SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 20309, 18 October 1929, Page 14

SWIMMING

[By Hookee.]

AQUATIC NEWS AND NOTES

Xfiub Hours.—Tuesday, Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club: _ Friday, Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club. Club hours at the Municipal Baths arc Iroru 5.40 to 9.45 p.m. FIXTURES. October .I.B.—Normal School swimming carnival. November 2-5 and 2(3.—Otago State primary schools’ swimming championships. TRAINING FOR SWIMMING. Tho following hints on training were given to the writer by a well-Known swimming enthusiast, formerly a prominent and successful coach, and, although they may nor. apply to every individual swimmer they may be taken as general rules which may bo safe!}' followed:— The swimmer who lias the New Zealand championships as his ultimate goal —these arc held towards the end oi January—and who is now commencing his training) should concentrate for tho first three weeks on distance work, doing 2o()ycls or .‘3ooyds each time he visits the baths. This applies even lor sprint swimmers, for they should remember that their first aim is to get fit, and that they are gradually building up their win'd. To use the term of another sport, they must begin with “the road work.” "At tho end of a month a sprint swimmer might occasionally do 440yds, interspersed with sprints, but inside the first month he should not be continually sprinting. The reasons for this aro obvious. If he is continually trying himself out over sprint distances be will find himself getting out of his style. He is striving to regain his style, and must go slow at tho start and work out the easiest way to get tho host results. After five or six weeks he can get down to the sprints, and he can try himself out over his particular distance, he he sprinter or distance swimmer. The latter, however, must remember that ho has to develop great staying power, and he, of course, has to concentrate more on long work than has the man who is merely indulging in sprint swimming. It should be remembered, however, not to do too much at this stage, and in trying himself out the swimmer should do not more than 400 or 500 yards. Three weeks before the main fixture for which he has been training the swimmer should practise turning, and especially finishing. This_ is where the advantage of swimming with companions comes in. impromptu races can lie arranged, and always the swimmer should endeavour to scrape home by the hare touch. That is whore tho strong finish is developed, and it is the strong finish that wins a race. Even in handicap events it is sometimes policy to win a heat by a touch or even he satisfied with second place so that it is possible to conserve one's energy for the final. Too many young swimmers burn themselves out by trying to break records every time they swim in a race. One needs to bo keyed up to top form to smash a record. and too many record attempts are made when a. swimmer is just a little short of concert pitch. The method of starting should come in for quite a lot of attention. The swimmer should try himself out on the different types of dives, shallow, comparatively deep, and low dives should all lx*, tried out. ft remains for the swimmer to ascertain for himself Irom which lie is able to procure the best results. If lie gets someone to stand about twelve yards up the hath with a stop watch he will be able to^ ascertain which style suits him best. Sometimes ns much as l-Ssec to Lscc over the 33 1 -3yds is shown by the different styles of starting. A swimmer specialising in the breast stroke should let a free style distance swimmer do 300yds and then plunge in ahead of tho latter and go ior dear life. A lot of useful training can ho obtained in tin’s way, and more than one champion breast stroke exponent in New Zealand lias tried this method out with success. Another thing that should not he lost sight of in training is the x )S 3’ c hological aspect. For instance, the coach who supplied this article told the writer that when lie was in active training lie remembered one old New Zealand champion who might do a quarter of a mile or so with the other swimmers, and then, when everyone else had dropped out, he would go and do another two or three lengths, the impression being convoyed that he was fitter than tho others. There is something in that, too, though it depends on tho swimmer. Confidence is a big thing in any swimmer, and another thing that the young swimmer must learn is tho value of relaxation during training. Hill work is good for the wind, and exercises of the right kind are valuable. Skipping and exercises with the old Sandow developer are of most assistance to the swimmer. Facing the wall with tho developers, the swimmer should go