SWIMMING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 12

SWIMMING.

TEACHING IN SCHOOLS. Cabinet has decided to increase the grant to the New Zealand Swimming Association from £IOO to £2OO, for the purpose of encouraging the teaching of swimming at seholos. “BOY” CHARLTON. An English writer on Boy Charlton’s great performance at Paris: The whole world of swimming stands amazed at the wonderful performance of Andrew' Charlton, the hoy of sixteen from Australia. in the 1500 metres race at Paris, wherein he broke the w'orld’s record by no less than 65sec. By its sheer audacity, in face of the best that America can produce, and despite the supposed' disadvantage of a different climate, one’s admiration cannot find a limit, although we had anticipated something brilliant from the Manly youth. The pace at which-. Charlton travelled represents an average of 80 seconds for each 100 metres, which is almost as fast as the average sprinter can move on this side, and means that Charlton can practically reduce Sid Pnttersby’s record for a, mile by about two minutes. It is clear evidence that the lighter fresh waters of Europe have been a decided advantage in comparison with the dense salt of the homeland, while Arne Borg’s swimming also shows this theory to he true.” TRAINER ESSENTIAL. MISS SHAND’S CONVICTION. “New Zealand will never do well at the Olympic Games unless each team has its trainer.” Such is the firm conviction of Miss Gw’itha Shand as the result of her recent experiences with the Australian and New Zealand representatives at the world’s games. The New Zealand champion lady swimmer had the unique Honour oi being the only member of the gentler sex in the Southern Hemisphere to participate at this year’s games, and although championship honours dm not come heir way at Paris, fortune smiled kindly on her at the Tailteaun Games in Dublin. At Paris, Miss Shand explained, the water was particularly warm, but it did not suit her. ‘ ‘And" how was the temperature- of London?” Miss Shand was asked. “Bitterly 7 cold,” she replied. “It was raining hard all tne time, and wo came out of the water blue.” “And Dublin?’’ “There we swam in a pond 110 yards long. The water was very dead, and prevented any fast times being registered.” “We had a simply wonderful time throughout,” continued Miss Shand, “and everyone we. met was kindness personified.” D iring the tour Miss Shand enjoyed good health except while at Paris. It :s her belief that those are the occasions on which a trainer is absolutely essential. “I’m satisfied,” she declared. “that New Zealand will neve: do well at the games unless each team has its trainer. No one else can understand you. Tt’s simply a case of repeating the initial faults that one may make. That’s where the Americans score every time. They have their tariners, so you can realise hew hard it is to compete under those conditions.” Competing in the games at Paris against such stalwarts as Miss I.eckie (Gricago), Miss Wheslau (Honolulu 1, and Miss Mori ions (United States of America), Miss Shand reached in the finals in the 440 metres and the semifinals in the 100 metres. Miss Shand wen the 200 metres and 400 metier events at the Tailteann G!nines, but did net exert herself in the 100 metres on account of the cold and the strain the 400 metres race would impose. She filled second place in the 400 yards at lon don. and com/peted also in the international race. America v. England.. at Hacrow-on-the-Hill. Of the form displayed by her opponents, Miss Shand could not speak '•>’h!" enough. “Simply marvellous,” was the enthusiastic description of the stvlo of the world’s record-beater, Miss Wheslau. and Misses Leckie and Morlions. “They all favoured the six-beat American crawl, and were a picture to watch.” “Boy Charlton has a wonderful stroke—the tcixlgeon crawl”—declared Miss Shand, ‘‘and he just glides along as though it were not the slightest effort to him. Johnny Weismuller w a sprinter who simply flies through the water. He lias a swing from the shoulder, ant] favours the six beat.” Mis- Shand expressed deen gratitude for the kindly companioiishin of Miss 1 Gunther, who travelled with'her. |