SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 21931, 18 January 1935, Page 6

SWIMMING

NOTES AND COMMENTS [By Hookbb.] FIXTURES. January 19.—Kaikorai Club’s carnival, at Kaikorai Baths. January 19, 20, and 21.—New Zealand intermediate and junior swimming championships, at Timaru. January 20.—Otago surf championships, at St. Clair. January 26.—Dunedin Club s harbour race. January 31.—Otago senior championships, Municipal Baths. February 3.—Batt Cup harbour race, at Macandrew Bay. February s.—Zenith Club annual carnival. February 9.—Cromwell Club s carmval. February 16, 18. and 20.—New Zealand national championships, at Auckland. _ , February 23.—Otago regatta, Port Chalmers. March 6.—Dunedin Club’s carnival. Club hours.—Kiwi, Tuesdays (6-7) and Thursdays (8.45-9.45) ; St. Clam and St. Kilda, Mondays (8.45-9.45) ; Dunedin, Wednesdays and Thursdays (8.45-9.45); Kaikorai, Saturdays (8.459.45). All at Municipal Baths. Zenith (7-8.30) each night except Friday, at the Y.M.C.A. Baths. Kiwi Harbour Race, A cold wind sweeping the harbour made conditions the reverse of pleasant for the Kiwi Club’s annual harbour swim over a course of approximately a mile and a-quarter, but there was consolation in the fact that the weather was fine and the sea fairly smooth, though there was a decided chop outside the steamer basin. Under the circumstances the performances of the seven swimmers who completed the course showed a general improvement on those of recent years, most of them returning improved times. Peter Mathieson accomplished one of the most notable efforts of his career in winning the race from scratch and also returning fastest time, 28min 53sec, as against his 28.15 last year, when the conditions were more favourable. Last year he won from the 2Jmin mark and also put up fastest time, and he is the only swimmer in the histor.y of the race to carry off the double twice. The only other swimmer to achieve the double was that line distance man N. H. Bailey when the race was first contested. Mathieson has learnt the secret of success in harbour swimming, just as did his sister, Miss Maxine Mathieson (winner of the Annette Kellerman Cup two years ago), and that is that it does not pay to race, but to maintain a good even pace all the way. He swam with a very powerful crawl stroke, showing excellent judgment in the course he followed, and keeping close to the wharf while inside the steamer basin. He brought to light a spirited finishing burst, but collapsed at the finish. Nevertheless, the writer is satisfied that if he elects to tackle the Batt Cup and Annette Kellerman Cup distances seriously Mathieson is capable of giving a very good rendering of himself. He is very fit, and though he has concentrated largely on the back stroke in view of the approach of the Otago and New Zealand championships, ho should in the next few weeks be able to devote n little time to distance work. Mathieson showed great determination in Saturday’s race, and his success was popular with his club mates. He is deputy-captain of the club at the present time and also holder of the club championship. Arthur Thomas has a very fine record in this event, although he has yet to win the Fogg Cup, which goes to the winner. Time honours have come , his way on several occasions, and for the second year in succession he put up second fastest time, also filling second place. He swam his usual solid race, and was moving so well at the finish as to suggest he would be well to the fore if ho elected to tackle the Batt Cup race at Macandrew Bay on February 3. His time was 31min 30sec.

After his fine performance in the surf in the Sagar Cup competition it was anticipated that Dan Shanahan would have pushed Mathieson for time honours, but he hardly swam up to expectations, and bad to be content with third fastest time, 33min 50sec. Shanahan took a while to get wound up and did a good part of the journey on the breast stroke, but he finished so fresh and undistressed that the, writer is satisfied he should bo well up among the leaders in the Batt Cup swim.

One of the best efforts of the day was that of G. S. M’Auslan, Kiwi’s most improved swimmer this season. Making his first appearance in a harbour swim of any kind, M'Auslan swam off the hard mark of simin to take third place. He swam with a nice smooth stroke and did not seem to be troubled by the choppy water outside the basin. He quickly overhauled the long-markers, and was in a handy position turning for home, Idoking to have a good chance as ho entered the steamer basin. Mathieson and Thomas, however, proved a little too strong at the finish, but M'Auslan made a surprisingly good showing at his first attempt.