through the stroke. The only drawback about tho developers is that the rubber in the developers pulls the arms hack, whereas in the water the arms have to bo lifted. Plenty of stomach exercises should bo the rule, and stomach massage is valuable. There is a tendency sometimes when a swimmer is three-quarters fit for him to slip hack a little so far as'his pace is concerned, hut if ho docs not overdo things in his training and concentrates on his form he will find himself gradually showing improvement again'. NEW ZEALANDER’S RAPID PROGRESS. Reference to the continued success of the ex-New Zealand boy, Leslie Olds, in America was made in last week’s notes, and the following, from the San Diego ‘ Sun, ’shows in what rating the ex-Dunedin youngster is now classed;- “ There is to-day but one champion swimmer in Southern California that Buster Olds, San Diego Athletic Club star, has not defeated in long-distance events. „He is Austin Clapp, Hollywood Athletic Club’s great aquatic performer and a member of the American Olympic team. One year ago Buster was but little known in coast swimming. To-

day he is considered the successor to Austin Clapp, Pacific coast champion. One by one Buster has overcome Ins opponents, until only Clapp remains unbeaten. Buster definitely put Frank Booth out of the picture in the Deauville Beach Club’s two and a-half mile rough-water swim Sunday. “Buster was third to Clapp and waiter Spence, of Pennsylvania A.C., a national champion. Booth was fourth. \ half-mile behind the first four came the rest of the field. Buster put up one of the hardest battles of Ins career in the ocean swim. The water was extrcmelv rough and the tide bad. And lie was competing against older and more experienced swimmers. “ Norman Kettering and Weston Kimball "have long since passed the day when they can beat Buster ni ocean water swimming. Booth has passed. Buster has beaten him twice now. He is gunning for Clapp now. It may not be a year before he, too, will slide back in the secondary rating. ’ AUSTRALIAN WOMEN MAY APPEAR. According to the Auckland ‘ Herald,’ there is a possibility that, iollowing the visit of Noel Ryan and Reg. Grier, one or two Australian women swimmers maj be brought over, by the New Zealand Council. In view of the "rent reputation of Miss Jean Cocks, the fittee n-vear-old champion, it seems likely that she will be one of the nrst selected it the tour eventuates. While New Zealand met with great success in Australia, it is a considerable time since an Australian swimmer appeared here, auda visit o some Australian girls would gne an impetus to women s swimming m tbo dominion. _ KIWI JOTTINGS. The Kiwi Club made a big success of its coaching and training scheme last season, but the committee has decided to further develop it during the coming season, and a good working scheme was drawn up at a meeting held duiing the week. The members of the club are all to bo graded into squads for coaching and training purposes, and the whole scheme will be under the direct supervision of the club captain (N. H. Bailey) and Mr A. Greig. The coaches have been appointed as follow •—N. H Bailey (competitive swimmers), W. Hamilton swimmers, juniors), G. Collett (mteimediate .swimmers), H. Clark (bieaststroko swimmers), H. D. Gillies and W H. Buekland (learners), Misses M, Wright and M. Morgan (lady swimmers). and Mrs Isaacs (divers). J. Fox.will have charge of the training of the relay team. Each coach lias been allotted a colour so that swimmers in the respective squads vnii have no cutficulty in sorting out their icspectno coaches. ... . J . Tbo scheme will come into operation on Tuesday, October 29 when the official opening of the club will take place. The club hour is to bo arranged on methodical lines, the first quarter of an hour being devoted to genera! coaching, the second quarter of an hour to a go-as-you-please, another quarter to relay and competitive training, and the last ten minutes to water polo practice. On the night of the qllieial opening a men’s handicap race is to be held, for which, two trophies have already been donated. It is hoped during the sciison "fco run ’tiliGS© impromptu club races almost every week, apart from the usual club championships. The date for the club’s harbour race has not yet been fixer!, but it will be held probably a fortnight or a week ■before the centre’s harbour event. There was a good crowd present at the dub hour on Tuesday night, some thirty-five members putting in an appearance. S. Fogg, the St. Clair sprinter, who was originally a member of the Kiwi Club, lias rejoined his old dub. and will bo looked after this season by N. H. Bailey, who is not going for the sprint distances himself. Fogg will be a contender for honours in the Otago 100yds