SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 19763, 13 January 1928, Page 12

SWIMMING

[By Hookeh.]

_ . COMING EVENTS. . •j&nuary 17.—St. Clair Club’s Carnival, Municipal Baths. January 21-27.—New Zealand National Championships, Municipal Baths. January 24. Nelson Shield Lifesaving Contest, at Dunedin. January 24 or 25.—Four-Man Surf Championship, at Dunedin. January 26.—Annette Kellerman pup Harbor Race, at Dunedin. FORTHCOMING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. At the time of writing the full list of entries lor the New Zealand National Championships has not been completed, but it is possible at this stage Jo state that the fixture, which is to commence on Saturday afternoon of next week, promises to be full of incident, excitement, and sensation, and it would not bo at all surprising %0 see many of the present fresh-water records go by the board before tho jneeting is brought to a close. About Thursday of next week the great gathering or New Zealand watermen and mermaids will commence to arrive, and present indications are that in addition to Otago, Canterbury, (Wellington, Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, jVVanganui, and South Canterbury will be represented. The South Canterbury team will be comprised solely of intermediates and juniors, and during their stay here they will probably bo attached to the Canterbury team. It is too early yet to go into prospects for tho meeting in any detail, but present appearances ami recent performances pifint to the greater part of the national men's ebanipionsnips being fought out by Canterbury and Auckland, though Wanganui, Wellington, and Otago may score in individual ©vents here and there.

W. Cameron, the brilliant Wellington swimmer, is apparently still an intermediate, though were he called tipon to contest the lUUycls national championship instead of the intermediate events he would be a strong contender for honors, in view of the tact that he recently registered 59 2-ssee for 100yds in fresh water at Wellington. Cameron’s nomination, as telegraphed from Wellington, however, is for the intermediate events, and in this division ho should take a power of beating over all three Iree-styie distances, as well as in the 100yds breast Stroke, which, last season, he won from the Otago representative, I). Olds, in Imin 21sec. The 100yds Cameron won in tilsoc, which is the fsew Zealand intermediate salt-water record. Cameron was also second in the 220yds intermediate boys’ championship. He looks like being the star performer in the intermediate division, though P. Brownlee, of Auckland, may show up over the longer distances. Otago is represented by O. Holland, >vho is hardly up to the required class yet, though ho is a promising youngster, and Canterbury has a solid lad in Woods, who may gain points for his province. ' Coming to the national men’s championships, the New Zen la ml recordholder, Norman Uowsett, of "Wanganui, is swimming in great form just row, and should be very hard to beat in the 100yds event. This is always on© of the classic races ol the meeting, and though Dowsett may be favorite, 1"). P. Lindsay, of Canterbury, may prove troublesome over this dis- , tance, and Auckland possesses swimmers of merit in 1. P. Farrell, J. En,wright, and L. Fairgray; and Co.; while Wellington may have one or two other good sprinters besides Cameron [to show their worth. Otago will be represented by N. H. Bailey, and "though his best times do not compare with those of the northerners he should not be taken too lightly. Last season 1). P. Lindsay won the (national titles over every distance from £S2oyds to one mile, and in the44oyds, ; 830yds, and one mile championships , 1,0 established New Zealand salt-water ’ records, also going very close in the 220yds. He is reported to be swimming as well as ever this season, but if Auckland is able to count on Bndson’s services the 220 yds_ and 44Uyds events will be made decidedly inteiesting. Pelham, of Wellington,_ is another who should do well if he is able to reproduce the form that won him the New Zealand 440yds title in oxnin. 33 3-ssec. E. V. Cunnold (Auckland), [A. Stokes (Canterbury), J. Enwright (Auckland), D. Murrell (Wellington), and C. J. M‘Lean (Otago) are others among the distance competitors, several of whom have registered splendid performances in the past. M Lean may be capable of a place in the 630yds or one-mile events, though he will need to swim better than at the Otago championships. . , , The men’s breast stroke and bacjc Stroke championships are both likely to produce a duel between Auckland and Canterbury. E. C. Herd, of Canterbury won the 220yds breast stroke title last season in 3min 7 3-sscc at Auckland, but N. K. Sylow, of Auckland, threatens his supremacy on this occa6ion. Still, Herd should bo hard to beat. The back stroke 150yds championship promises to bo a rare race between L. Fairgray. of Auckland, holdet .of the title, ami L. Moorhouse, of Canterbury, a previous holder, both of whom have registered splendid time lately. E. C. Herd (Canterbury) and iW. P. Boyd (Otago) may not bo up to the form of the other pair,_ but they should help to make an interesting race. Otago looks to Roy Calder to retain Ibis men’s diving title, though keen Competition is promised. J. Cameron, of Wellington, must bo a good exponent of the art to beat W. Hicks, an ex"champion; while Canterbury is likely to be represented by C. 11. Riordan, a fair performer, who is hardly in Calder’s class. H. E. Walker, another exchampion, has also entered on Otago's behalf, and in form ho might gain a place. Calder has been diving so well this season that ho must be very hard to beat. The ladies’ events promise to provide a rare clash between the Auokland and Otago representatives, Canterbury having no lady free-style swimmer ot note. The 100yds should provide a great race. Mias Ena Stockley, holder of the title, will be keen to avenge her recent Auckland defeat by Miss I). Mageo, while Miss_ M. Jepson and Miss K. Miller, wearing Otago’s colors, can bo depended on to keep the northerners busy. Over 220yds and 440yds the holder of the titles, Miss K. Miller (Otago), is going to be hard to beat, though Miss D. Grant, of Auckland, and Miss M. Jepson (Otago) should both be in the hunt. At the time of writing word regarding Auckland’s final selection was not available. Miss D. Breward (Canterbury) should give Miss G. Pidgeon (Auckland) a good race in the 220yds ladies’ breast stroke championship, though the 1 latter has been registering such fast S tjmes lately that she will lake a power inf heading. Miss L. Hood has twice won the New Zealand ladies’ diving title, and tho Hawke’s Bay lady may again be expected to make a stern endeavor to retain her honors. Miss L. Copplestone will probably represent Canterbury, though Mrs Thompson (nee Miss M. Foote, ex-New Zealand champion) is stated as being a likely competitor. Otago will be represented by Miss Eggers and Miss D. Foote, and neither girl will, disgrace herself. Miss Hood looks hard to beat, but there should be Sen keener competition in this event an in the men’s division. The intermediate girls’ class promises to be one of the star attractions of the meeting, with Miss Edna Champion, the record-breaking Aucklander, as one of the leading lights. If Miss M.'Simifermibi (Hawke’s Bay) is still an interfqjgdiata aha, too, ; will have to he reck*

