SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 18157, 23 December 1922, Page 5

SWIMMING

[By Nagkttr.] In local circles swimming has been very active during the past few weeks. _ Our best here have been in steady training in the endeavor to improve their times. With careful coaching J, Doake should he knocking down his time over the larger distances, and ehould do well over one mile -and in the half distances. An old friend, G. Dalton, who joined the navy, will, I hear, shortly visit us. Ho may swim in the championships at Timaru.

Although somewhat late on the job, G. Frye is busily taking up the breast stroke. The nature of his occupation prevented him from training earlier. _ Bruce Ford, the clever junior, is getting into good form. His time is oomin,T down slowly, and ho may succeed in doing somewhat better than holding his own at Timaru. Kathleen Miller, who was in standard time last year at the championships, should create some surprise this year. _ ‘ Timaru people are going to considerable expense to make the championships a success, which are a big event for Timaru, and, like Wanganui and Napier in the sporting line, the Timaru folic put their full endeavor into the work. When this is done success usually results. In past years these notes have always advocated water polo, and at last a start has been made in tlio way of a tournament for a shield. Monday evening saw the first of a series of games. Better luck will attend the teams’ work in the new year, when Otago and Kiwi each will play Dunedin. The match between Kiwi and Otago ended in a win for Otago by 2- goals to 1. The second race for the Haliday Cup and Fry-Watson trophy will be run off early in January. After the polo match on Monday evening the Otago team and supporters gathered together to wish a happy future to M. Macindoe and Joe Perieira. Mao and Joe are joyously taking upon themselves the responsibility of a wife each. The Girls’ College held a very pleasant carnival during the week. Violet Scotten notched off the important races. However, though she won and stood Miss Bardsley up as much as llsec in the 75yds, and another 21sec, she did not receive the medal. It is a great error that such mistakes should occur in sports’ circles; they sap enthusiasm. I have been shown one of the medals presented to the schoolboy and schoolgirl champions of Otago for la_st season, and I am not surprised at the ire of the school masters. The medals are worthless things. When will pur adults take children seriously, a& seriously as the children take their games, and present them every time with something of real value, however small?

It was fine to see it recorded recently that a life was saved from drowning. Now for a few words of advice to all bathers and swimmers who frequent the various bathing resorts during the holidays. Do not bathe when the breakers are uneven; that is, when the seas shape in triangles. Even though you may swim well, never treat the sea with contempt. Bo always on the alert. Back-Washes are general when the tide is changing. Do not bathe too soon after a meal, and do not stay in longer than twenty minutes at any time. The sea is usually sufficiently safe when it rolls in evenly. Boy Carlton in Australia swam 26 l-sscc over "50yds. C. Munro, the sixteen-year-old Bondi crack, covered 100yds in 60scc. An unofficial attempt to better the British record for 100yds was made by A. Ei Dickson, who swam the distance in 57 3-ssec. The men’s world’s record for the 440yds back-stroke is held by Harold Kruger—6m in 28sec. He is an American.