championship, and should greatly strengthen the Kiwi relay team. His presence, too, will lend added interest to the dub championship, in which there should be keen competition with such _ men as Fogg. Bailey, Hamilton, Gillies, ami Clark taking part. Bailey and Fogg wore both present at this* week’s chib hour, though _ neither did any training. W. Hamilton has begun operations for ihc season, and should have to be reckoned with in handicap events. H. Clark did some steady work on the breast stroke, and H. D. Gillies also -made - a start with bis training activities for the season. Miss M. Bewley made her first appearance of the season, and if she sticks to training should do well, especially on the diving boards. She is a good plain diver, and is now turning Her attention to the fancy dives. Miss C. Lang is another improving swimmer, and Miss M. Wright is one who should do well in the forthcoming club events. The latter is a great worker for her club, and is devoting a lot of time to the tuition of the learners. . A. Presbury is a keen intermediate, and' A. Thomas is another who has graduated into intermediate ranks. He is improving over the shorter distances but would do well to concentrate on longer work lor a week or two yet. R. Hector will probably be able to turn out regularly in water polo matches this season, and it is likely that both N. H. Bailey and S. Fogg will lend their assistance to the water polo team. if. Taylor was doing some long distance work, and for the first competitive events of the season ho should bo in good form. BAIT CUP RACE. The Batt Cup harbour race, controlled by the Otago Centre, is likely to be of added interest this year. Both the Dunedin and Kiwi Clubs have decided to award special prizes to their own swimmers in this, race, outside of the two centre awards. The Dunedin' Club is giving prizes to the first two Dunedin •members home and the Kiwi Club has decided to award a prize to the first Kiwi man and the first Kiwi lady to finish. It the St. Clair Club follows suit, it seems likely that the race will be contested by a larger field than usual, and there is’ no doubt that it is 0110 oc the most interesting events of .the season.

NORMAL SCHOOL CARNIVAL. Tonight, the Normal District High School will hold its swimming sports in the Municipal Baths, a very attractive programme having been arranged.The entries are of a most satisfactory nature, the competitors including one or two well-known junior swimmers among whom will bo Miss Nancy Olds, a daughter of the former Dunedm coach, E. H. Olds. Little Miss Olds showed wonderful promise before she left for America, and this will mark her first reappearance in a competitive event since her return to the dominion. She was out of the sport last season on account of ill-health. The superintendent of the meeting* will be Mr L. F. De Berry, the referees being Miss Henderson and Mr Forrester. Mr H. Hawkins is the secretary, and the judges are: Misse* Edser and Abraham, Messrs Watts and Haughton (swimming). Miss Edser and Mr Haughton (diving). Miss Henderson and Mr Rawlinson are tire handioappers, Misses Kenyon and Morris and Messrs Rawlinson and Milno (marksmen). Misses Macalister, Maedougall. Vickers, and Foster, and Messrs Dcaker and Allan are Press and call stewards: the mogapbonist is Mr Owen and Messrs Stratton, Burton, and Brown doorkeepers. DUNEDIN DOINGS. The Dunedin Club held its annual meeting during the week, and the attendance augurs well lor a very successful season. The balance-sheet showed the club to be in a very sound financial position, duo largely to the treasurer (Mr E. H. James), who has been one of the chib’s greatest workers over a long period of years. Club captain this year will be J. Fleming, one of the most promising senior swimmers in Dunedin. I leming showed great improvement in distance events last season, and finished second to C. J. M'Lean in the Otago 880yds championship, also occupying fourth place in the Batt Cup Harbour Race. 1 ncideiitallv, be is a good club man, and should fill the captaincy with credit to himself and his chib. He will, have a 'rood assistant in the deputy captain, A. M. Rix, bolder of the New Zealand intermediate boys’ diving championship. Ladies’' chib captain is Miss C. Staples, and if she is not a great competitive performer she should certainly prove herself a very capable captain* for she is a real enthusiast. The club’s delegates on the centre are Messrs D. Thomson and E. Kerr. Tire* former is one of the best known swimming enthusiasts in Otago and one of the members of the old Dunedin Club in pre-war clays. . The club hour commenced last Jinday night with a fair muster of twentyfive members, quite a good attendance for so early in the season. R. C. Calder