Jack Holland finished fourth after c-oing a good race, and the solid pace he was 'able to maintain indicated that if he elected to train seriously he would do well over the distances. Ho has the staying power and his style is improving, but ho needs more training. His brother, Owen, who was conceding him 2min, followed him in, but the latter’s time was over a minute faster. Owen has not done a great deal of training this season, but is naturally adapted for distance swimming, and should do more of it. The only lady in the race was Miss M. Boulton, the ladies’ club captain, who swam off a very hard mark, llmin, and returned the satisfactory time of 43min 4sec, which represented equally as good a performance as when she finished second last year. Miss Boulton has courage and determination, and over a distance is one of the best lady members in the club.

Invitation from Hamilton. Some time ago, an invitation was received by the Otago Centre for members of its team to the National Championships at Auckland to compete at Hamilton on the way north, which the centre was unable to agree to. Now, however, a letter is to hand from Mr IC. H. Grocott, secretary of the Hamilton Y.M.C.A. Club, stating that with a view to giving the sport in Soutli Auckland a big boost his committee has evolved a very ambitious scheme for the appearance in Hamilton of as many New Zealand champion swimmers as it is possible for them to get. The carnival will be field immediately after the New Zealand championships, which will bo held in Auckland on February 16, 18, and 20. The Hamilton carnival will be held on February 23. The Otago Centre is asked for permission for any of its swimmers who might be invited to appear at this carnival in Hamilton, and no doubt the permission will be forthcoming. It is proposed to run the carnival under the Y.M.C.A. Club’s auspices, and the competitors will disembark at Frankton Junction on their return south, will remain in Hamilton at the club’s expense, and compete on the Saturday night. They will be taken on a trip to Rotorua on the Sunday and re-embnrk on the Limited on Sunday night to return south. The Auckland Centre has already granted the Y.M.C.A. Club permission to pick any of its team competing at the New Zealand championships and who gain national honours. Auckland Championships. Although for the first occasion in several years the carnival was not distinguished by the breaking of New Zealand records, the Auckland championships for intermediate and junior swimmers, decided in the Tepid Baths, were marked by thrilling competition in a number of events, and by several highly encouraging performances (says the Auckland ‘ Herald ’). That records remained intact was not surprising, for most of them were established by such outstanding swimmers as N. Crump, of Auckland, S. Jarvis, of Dunedin, and Miss D. Symon, of Invercargill. Excitement began with the first event, the 100yds intermediate boys’ championship, in which A. Pascoe and H. Goldsmith fought out a splendid race, victory being gained by Pascoe in 61 2-ssec. Subsequently, Pascoe won the 220yds title in 2min 35 3-ssec, another creditable time. The competitor most warmly applauded by the spectators was the winner of the 60yds and 100yds junior girls’ championships, Miss June Melhose. In the 50yds contest her rival was the holder of the dominion record, Miss Marjorie Black. In starting, Miss Melhose slipped, and, as a result, gave Miss Black an advantage of at least one yard. Undeterred. Miss Melhose succeeded in catching her rival and winning by about 2}ft. Her time was 31 2-Ssec. Her time for the 100yds, in which she was unopposed, was 713-ssec, only one-fifth of a second slower than the Auckland record.

The intermediate girl champion. Miss Edna Rainey, had no difficulty in retaining her 100yds and 220yds titles, but was expected to make better times than 67sec an 2min 59sec respectively. The 100yds intermediate hoys’ breaststroke event was won by D. Webster, who was also runner-up to Pascoe in the 220yds free-style. 'Webster’s time for breast stroke, 81sec, missed D. Shanahan’s Auckland record by twofifths of a second. The 75yds* intermediate girls’ breast-stroke title was retained by Miss Connie Watters in 73sec. Together with K. Buchanan’s times in the 100yds and 220yds junior boys’ races, Miss Watters’s time was considered the poorest standard of the carnival. Buchanan registered 74 l-ssec and 3min 6 l-ssec respectively. Praiseworthy performances wero those of T. Jones and Miss Grace Priestley in the junior breast-stroke events. Jones covered 75yds in 63 l-ssee, and Miss Priestley 50yds in 42 3-ssec, which time was hut one-fifth of a second above the Auckland record.

Intermediate and Junior Championships.

There should be some great swimming at Timaru when the New Zealand intermediate and junior championships open there to-morrow afternoon, and from all accounts the meeting should be one of the most representative since the intermediates and juniors were separated from the seniors m 1931. Otago will be represented by easily the largest team numerically, but Southland has a big team, Auckland has a select team in defence of the War Memorial Shield, and Canterbury will also he strongly represented. Manawatu is sending a small team, and there will be representatives from other centres.

