SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 22575, 17 February 1937, Page 4

SWIMMING

NOTES AND COMMENTS [By Hook**.! FIXTURES. February 18.—Dunedin Club’e annual carnival. February 27.—Cromwell Club’s annual carnival. February 27.—Ravensbourne regatta. March 22.—Otago senior championships, at Municipal Baths. March 24.—80 y Scouts’ carnival at Municipal Baths. March 27.—Broad Bay regatta. April 12.—Kiwi Club’s annual carnival. Club Hours (at Municipal Baths). — St. Clair and St. Kilda Life Saving Clubs: Mondays, 8.45-9.45 p.m. Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club: Tuesdays, 6-7 p.m.; Thursdays, 8.45-9.45 p.m.; and Saturdays, 6-7 p.m. Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club: Wednesdays and Fridays, 8.45-9.45 p.m. Kaikorai Amateur Swimming Club: Saturdays, 8.45-9.45 p.m., and at Kaikorai Baths during season. Training College Amateur Swimming Club, Saturdays, 8-9 a.m. Zenith Amateur Swimming Club, at Y.M.C.A, Baths nightly AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION SOUND SURFING KNOWLEDGE “ Thank heavens I have brought my overcoat,” declared Jack King, captain of the Australian surf life saving team now touring New Zealand, after he had finished a swim at Lyall Bay Beach. King expressed the thoughts of every member of the team, including its popular manager, Jack Cameron. Cameron had a reputation in Sydney for staying in the water for hours at a stretch, but while in Wellington he said he would be quite content to take a back seat and let someone else do the honours (states the ‘Sporting Life’). Friday, February 5, was a red letter day for Wellington surfmen, for the long-awaited arrival of the Australian life savers eventuated. The visitors were welcomed at Thorndon station by members of the New Zealand Surf Council and Wellington Surf Association, and were later accorded a Parliamentary reception at Parliament Buildings by the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. M. J. Savage. In the afternoon the visitors took advantage of the wonderful weather to do some training, and it is evident that they can teach the New Zealand surfmen a host of points in rescue and resuscitation events, while in the water they resemble speed boats. Of the nine men in the official team seven of them hold instructors’ certificates, and each and every one is a fully-qualified rescue and resuscitation man. In the “ pay-out ” the Australians stand at attention, in marked contrast to the legs-apart attitude adopted here, while their “ haul-in ” differs greatly from our methods. They stand facing the water, with their feet together and with a completely relaxed motion haul in, while the New Zealanders face the line with their legs apart. One noticeable improvement is the way the visitors’ linesmen move to the left or right during either the “ haul-in ” or “ pay-out.” They do not attempt to make the movement quickly, but move slowly and ih perfect rhythm with their arm movement. The outstanding feature of the Australians’ drill was their “ take-over ” of natient, which is done smartly and deftly and to se them effect a takeover is an education in itself. They claim that they “ take-over ” their natient and get moving up the beach in four seconds. Their resuscitation also is perfect, and the resuscitator straddles “■he left leg of the patient. The effec‘iveness of this move leaves no room for 'oubt as to the efficiency of their methods. KIWI NOTES It was evident on _ Thursday night hat a number of senior members had i view to settling down to serious raining by their attendance at the laths during the club hour. _ All sig■alised their return by settling down p solid work-outs in view of the Otago ’■■ampionships next month. Among the number were Ina Purdie ■nd Elma Abernethy. preparing for he free style sprints. The former re'ricted her activities to slow work. Winnie Dunne was moving nicely ith the breast stroke, and _ should •rove a strong contestant in the 220yds. Chrissic Knowles was also working hard on the same style. D. Pope is back on the springboards and is snowing good form. Arthur Thomas was working excellently, and his back stroke candidature will probably mark an improved performance on last year at the chara- ( pionships.