oned with, for she won the 220yds title last season, while Miss N. 1 Stratton (Wanganui) should do well over 100yds. Miss M. Fleming, Otago’s representative, should acquit herself quite well, though the writer does not regard her chances as very bright against some of tho northern speedsters. The junior division always provides good racing, and in both girls’ and boys’ sections Otago will bo well represented. R. Geddes will carry the centre’s colors in tho boys’ championships, and he has been swimming so well lately that ho is looked upon to do well; while Miss D. Murdoch and Miss C. Lang are both good performers. Miss. Murdoch’s times have been good, and sho should do well in the running over both distances, Miss Lang being better over the shorter distance than sho is over 100 yds. The latter was defeated by Miss Murdoch at the Otago championships, but is being entered for the forthcoming fixture by her club. Once tho entries arc definitely announced it will be possible, however, to gauge more accurately the chances of the various swimmers in the respective events. In the meantime, however, it can bo said that the Otago Centre has the arrangements for tho meeting well in hand, and a good programme of entertainment for 'the visiting swimmers has been drawn up, including an outing to Waitati on Sunday, January 22, The carnival closes with a dance on Friday, January 27. The Annette Kellerman Cup harbor race will bo swum on January 26, and during the mecting'-'tho New' Zealand life-saving championships will also be conducted at St Clair. DUNEDIN DASHES. Senior and intermediate swimmers were conspicuous in a big muster at tho Dunedin Club hour last Friday night, but the senior cup races will not bo resumed until to-night, _ when the GGJyds back stroke championship will be decided. Miss Eggcrs is training very hard, and her coach is well pleased with tho progress sho has made since the Otago championships. Somo of her diving is still a little in the rough, but she is developing a nbo Ilight. Her entry still leaves something to bis desired, however. Slid has been devoting a good deal of time to the screws, but while she gets a full screw easily sho finds some difficulty with the halt-screw. Miss D. Foote, tho Otago ladies’ diving champion-, is a neat little diver, and she, too, has been training steadily. She has had more experience than Miss Eggcrs, which is one of the reasons why she shows a little more finish than the other. Roy Calder was going through all the dives, though be has not yet selected his voluntaries for the National meeting. On his present form he is going to take a power of heating when ho steps on to tho boards to defend tits titles. Miss M. Jepson has had to slacken off in training on account of a bad throat, which is most unfortunate, lor tho Dunedin lady in view of the closeness of the New' Zealand championships. Still, tho spell may prove beneficial to tho champion, who can be depended upon to bo well to the fore when the ladies’ championships are decided. J. Fleming was putting in some steady training, and should ho scon to advantage in forthcoming handicap races. Miss M. Fleming, Otago’s representative in the Now Zealand intermediate girls’ championship, has been training solidly, and while she is not expected by tho writer to he in it with Miss Edna Champion, she should not disgrace herself over lUOyds at least. A. M. Rix is as game as they are made, and is willing to try any of the difficult dives, but until he improves his carriage ho can not bo considered a diver of class, even should he do well in tho New Zealand intermediate event. His entry into tho water is far from polished and ho appears to forget all about keeping his legs together. He is endeavoring to correct this fault, which after all is one of the first essentials in diving. He lias experienced trouble with tho screw's, but is working hard in an endeavor to get there._ He is eligible for the intermediate division again next season, so that ho should gain valuable experience at the forthcoming fixture. A. Rennie, wiio won the junior cup bv all-round ability, is still a consistent attender- at training, and is moving along nicely just now. Ho has improved considerably during the sea-eon.