did some good lengths and some diving, and Mick Walker was also putting in good work on the boards. - J. Fleming made his first appearance this season, and did some steady lengths. . ... .. , , E. M’Kewen is rejoining the duo, and D. Hankins, o new member, looks like being a useful swimmer in intermediate ranks. Miss M Jepson did some steady training over a half-mile, and several other members started their training for the season. B. Kerr was devoting lime to improving his stroke, and the'diffcrence should bo noticeable in a week or two. No club hour will be held to-night owing to the Xortnnl School cornu ul being held at the Municipal Baths. BATHS ACCOMMODATION. From time to time in these notes reference has been made to the need in Dunedin for increased facilities lor swimming, and these remarks arc prompted bv the fact that several times lately the nod lias been shown for greater accommodation at the baths, both from the point of view of the public and the swimmers. Gibe Dunedin Club in its annual report made mention of the laefc that its carnival was affected by the lack of accommodation, and the Schools Swimming Committee is laced with the same difficulty. Mr J. L. MTndoc, president of the Otago Swimming Centre, was the first to draw attention to the need tor improved swimming facilities in Dunedin last year, and his views on the subject met with the accord of every swimming enthusiast. The City Council, however, lias not been stirred to taking any interest in the proposal, and it might be suggested now that the Swimming Centre and other bodies interested should commence a public agitation lor what is obviously a crying; need. It is only necessary to visit the baths any night at the height of: the season to see that greater pool accommodation is neeessarv. It is a line sight to sec the water packed with swimmers, but apart from .splashing about, it is almost impossible for those attending at such times to have a decent swim, and the learners have little chance of improving in the natatorial art. _ Several suggestions have been put forward to bring about a better state of affairs, and these include either tbo erection of a new baths or the enlargement of the present building. It secnis urgently necessary in ;i city in which MV'hiiniui;*; is becomiug increasingly popular that some provision should be made lor beginners by the erection, of a learners’ pool, and tins would also prove beneficial in allowing those more advanced S better chance of training in the main pool. So far as the accommodation lor the public at carnivals is concerned, it could hardly lie, worse, and if this were improved there is no doubt that the ievenuo would ultimately _go up, lor it can not be that it is the swimmings clubs and similar that do much to popularise swimming in Otago as elsewhere. They are deserving or consideration, and it the City Council wore to take the matter up and secure the co-operation of the Swimming Centre there is no doubt tiiat a, good workable scheme could be evolved for the improvement of Dunedin's swimming facilities. ’Too lew of those concerned with the executive control of the Municipal Baths are swimming enthusiasts. and one of the greatest supporters of swimming in Dunedin, air C. H. Hayward, is now no longer a member of the City Council. Dunedin’s swimming facilities arc nob of a modern nature, and the time is ripe for am improvement. It is for the public to see to it that a better state oi: affairs is brought about, and if the swimming bodies set the ball rolling the time may not perhaps be so fardistant when Dunedin has swimming facilities equal to any in the dominion. SPLASHES. Miss J. Thomson, of Auckland, who narrowly beat tbo New Zealand freshwater record holder. Miss M. Matliieson, of Dunedin, in the dominion 75yds intermediate girls’ breast-stroke championship last season, will move up to senior ranks this season. Miss Mathie--son should bo very hard to beat in tha breast-stroke event, and it will not bo surprising if she further improves upon her last year’s record. The appointment of a handicapping committee by the Canterbury Swimming Centre is unique in the history of that body, and it is to be hoped that ifc will work out to tbo benefit of swimming (says the ‘Sim’). Certainly

