THE NORDEN SHIELD.

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 71, 25 March 1922, Page 16

THE NORDEN SHIELD.

In. connection, with the Norden Shield competition, which is to be held at Christchurch during Easter, word has been re-' ceived by Mr. N. R. Stone from the Canterbury Centre, stating that 'arrangements havo been made to billet the members of the Wellington team during their stay in' the Cathedral City. This is a very generous offer, and one that makes for closer good-fellowship between tho rival provinces.' '■'•"■

In a recent issue of an Australian paper appears a letter from Miss Kellerman, in which she discusses interestingly the performances at the recent championships. Her statement that the divine here is poor grade is probably correct, but due consideration must.be given to the fact.that diving competitions under the new regulations are in their infancy, and our competitors ha.ye hardly had time to gain more than a bare knowledge of the various dives as relating to their character and execution. Time will effect an improvement, and in the course of a few years the Dominion should be possessed _of several first-class performers. The opinion offered in her letter that the judges are "a bit humpty dumpty" is a bit vague. Does ifc refer to their stature or ability? If it be the former, no doubt the gentlemen concerned will feel tickled to death to hear of it, but should it be the latter, "Header" just wishes to say that he knows, from personal experience of these officials, that they are fully qualified to act in the capacity they did, and quite capable of allotting the points as laid down by the International Federation, without allowing their own, or anybody else's, personal opinion to influence them.

In view of the criticism levelled at the starter in some quarters at the recent championship meeting, the new rule adopted by the American Amateur Athletic Union of Swimming for the-starting of races makes interesting reading. The rule reads:—"The start shall be made in this fashion: The swimmers lined up and informed as above, will be commanded 'Get ready,' and when the starter sees all are set the gun shall be fired. In indoor meets the signal to start may be given by word of mouth. The start in all races shall be made with a dive, except in backstroke races." The vital clause in the new rule is the one which says: "When the starter sees ( all are set the gun shall be fired," the ooject of which appears'to be that no one competitor may gain any. advantage over the other by means of a "moving" start or anticipation. The New Zealand Council, which was asked by last conference to define a starting rule, would do well to adopt the now rule as quoted above, and so ensure a. uniformity in the method of starting, instead of allowing a

continuation of the various ways that are being used throughout the Dominion, whereby, in lots of cases, competitors practically start themselves, trusting to the starter to give his word of command before their feet have actually left the board. The telegraphed report that Miss Hoeft had btien successful in lowering . Mis 3 Durack's world's record of 76 l-ssec for ladies over 100 metres is somewhat incorr rect. The world's record is 73 3-ssec, and stands to the credit of Miss E. Bleibtrey, so that Mi6s Hoeft failed by three-fifths of a second to reach her figures. The record Miss Hoeft lowered would probably be Miss Durack's Australasian record.