ST. CLAIR CARNIVAL. Tho St. Clair Club’s carnival next Tuesday night should meet with a good response from swimmers, as a largo and varied programme is to bo presented. Ono of the features of tho meeting will ho the six-a-sicle scratch relay race for tho Olds Shield,, and this should resolve itself into a great duel between Kiwi and St. Clair, both of which will field strong teams. Tho Probablos-Possibles water polo match should create considerable interest, for following this game the Jinal selection of the Otago water polo team for tho New Zealand championships will bo made. Two diving events are included, those being an open plain dive handicap and a novice fancy dive. Other events comprise 50yds intcrclub handicap, 100yds men’s intcrclub handicap, 100yds men’s breast-stroke handicap, 33 l-3yds novice boys’ handicap, 33 l-3yds novice girls’ handicap, 66 2-3yds ladies’ intorclub handicap, 50yds junior boys’ handicap, 50yds junior girls’ handicap, 60 2-3yds ladies’ breast, stroke handicap, novelty race, and life-saving competition. Interesting racing and keen finishes should be tho order, and so attractive a programme deserves to be rewarded with a bumper attendance. AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. Bv far the outstanding feature of the Auckland championships last week was tho swimming of Miss Edna Champion, who won both 100yds and 220yds intermediate girls’ tests. Thd daughter of that great swimmer and record-holder, Malcolm Champion, ex-Ncw- Zealand Olympic representative, Miss Champion has come on surprisingly this season. A couple of seasons back she entered intermediate ranks at Napier, hut had to lower her colors to bliss M. .lepson and Miss K. Miller. It was there that Miss Miller established the New Zea land intermediate girls’ record of 2min 57 2-6 sec for 220yds, but this Miss Champion shattered by 5 l-ssec at Auckland last week, her time of 2min 52 l-ssec being such that she must be very hard to beat in the New Zealand intermediate girls’ 220yds championship, which was won last year by bliss M. Simmonds, of Hawke’s Bay, in 3min 6 l-ssec. Miss Champion has a powerful stroke and swam brilliantly, also carrying off tho 100yds intermediate test‘in 70sec. Auckland critics are predicting that Miss Champion may further improve her time for 220yds at Dunedin, but it has to be remembered that Dunedin water is slower than that of Auckland, and to do better here will indeed stamp Miss Champion as something a long way above the ordinary.. Op© of th© surprises of the meeting