jfcimmers will watch the work of the ■jjnmittee with interest. However, Kth the centre’s present system of han- * capping from a standard, the handi•pper does not get much chance to use Vis initiative, and the work of the committee will therefore be rather re|tricted. R. Flint (Sheffield) retained the JOOyds breast-stroke swimming championship of England at Westou-super-Vlare a few weeks ago. His time was Imin 44 3-ssec, Hi Smith (Renfrew), ohe Scottish champion, was second in 2mTli\ ( 46 2-ssec, and S. Bell (Birkenhead) *thir& in 2min 49 1-osec. W. Camerpn, champion sprint swimmer of the dominion, made his initial bow to the water for this season last week (says the ‘Dominion’). He reported" that there was still a severe nippiness in the water, but he expects to take up training seriously in a few days. Ho informed the writer that he was_ as fit as ever, and hoped to again distinguish himself for Wellington at the national championships to bo held at Greymouth next February. There is a good deal to be said for the contention of a delegate at the annual meeting of the Canterbury Swimming that diving events should not bo handicapped (says the ‘ Sun ’). A swimmer can be relied upon to produce approximately consistent form much more often than a diver can. The best performer in diving is liable to crash occasionally. This delegate’s suggestion that diving should be graded into three classes—first grade, second grade, and novice—would overcome the necessity for any system of handicapping. The Canterbury Centre has not yet devised a satisfactory system of handicapping diving, and the suggested innovation is worth a trial, at any rate. It is reported that Auckland will again have formidable swimmers among the man. Jack Enwright, who is still a force to contend with in distance events; Dave Lindsay, the holder of the, British'mile title; Ren de Loree, a ■useful sprint swimmer; and Gordon Bridson, holder of several New Zealand .titles, are all preparing for championship events in November. G. RixTrott will be a new addition to the northern ranks. He should give J. Farrell some close finishes in the sprint events up there. E. P. Peters, of the Croydon S.C., won the men’s long-distance swimming championship of England recently, his time for the 5 miles _6oyds from Kew to Putney being 65min 2 3-ssec. _ He heat E. W. Pascoe (Plaistow United) easily, after leading throughout. J. G. Hatfield (Middlesbrough), the holder, did not compete. France’s annual international sprint classic, the 100 metre free swim for the Grand Prix de Paris, took place in the 50 metre bath at Les TourelJes, and for the fourth successive time Stephen Barany, Hungary, was the winner. He did 59 2-ssec, and nipped his own European record of 59 4-ssec. John Taris, France, was second in 63 l-ssec. The Spence brothers, Walter and Wallace, performed a feat claimed to be unique in the annals of swimming while competing in a 150 metres medley race over a 55yd course iu America recently. Both broke the former world’s record of Imin 59sec, Walter earning the verdict in Imin 51 l-ssec, and Wallace taking second iu Imin 57 4-ssec, The feature of the month was the sudden rise to prominence of a virtually unknown young mermaid of the Pacific North-west, Miss Helene Madison, Crystal, S.C., Seattle; Wash, (says a Writer in the American aquatic journal ‘ Beach and Pool ’), A sixtcen-year-old girl of heroic mould, standing sft lOin, Miss Madison amazed by sprinting 100 metres free style in Imin Ssee in the 100 ft home pool, and beating Miss Ethel Lackie’s world record of Imin lOsec. Unfortunately, tho feat was achieved in an exhibition, so it cannot be recognised. But Miss Madison also has done 100yds in Imin 2 I-ssec, 200yds in 2min 4Ssec, and 440yds in 6min ssec—exploits Which attest her rating.

Edna Davey, women’s distance swimming champion of Australia, hopes to crack a few more records in the new season, after which she will marry R. Eaton, a North Sydney cricketer. Water polo is reported to have made much headway in Auckland. In future it will be controlled by a separate organisation to bo known as the Auckland Water Polo Control Board. This board is leaving no stone unturned in its efforts to build up the sport sufficiently to be able to despatch an exceptionally strong seven to tho championships at Greymouth. With Bridson and Lindsay as rivals, distance competition promises to be one of the season s features. Bridson, the holder of the 440yds and 880yds New Zealand titles, will be hard pressed to score over Lindsay, who, besides having recorded faster times, defeated Bridson in the last national championships over 22Uyds and one mile (says an Auckland writer). He did not defend the titles annexed by Bridson. Both are putting in earnest training at the tepid baths in preparation for the early visit of the Australians, Grier and Ryan, whom they should fully extend. Bridson has, in fact, scarcely eased up from last sea son, having attended the baths throughout the winter. Tho last was a comparatively easy season to Lindsay, and his future swimming should benefit accordingly. Although not up to the class of Bridson and Lindsay, De Loree should command attention, while Enwright, Farrell, and Roper should add interest to furlong races.