SWIMMING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 17 December 1927, Page 12

SWIMMING

HAWERA’S OPENING CARNIVAL. COMPETITIONS ON TUESDAY. The pick of the local swimmers, with a sprinkling of competitors from contemporary clubs, are to appear in action at the Hawera batlis on Tuesday evening, when the Hawera Amateur Swimming Club will conduct its first competition programme of the season. \V’ell-contested trials of speed and endurance are to be interspersed with popular novelty events, and under the capable direction of the club officials a programme replete with interest may be looked for. Given anything like the fair weather conditions which have been prevalent during recent week-ends the pool should be the scene of a large gathering. Members of the club are reminded that subscriptions for the 1927-28 season are due. the usual contributions — ladies "2s (id, boys and girls Is, and .men ss—being payable. An official announcement made this week states that no person who is not a financial member will be allowed to take part in competitive events. A further supply of club badges are on order, and members desirous ot securing the official emblem may secure such by placing an order with the secretary (Mr. Ralph Sage). The charge is 2s 6d. L. Kronfeld, the noted New Zealand swimmer, who put up such a wonderful performance against Arne Borg, is now resident in Sydney.

SURFING SEASON. The surfing season has opened auspiciously, and the first life-saving competition at Island Bay last Saturday took place under splendid conditions, reports the “Dominion.” The Lyall Bay Club is particularly strong this year, and Maranui, while having secured several new members, shows signs of want of coaching. Many new faces are to be seen in Island Bay and Worser Bay teams, some of whom show lack of training, but they should soon be. in better condition now that summer has really arrived. Probably both Lyall Bay and Maranui Clubs will be represented in the championships at Dunedin in January. The 'Wellington Life Saving Society is revising its rules with a view to getting them adopted at the next annual conference. The aim ,is to make the competitions more spectacular and more interesting to the public, and it is hoped to do something in the direction of smartening up the drill. OFFICIAL HANDBOOK. For the first time srlt and fresh water records are being recognised separately, and the two lists of records will be found in the New . Zealand Amateur Swimming Association’s new official handbook just publised. A wealth of information is contained in the publication, which will be of interest to all swimmers. In addition to the rules and a review of the year, tabulated lists of world’s centre records and championship titleholders are given. The council of the New Zealand Swimming Association has made several decisions which will be introduced ;or the first time at the Dominion championships at Dunedin, in the New Zealand water polo championship competition each team shall meet every other team. The final of the 100 yards New Zealand senior championship will be restricted to four competitors, while rope lanes will be used for .all events.

COMMENT BY MISS MAGEE. Miss Doris Magee, hundred yards intermediate swimming champion of New Zealand and record holder, came back to Auckland recently. Asked about the coming contests in Sydney between Miss K. Milier, of Dunedin, and Miss Edna Davey, of Sydney, Miss Magee said it was very dilricult to say who would win, although it was certain that the race would provide exceptional interest. Miss Magee said there were some promising girl swimti\er.s in Sydney, and that the times credited to them were remarkable. Some of them had prospects of developing into Olympic champions, Miss Davey had an excellent stym, but •swam very low in the water. She had great stamina, and regularly trained over long distances. During her stay in Sydney, Miss Magee was made a member of the Telephone Girls’ Club. She said that the widespread encouragement of ladies races was responsible for the present high standard of girl swimmers in Australia. There were many who were remarkably efficient. This was probably due to the fact that special attention was given to weekly test races, which were arranged for lady members of the various clubs.

YOTTTH OF PROMISE. A swimmer worthy of special mention is !•'. Farrell, a youth of great promise, who won the 50 yards novice handicap in flic excellent time of 27sec (comments the ‘‘New Zealand Herald”), in reviewing the form displayed as the AYaitemata Club’s carnival. In the f»0 yards club handicap, although rehandicapped from 4sec to Isec, he was second in his heat, but- did not gain a place in the final. This was Ins first appearance in open competition. Farrell was the winner of the King’s College championship for two years in succession. He swims with a perfectly orthodox six-heat American crawl, and his swimming is characterised by a very high body position—he planes out of the water to his waist. His shoulders do not dip, and offer no resistance to the water. As a result i he is able to take advantage of the j hydro-planing principle, minimising body resistance and increasing speed } thereby. Tn training swims Farrell lias been covering 100 yards in about G2see, and when he improves his dive and turns it will cause no surprise if lie betters GOsec. Such a pcrformance would place him in the front rank of flic Dominion’s sprinters