was the defeat of Miss Ena Stockley, who lias thrice held the New Zealand 100yds ladies’ title, in the 100yds test. Miss D. Magee, who recently returned from a visit to Australia, swam with splendid judgment, and finished 2yds ahead of Miss Stockley in 67 2-ssec, which was one-fifth of a second better than the latter’s time in winning the New Zealand 100yds championship last season. Miss Stockley’s salt water record for the distance, however, is 65 3-ssec, which was registered at Auckland in 1925. Miss Magee was last season’s New Zealand intermediate 100yds champion, who, it will be remembered, w'on the 100yds handicap at tho Dunedin Club’s carnival in November, 1926. _ In the 220yds ladies’ test Miss D. Grant won comfortably by 3yds from 'Miss Ena Stockley in the ordinary time of 3tnin 2sec, Miss Stockley swimming the latter part of the distance on the backstroke. Miss Grant also won the 440yds ladies’ test in 6miu 31 2-sscc. which was several seconds slower than tho New Zealand standard. Miss J. Bell, the provincial champion, /ho was third in last season’s New Zealand championship, was badly outclassed. The 100yds men’s tost went to the ex-King’s College boy, J. P. Farrell, who registered the creditable tune of 60 2-asco, the evergreen J. P. Emvngnt being second. Farrell is_ in his first season of competitive swimming, anil has made remarkable progress. G. Bridson, tho ex-Ncw Zealand intermediate boys’ champion, won the 220vds men’s test in the very lair tuna of 2rain 36 3-ssec, finishing wkh a had of Byds over Enwright. There hare been varying reports as to Bridson s likelihood of competing at the New Zealand championships, but should he be able to take part he will make Lindsay move over the furlong. Bridson also won the 440yds, and with, his long, sweeping stroke won by haltMhe length of the baths in smin 41 3-osec, which is a long wav in excess of D. P._ Lindsay’s Siiiin 24 2-sseC, registered in the Now Zealand title event at Auckland last season. N. K. Sylow, who won the 220yds breast-stroke championship in the fine time of 3min 9 4-ssec, is a newcomer from Australia who should keep B. C. Heard busy in tho Now Zealand championships. He uses a beautifully clean stroke that has remarkable power. Miss G. Pidgeon swara_22oyds breaststroke on time, doing 3min 37scc, which was 2 3-ssec better than she registered in winning the New Zealand ladies’ title at Auckland last year. P. Brownlee was the star in the intermediate bovs’ division, winning the 440vds in 6min 14 2-ssec by 38yds. the 100yds in 65sec, and the 220yds in 2min 52 l-sscc.

In the junior boys’ division S. Gardiner won the 200yds in 87 l-ssec, and the 220yds in the slow time of 3inin 49 3-asec.

Miss M. Smith won the 50yds junior girls’ test in 33 2-sscn, and tho 100yds in 80-sec.

L. Fairgray, holder of the New Zealand title, was the only starter in the 150yds backstroke test, in which he registered Imin 58 2-ssec.

KIWI ACTIVITIES

There was considerable activity at the Kiwi Club’s hour on Tuesday night, there being a large attendance of active competitive swimmers, both senior and junior, who indulged in some solid training. Miss Kathleen Miller did a fast trial over 44(Jyds, and, though crossed at one stage by a pacemaker, succeeded in doing good time round about the New Zealand standard. She is approaching top form, and should be in rare fettle for the big events ahead. N. H. Bailey, Otago 100yds champion, is training solidly, and did a particularly fast dash over the length. If he were able to develop a little more finish Bailey would he in the front rank over 100yds, for he is both a st5 Tlish and powerful swimmer, though he sometimes finds difficulty in finishing 100yds all out on the crawl. R. Geddes was swimming nicely, mostly confining himself to short clashes. The junior champion was, also doing some neat work on the diving boards. His plain diving is of a high standard at the present time. W. P. Boyd was moving along easily on tho backstroke, and should perform quite creditably at the national meeting even though ho is hardly expected to be in at the finish with such backstroke exponents as L. Moorhouse and L. l'’airgr;iy. Miss P. Lang, the Kiwi, intermediate, is taking her swimming seriously now, and on Monday night she covered thirty lengths in good style. Next season she should be a strong contender for Otago intennediato honors.

