assured that their efforts for the game have been fully recognised by swimmers generally. Starting from a practicaly dead end, they have, by perseverance and enthusiasm, organised | themselves into a good, strong . body, and, -while one does not wish Ao individualise, mention must be made of the really fine work of Mr. Norman Stone as secretary. He has got through a lot of sfcrennoo* work, and it is mostly by his effort that the game is again, reaching the high level it previously occupied. The centre is indeed 'fortunate in having such a live secretary, and it is to be sincerely hoped that his service© will again be available for next year, especially remembering the fact that the Dominion champfonships are to be held here. While touching on this subject, I would like to impress on all clubs the desirability of sending delegates to the centre who know something of the sport and who are not afraid of work. There are several men who have finished with competitive swimming, yet are still keen on trie game, who would only be too pleased to act on the centre, and this is the type of man that is required to control the sport. APPRECIATION. ' t As these will be the last notes ap;' pearing this season. I cannot conclude without making reference to one who has done so much for swimming in all ila phases, both from the public's and the swimmers' point of view, and withal is essentially the true sporfc. I refer to Mr. J. Calnan, the caretaker of the Te Arp Bath*. Always courteous and obliging, nothing has ever seemed too much trouble for vhim, and the valuable service he has rendered to swimming will not be readily forgotten by those who know of the splendid work he does.