It is always difficult to sorb out the winners at this meeting, since young swimmers show much improvement in the course of the year that separates one championship meeting from another, but the general impression is that Otago and Auckland will fight out the issue for the War Memorial Shield, with Southland also well to the fore.

Syd. Jarvis will be Otago’s big hope in the intermediate free style division, but with A. Pascoo representing Auckland ho will not have things all his own way, and fast times should be returned in this class. Jack Barry should be a useful second string for Otago, while H. Callender is bound to give a good account of himself in the intermediate boys’ breast stroke, in whirl) D. Webster will be Auckland’s big hope. Miss Edna Rainey and Miss D. Symon look the most likely of the intermediate girl free style swimmers, and the former is expected to return

pretty fast times. In the breast stroke event in this class there should be a rare tussle, since Southland, Otago, and Canterbury all have fast swimmers at this style, and Manawatu will also be represented. Otago is capable of filling all the places in the intermediate boys’ diving, with C. Eckhold (who has been showing improved form) hard to beat. Otago will bo well represented in the junior divisions with G. Chambers and C. M'Gregor. Chambers has done such fast time for 75 yards breast stroke that it should take a record breaker to beat him. M'Gregor will be concentrating on the free style, but both he and Mick Shanahan should go well in the breast stroke event also.

Otago’s junior girls—Misses R. Jarvis, J-. Thomson, and C. Knowles—• should perform creditably, and much better performances may be expected of bliss Jarvis than she gave at the Otago championships. She has been coached by her brother Walter during the past few weeks, and ho has made a big difference to her style. The meeting will be continued on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

Dunedin Dashes. The club hour was again well attended on Friday, and the coaches had a busy night’s work with the younger members.

R. O. Johnson’s resignation from the committee has been accepted with regret, and his place has been taken by E. Toase. The club’s annual carnival has been set down for March 6, and the harbour race for January 26. bliss M. Staples has been training of late, and has also been doing good work with the young members. Jackie Wilson is showing more confidence in the water, and E. Simpson and J. Samuel are both trying hard to obtain good balance. Jack Holmes has been swimming nicely, and Miss Edna Winter is a keen little junior. Cyril Ferguson is showing marked improvement, and among the intermediates Miss Myra Gillies shows promise.

Arrangements will be made very soon for the club’s annual picnic. The diving coaches have been kept busy. Syd. Jarvis has been executing some neat dives, and both Charlie Eckhold and Neil Williams have been training hard for the championships at Timaru. Misses L. and I. Gordon are both swimming well. The former is a most improved swimmer, and is training hard. Professor Old’s Death,

New Zealand swimming in general and Otago swimming in particular owed a great deal to Professor E. H. Olds, and his death at San Diego, California (U.S.A.), private advice of which was received last Saturday, removes one of the most famous coaches that has been associated with the sport in the dominion. He developed many champions in Dunedin, and while there were those who did not agree with his views on some subjects there could have been none to deny his great worth as a coach, swimmer, and diver. He loved the sport of swimming, he lived for it, and he seemed to imbue his pupils with that same 'enthusiasm which was second nature to him.

Bert Olds was a great coach because he made it his business to thoroughly understand his pupil. He kept well abreast of all modern developments in swimming technique, and it was that that helped him to obtain a coaching position in America after leaving Dunedin in 1927. Kaikorai Comment.

Club members are enthusiastically awaiting the annual carnival to be held to-morrow, when it is anticipated that Fraser’s Glen will be a scene of much activity. The pool is being favoured by the visit of a large number of officials from the Otago Centre, whose assistance should be the main feature towards an efficient ontcome.

Through the initiative of the club’s worthy president, Mr E. Millin, the diving facilities at the Kaikorai Baths have been improved, and his efforts in this direction will enable the display of diving to be a feature on the programme, Large entries _ from the Zenith, Dunedin, and Kiwi Clubs are a welcome feature to the _ success of this fixture, and it is anticipated that a number of heats will be necessary. The Kiwi carnival last Wednesday saw several new members _ initiated so far as competitive swimming is concerned. This should stand them in good stead for to-morrow’s events.

There was a splendid attendance last Saturday at the club session at the Municipal Baths. The junior boys were again well represented. L. Thompson cannot be accused of being spasmodic, as a more consistent swimmer would ho hard to find. He is trying to develop his stroke on the right lines, more especially breast stroke, and with further coaching he should become one of the club’s most prominent juniors. I, Turnbull has recently joined the intermediate class. As a challenge cup has been promised to the intermediate boys this season for handicap events, a certain amount of keenness has already been inspired. Alister Fulton has again settled down to training, and it is hoped that he will meet with a fair measure of success later on.