R. Hector, the popular secretary of the Kiwi Club, was doing more swimming than usnsal, and if he had only the time to devote to training Hector would do well in handicap swimming. As an organiser, he takes some beating, for the present healthy position of his club is largely due to his energy and foresight. W. H. Hamilton and A. E. Short were doing the usual amount of training, and if the former were taken in hand seriously he would develop into » more than useful sprinter. Miss Bewley, the schoolgirls’ diving champion, was putting in most of her time on tho boards and executed several neat dives, though she does not get up high enough off the board. It is a pity Miss M. Morrison, the exNew Zealand champion, could not be persuaded to take Miss Bewley in hand, for, with coaching, the latter would develop into a first-class diver. W. Buckland is, one of, the most improved junior swimmers in the club, and he did several fast widths on Monday night. He has a good arm action, using a quick stroke, his leg drive being well co-ordinated, and before the present season ends some good performances may'bo looked for from this youngster. L. Pithio has hardly been up to form lately, and his illness just before tho Otago championships threw him out of his stride. He is a really good breast-stroke swimmer, and had ho maintained earlier form might have represented Otago at the New Zealand championships. He is getting down to training again, however, and may do well at the St. Clair carnival. Miss P. Taylor is one of the keenest juniors in the club,, and rarely misses a club night. She is still a schoolgirl, and, though she did not reproduce her best form at the Otago championships, she is gradually getting back to her best, and should be capable of good time over distances up to 50yds during the latter part of the season. Miss C. Lang, who has been entered by the club for the junior girls’ events at the Now Zealand championships, has rarely swum better than she is doing at present. Her arm stroke is good, and Miss Miller has been devoting some time towards improving tho junior girl’s leg action. Over the shorter distances Miss Lang should swim well, and may extend Miss Murdoch- more than was the case at the Otago championships. R. Affleck was sifiinmin» .well pa tho

breast stroke, and promises to become a good exponent of this branch of swimming. WELLINGTON TRIALS. The event of the championship trials in Wellington on Saturday was the effort of W. Cameron in the 100yds championship, which he won from 1). Murrell by Bft in 59 2-ssec, which shattered M. E. Champion’s New Zealand 100yds fresh-water record of 61 1- Champion’s time was also lowered by N. Dowsett at Wanganui recently by four-fifths of a second, Dowsett being the holder of the New Zealand salt-water record of 57 2-ssec. Cameron also won the 220yds breaststroke trial in 3min 32sec._ The ex-New Zealand intermediate champion, C. Claridge, won the 440yds by twelve yards in the slow time of 6min Iscc. G. A. Rix-Trott, who was second to D. P. Lindsay in last season’s New Zealand 220yds and 440yds championships, was an unsuccessful competitor in the trials, his best being a second in the 440yds championship. W. Kicks, who won the New Zealand diving title in 1922, was defeated in the diving trial by J. Cameron. Hicks has given some great displays, but never seems to give of his best in championship competitions. ST. CLAIR NOTES. The St. Clair Club’s surfing season is in full swing, and the recent spell of bright weather has attracted large crowds to the beach. The life-saving team for the forthcoming New Zealand championships is doing good work under the instructorship of Mr A. Knights, and should acquit itself well against the northerners. The club hour at the Municipal Baths on Monday nighty was well attended, water polo practice and coaching work being carried out. Several of the senior members were showing good form, and may be expected to do well at the club’s carnival next week. A number of juniors, who have been receiving coaching lately, will probably be seen in action in the novice event at Tuesday’s carnival, there being one or two promising swimmers among them. A. Knights was putting in some good work on the diving boards, and he executed one or two very neat back dives. _ Knight is a very fair diver, who might do really well on the boards with serious coaching. O. J. M’Loan, who will represent Otago in the distance event at the national championships, has been training very solidly, and, though his times are far from impressive, he may effect a surprise by gaining a place in one of the longer distance events. WANGANUI FIXTURE. The Wanganui championships revealed that N. Dowsett, New Zealand record-holder, was iu fine form over 100yds, and that he will make a big bid to regain his 100yds title. He won the event in 60 2-ssec, and the 220yds iu 2min 46 2-ssec. Miss N. S'tratton won the 100yds ladies’ championship in 72sec and the intermediate event over the same disance in 77 3-ssec. The 220yds intermediate. cveut she won in 3miu 18 2EMBRYO CHAMPION. Manly has produced another swimmer wJio, experts tiling may emulate the sensational performances of Andrew Charlton within the next year. The new star, Noel (“Billy”) Ryan, is a pupil of Sydney High School, a sixteeu-year-old lad cast in a light mould, but whoso heart is as -big as a lion’s, and whose stamina is astonishing. “ Billy ” Ryan, a protege of 1920 Australian Olympic representative Harry Hay, first attracted attention by winning the junior open surf race at Bondi surf carnival on December 3 last. Ryan’s age was questioned, and it was found that ho had not attained the age of _ sixteen. This being so, he was not eligible to participate in surf life-saving competitions, and he was therefore deprived of the trophy won at Bondi. In order that the youth should not be debarred from competing at North Steyne Club’s carnival on December 17, Ryan, wbo had attained his sixteenth birthday on December 10, was specially examined prior to the carnival, granted Ins surf bronze medallion, and showed his appreciation by carrying off his second Junior surf race from a big field of lads much older and bigger than himself (says the Sydney ‘Referee’). At Dee Why surf carnival recently young Ryan again proved too good for the opposition in the junior surf race, thus winning three races in as many starts. In the baths his career has been equally brilliant. At Technical High School carnival on December Ryan won the 440yds event in 6min 38soc, and the experts began to sit up and take stock. On December 9 the Manly speedster got busy again, and, at Combined High Schools’ carnival, at the Domain Baths, swam second in the 50yds, won the 100yds junior title in 65 2-ssec, won heat and final of the 220yds junior championship in 2min 45 2-ssec, and_ 2min 47 J-ssec, and the 440yds final in orain 49 2-ssec.