W. Carr was progressing most impressively with the breast stroke, and with plenty of solid training should’ find a place among the winners. W. Dyson also showed improved form with the same style, and should give a good account of himself. Don Reid, the long-distance free stylo challenger, was also back and getting along finely. Reg. Geddcs has now gone into serious training. He is doing solid work, and moving very nicely with the breast stroke. A meeting of those interested' in. coaching will be held in the club r- n at the baths to-morrow evening at ‘lO, when all those keen on this bran-., of the sport are invited to attend. KAIKORAI CLUB Owing to the unsettled summer, the attendances at the Kaikorai Baths hava not,been very good this season, and, with the restriction on the Municipal Baths owing to the epidemic, the activities of tne club have been considerably curtailed. As it is anticipated that sufficient interest to make the club’s races a success cannot be roused so lata in the season, it has been decided to cancel them this year. It is intended,' to hold the annual harbour race, and arrangements are in hand to swim this at Dublin Bay on Saturday, February 27. Any member who intends to swim is requested to give his name to the club captain or secretary. The club hour at the Municipal Baths has been very poorly patronised, but it is hoped that members will roll up when th© restriction is finally lifted. Now that the club races have been cancelled, more coaching can be done, and, provided sufficient interest is displayed, a game of polo between club members can be included in the session with a view to augmenting the team in the centre’s competition. SPLASHES The tendenev of some swimming coaches to teach a stereotyped style is not received wtih favour by Mr F. Cady, manager for the American Olympia champion, J. Medica, on his Australian tour. It was, he said, impossible and absurd to teach different people to swim the same way. Certain fundamental principles must be taught, but the pupil’s individuality and resourcefulness must be allowed full play,Jack Medica, American Olympio champion and world record-holder, following his appearances in Melbourne from February 2 to 15, will swim at three Sydney carnivals on February 20, 24, and 27, states the * Sporting Life.’ Medica and his manager, Cady, are scheduled to leave Sydney on the return to America on March 16, but if the New Zealand Asociation seeks their appearances they will leave earlier. The records Medica now holds are 200 metres (2min 07.7 sec), 220yds (2min 7.9 sec), 300yds (3min 04.4 sec), 300 metres (3min 21.4 sec), 400 metres (4min 38.7sec)._ 440yds (4min 40.7 sec), 500 yds (smin 16sec), 500 metres (smin 57.8 sec), I,oooyds (Ilmln 37sec), and one mile (20min S7.2sec). New Zealand swimming enthusiasts who consider that national senior championships should be open to intermediates and juniors without their forfeiting their status, provided some restraint was placed on youthful keenness, had their opinion unheld bv the explanation made by Mr F. Cady, the Los Angeles coach, of the system observed in the United States. Mr Cady said there were three major ship divisions,, the interscholastic, the intercollegiate, and the "national chammonships. Aspirants for titles in the first two divisions were placed in two classes, according to their ability, but they were not permitted to compete for ' more than two championships. Swimmers of any age were eligible for the national championships, yet even with these there was a limit of three events. These restrictions, added Mr Cady, stimulated encouraged specialisation, and tended to prevent overstrain. Nida Senff, Holland’s 16-year-old Olvmpic 100 metres back stroke swimming ebampion, who recently shattered the world’s 100 metres record, has established another world’s figure. This time she successfully attacked Miss Bridge's 150vds world’s record of Imin. - 50 4-ssec. established over 25yds lans at Brunswick, United States.' in 1935. Swimming magnificently, Miss Senff ‘covered the d’Vance in the amazing tipi© of Itnjn 45 2-ssec in a 25-metre pool, and took no less than 5 2-sseo o ff the time. Jack Medica’s fine swim in tb« 800 metres chamm'onshin of Austre’in in Brisbane on January 23. in wHc l, be is reported to have lowered Andrew* Bov ”> Charlton’s record time by 21 I-ssec. has been the subject of much controversy among Svdnev swimmers. His time of 10.35 4-5 could not fairly be said to have beaten Charlton’s best; that great Australian swimmer covered 880yds, wbifb is 6yds more than 800 metres, in 10.22. five years ago, in the Domain Baths in Sydney, when the 110yds lap was in tise. This time is regarded also as the Australian record for 800 metres, a distance which has seldom been swum in Australia.