The #lub picnic will he held at Whare Flat on Saturday, February 2. Owing to the intervention of the school vacations the club championship events have been interrupted. It has been decided to recommence these events on February 9, A series of handicap events are to be decided immediately following them.

Zenith Club's Swim. Although conditions were less arduous for the Zenith Club’s race over a halfmile course, mostly inside the steamer basin, nevertheless the performances in this race were also good. The winner, Rutherford, who was off the 3min mark, had a margin of over half a minute at the finish, and had he been pushed there is no doubt that he could have improved on his time of 19min 50sec. Rutherford, who is the club’s deputycnptaiu, impressed not so much by the time he returned, however, as by his promising style. He has a powerful stroke. He slices, his way through the water easily, and swims with excellent judgment, the good even pace he maintained helping him towards success.

The scratch man was J. A. Robertson, who was set rather a task by the handicapper, but, nevertheless, came in

in fourth place and took second fastest time. Ho went a very solid race, and did not appear distressed at the finish. Miss Olive Buekland, who finished third last year, was unable to compete on this occasion owing to a cold, and thus the distinction of being the onlylady competitor went to Miss E. M. Frame. Her performance was somewhat remarkable as she learnt the crawl stroke only this season, and yet she gamely completed the course in 42min 37sec. The club captain, C. J. Hayden, and J. Marston were off the 3min mark, but Marston was less effected by the cold than Hayden, and finished second, nearly two minutes ahead of his captain. Marston is another swimmer new to competition, but he shows considerable promise.

Hints on Breathing. Correct breathing is so important in swimming that the following hints contained in the New South Wales Amateur Swimming Association bulletin which was issued largely through the efforts of Mr Dudley Hellmrich, and copies of which were left in Dunedin by Reg. Clark, are worthy of the closest attention by all swimmer:— Correct breathing is essential for success in swimming. Air should be inhaled through the mouth, and exhaled through the mouth and nose. Modern swimming shows that the most successful swimmers breathe at every complete cycle of the arms. A deep breath should be taken and exhaled relatively slowly before again turning the head to inhale. The Bead should be turned to breathe until the arm has reached the “ catch U the head being _ then turned away from or to the opposite side of the “ catching ” arm. Pivot the head on the shoulders only sufficiently to enable the necessary intake of air being made. The head should remain in the inhaling position until the hand to the recovering arm has passed the head. The bulletin explains technical terms as fallows:—

1. “Entry”—ls the action of the hand making contact with the surface of the water.

2. “Glide”—ls that portion of the stroke, during which the body is planing forward prior to the hand reaching “the catch.” 3. “The Catch”—The “catch” is the position of the hand in the water at the commencement of the arm drive. 4. “ Arm Drive ” —ls the period following the “ catch ” during which the arm is propelling the body forward. 5. “Recovery”—ls that portion of the arm stroke between the completion of the arm drive and the moment of “ catch.” Kiwi Notes. The sympathy of all club members is extended to Miss Nancy Olds in the bereavement she has suffered by the death of her father who developed so many champions in the Kiwi Club in days gone by. “Pro” was responsible tor the success of many Otago swimmers and divers of a few years ago, and there are still associated with the Kiwi Club several who had the advantage of his coaching.

With the club carnival at hand the Kiwi hours of late have been a hive of activity, and especially pleasing has it been to observe the enthusiasm of the younger members. The inclusion of a junior club novice handicap proved a wise move, and on Tuesday night the youngsters took part in their time trials. Miss Boulton, Mr A. Findlay, and A. Thomas have been largely responsible for_ schooling these novices for such competition. L. M'Gavin, a pupil Of A. Thomas, has been learning only a few weeks, but already he is doing a length on the breast stroke. He shows promising style. Miss A. Thomson is doing quite well on the crawl, and should endeavour to develop her kick. This junior is a very keen member.

Jack M'Pherson is another promising junior, and Dick M'Kernan is one of the most improved boys in the club. He is acquiring a good arm action, but must practise his kick. He should try and get his legs closer. R, Buchanan is a likely junior, but should pay more attention to his kick. Otherwise he will not develop the speed he is really capable of. He is conscientious with his training, and the same applies to Jack Morris, who has made good progress.

C. Irvine and Stanley Balchim should both develop into useful swimmers with practice. The latter should straighten his knees out, and pull right through with his arms.