His 220yds heat time bettered the record for the race by 7 1-10sgc, and his 440yds time obliterated three roSchool by 35 3-ssec, E. Henry’s senior record by 8 l-9sec, and the senior record of J. Barratt, established a little earlier the same day. On December 13, at the Public Schools A.A.A. carnival, at the Domain Baths, Ryan caused a mild sensation by easily defeating the senior High Schools’ champion and recordholdor, Jack Barratt, of Lismore, in the 220yds Kieran memorial scratch race for the Eaivsou Cup, in 2min 40sec, bettering the record for Hie event by 20sec, and the high schools’ record by 2sec. Ryan’s most notable performance, however, was his winning of the State 220yds junior championship from Cecil Light, at Manly. Light won the heat in 2min 35 2-ssec, ns against Ryan’s 2min 41 l-ssec, but he turned the tables on Light in the final, and won the title in 2min 36 l-ssec. Ryan is indeed a youth of rare promise, _ and as his time for the furlong is within a feiv seconds of the best put up by any of the seniors this season, it is quite on the cards that he will improve sufficiently to him for consideration as .an Olympic representative. Ryan was last week selected by the A.S.A. to take part in the 200 metres event, to be swum at the Australian National Games. AUCKLAND NOTES. Our Auckland correspondent writes: Old champions were defeated and new champions arose at the Auckland swimming chapionships, held in the tepid baths last week. In every senior freestyle event the title changed hands. Miss D. Magee won the 100yds ladies’ championship in brilliant style from the title-holder, Miss E. Stockley. Miss

Magee has improved considerably since last season, having now developed staying power over the last 20yds. Her time of 67 2-ssec is particularly meritorious, as it has been bettered only by Misses Stockley, 6. Shand, and P. Hoeft. Miss Stockley, who swam disappointingly met with her first defeat over the distance fur three years on this occasion. She was defeated by a better swimmer.

The time credited to N. K. Sylow in winning the 220yds men’s breast-stroke championship was announced as equal to the New Zealand salt water record of 3min 9 4-ssec. According to the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association’s official hand book, tho record is 3min 10 2-ssec, standing to the credit of C. Atkinson (Canterbury), when fie won the dominion championship at Auckland in 1910. The Auckland record is quoted in tho hand hook as 3min 9 4-ssec, which Atkinson returned in tho New Zealand Championship in 1920. The latter time, which Sylow equalled, should therefore have been recognised as the New Zealand record. Such discrepancy in times is misleading, and it is to bo hoped the New Zealand Swimming Association will make the necessary corrections in next season’s hand book. The New Zealand fresh water record of 3min 4 4-ssoc is held by the present New Zealand champion, E. C. Heard, of Canterbury. Sylow is tho best exponent of breaststroke Auckland lias over had, and his chances of defeating Heard are exceedingly bright.

SPLASHES. R. Geddes, who was selected by the Otago Centre to contest tho junior bys’ events at the New Zealand champinships, was challenged recently by 0. Goughian, of the Dunedin Club, a race over lUOyds taking placo at the Municipal Baths on Monday night. Tho pair wore together over tho first lap, but Goddes then drew away and won easily by 12yds in the very fair time of 79sec, which suggests that tho Kiwi boy should give a good • account of himself in the New Zealand junior boys’ event. Geddes swam well, and is wise in confining himself to the 100yds free stylo and 50yds breast stroke f the champinships. Cughlan lacked training, and swam a very bad course, his display being disappointing. Miss Natalie Stratton, who broketwo records while competing at the Wanganui swimming championships last week, is one of the most promising intermediate lady swimmers in the dominion, and though her time for the 220yds does not compare with that of the Aucklander, Miss Edna Champion, she should make a bold bid for honors when sho steps out to contest the 100yds intermediate girls’ championship, She is a pretty swimmer, using an eight-beat crawl, with a perfectlytimed arm action, and last season was third in the New Zealand lOOyds intermediate title event.

In “Boy” Charlton’s first appearance recently in the water—at Dee Why carnival—ho met with defeat, but his "long absence in the country and his weakness in running nd wadig brought about his downfall. In condition in the _ baths, opponents will find him a different “ Boy.” His conqueror, Percy Jones, had no chance in the final with Wally Proudfoot (states the ‘ Sporting Globe ’)_. Violet Armstrong is improving wonderfully. Wearing two woollen cc(ktumes, her time for 110yds was Imin 18sec (says an Australian writer)- Recently she finished rather an arduous and exacting programme by taking only 29 2-ssec for the 50yds. The consistent Bonnie Mealing was at her best in a 50yds hack stroke dash—35sec Her sister Mattie’s 150yds was just outside the record of Fanny Durack, and another of the Mealing clan, Ethel, failed by a second to equal Mattie’s time. Ladies are certainly supporting the claim of coach Dud Helmrich, who stresses the fact that a team of the fair sex should go to Amsterdam. At the recent championship meeting an innovation was the starting of events by gunshot instead of word of mouth. Everyone is satisfied it was a great improvement. There is some likelihood of 0. Holland, the Otago intermediate 100yds and 220yds champion, being transferred to Auckland shortly. His would be a decided loss, and it .is to be hoped that, at least, he will be available to represent the province at the New Zealand championships. During the week-end the Canterbury Nelson Shield team, under Instructor P. S. Taylor, held its first practice at New Brighton, and judging by the way the members shaped, Canterbury’s chances of retaining the surf life-saving championship of New Zealand look particularly bright (says the Christchurch. ‘Star’). A. T. Dalton, O. R. Riordan, M. Eaglesome, 0. Atkinson, D. P. Lindsay, A. T. Bolam, J. M. Bales, and F. S. Taylor (instructor) comprise the team, and there is no doubt that it is the best swimming team that has been assembled in Canterbury for some time to defend the Nelson Shield, and it reflects great credit on the G.S.L.S.A. selector, Mr H. S. Feast. Swimming with hands tied behind his back, feet and knees also tied, wearing an entire army uniform, overcoat, pack, etc., and, in addition, towing a boat full of passengers, is the unusual exhibition given by Andy Gault, of Clinton, lowa, at various beaches in the region of San Francisco (says “Bench and Pool,” one of the foremost American aquatic magazines). Mr Gault says he has crossed the Mississippi this way, and refers as proof to Wide-World photographs in the New York ‘ Times ’ of July 20, 1924, and ‘ Times Mid-week Pictorial ’ of July 24, 1924. Ho conceived the idea of this swim, he says, while in France serving with the 64th_ Infantry Band, which is also the origin of his unique pastime of playing his cornet in the deepest section of the water while swimming. Ho swims part of the time on his back, then changes to his side, and finishes _on his breast. The last method requires good lung power, as he is under water most of the time. The swimming i,s all done by his legs and feet, ns his arms are entirely useless. The New South Wales Amateur Swimming Association has _ elected Harry Hayl. a former Olympic representative, Perce Bussell and “Dud” Helmrich to its Educational and Coaching Committee. The trio will formulate a practicable coaching scheme, and submit it to the next meeting of the association for approval. Their plan is to work on the same < lines as the Surf Life-saving Association, and award certificates to amateurs or professionals after they have attended a series of lectures—at which as many past champions as possible have expressed their views—and satisfied an examining board they are competent. The writer understands that R. JWebster, late of Auckland, who swam so well in the last Annette Kollerman Cup race, is at present training in Otago Harbor. Tho ex-Aucklander is entered in Otago’s name on this occasion, though, be can not have been very long in Dunedin.