Miss Alva Lawrence is acquiring quite a nice stroke, but should develop her kick.

Gordon David, a keen junior, has put in a reappearance, and took part in the time trials on Tuesday night. A. M'Murtrie is shaping well on the crawl, and should soon be ready for competition.

Miss Chrissie Knowles did 44sec in a trial over 50yds breast stroke during the week, an improvement of a couple of seconds on her Otago championship time. She should perform creditably in the junior girls’ event at this style in Timaru. Miss Alice Gillies is also going well, and both she and Miss Nancy Olds should do well in the intermediate girls’ breast stroke event at Timaru. '

M. Goodwin has been dsdng a fair amount of distance work lately, and Dan Shanahan has been training well on the breast stroke.

Peter Mathieson is going well on the backstroke, and is a real prospect for the national championships. Arrangements for the club picnic at Karitane on January 27 are now well in hand, and a first-rate outing is assured.

Jottings. Enthusiasm has been the keynote of recent nightly sessions of the Zenith Club at the Y.M.C.A. pool. Members, particularly the juniors, have been turning up in large numbers, and the work done in all grades has been very encouraging. Quite a few learners who started swimming this season are now covering lengths. Noticeable among these are the two junior club monitors —J. Francis and G. Couling—and Betty M'Donald.

Very noticeable improvement is resulting from the conscientious work being done by V. Mercer, L. Hill, and J. Mac Donnell. These three members are all new season’s seniors, and their progress promises that they will soon be in competition. Thanks are due to the committee of

the Kiwi Club for the help rendered by it in connection with the Zenith harbour race. Its generous co-operation shows that a healthy interclub - spirit can exist with strenuous interclub competition. Thanks are also due to those owners of launches and dinghies who gave assistance to the harbour race fay lending their boats.

The date of Zenith’s second annual picnic has been tentatively fixed for Sunday, February 10. Arrangements are well in hand for the first Zenith carnival for the season. This meeting is to be held on Tuesday, February 5, in the Y.M.C.A. pool.

, The long-awaited electrical coaching equipment has arrived. Its delivery makes Zenith the first club in New Zealand to possess this aid to advanced coaching. The apparatus permits a swimmer, travelling at top speed, to hear with ease the softly-spoken advice of ins coach; corrections can be made as faults occur. The old trial-by-error system is eliminated, and the coaching of avdanoed swimmers can be carried on in a more efficient manner. Splashes.

Comments on the Kiwi Club’s carnival will appear in next week’s notes. A suggestion that should meet with approval from the Otago Centre is to be the subject of a Canterbury remit at the dominion conference, which is to be asked to institute a New Zealand junior diving championship. The time is overdue for such an event, and it is also time that the intermediate girls’ diving event was put on the New Zealand championship programme. Provision was made for such an event some years ago, and in Otago a provincial intermediate girls’ event was held, but for some reason or another it was never included in a New Zealand chainpionship programme. There is no doubt that the visit of Harry Tickle has stimulated interest in diving, and as he impressed upon local officials the best way of developing divers is to get them young. There is every reason whv a junior diving championship should” he included on the intermediate and junior programme.

The Waihola Regatta Committee proposes to include swimming events on the programme for its regatta on February 16, and it is hoped there will be strong support from Dunedin and Milton swimmers. The Toko. Club has made a most encouraging start in. competition, and I am told the membership of the club now approaches the 300 mark, which will give it the largest membership in Otago, and which will also take the number of swimmers under the Otago Centre’s jurisdiction to well over the 1,000 mark.

An injured hand interrupted Syd. Jarvis’s training during the week, but he should be right up to form for the first day of the New Zealand intermediate championships at Timaru tomorrow.

An outstanding feature of the swimming of the Japanese at Los Angeles was the _ intensely vigorous “ leg drive ” maintained throughout the course of the 1,600 metres and 400 free style contests, and the matter was touched upon in one of the New South Wales Amateur Swimming Association’s, coaching bulletins, copies of which were left here by Reg. Clark before he returned to Australia. It was noticed, the bulletin stated, that the Japanese bent the knees to a treater extent and drove the legs far eeper than has hitherto been practised by Australians. Although it is conceded that the increased bend at the knees incurred greater resistance to the water than the more straightlegged action, this was undoubtedly offset by the added relaxation afforded the leg and thigh muscles, and the resultant extra suppleness and flexibility of feet and ankle movements, which enabled the Japanese to maintain their much commented upon wonderfully vigorous and effective leg drive throughout a long distance.