SWIMMING CHAMPIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 18 December 1936, Page 4

SWIMMING CHAMPIONS

APPEARANCE IN NELSON CARNIVAL AGAIN TO-NIGHT The Nelson Swimming Centre was unfortunate in having an unseasonably cold snap on the night the Australian champion swimmers were to make an appearance here. Cold rain set in late yesterday afternoon and continued until after the carnival was due to start, with the result that only a handful of spectators were present, and it looked as if the fixture would have to be cancelled. When the weather cleared after 8 o’clock arrangements were made to give a short exhibition and to hold the main carnival to-night, when the Australians will again be competing. The visitors were at the baths this morning and this afternoon coaching children and adults. The highlight of last evening’s sports was the exhibition of diving by A. O’Connor, the New South Wales diving champion, with a commentary by Mr D. Helmrich, the Australian coach and manager. It was a brilliant demonstration of many and varied dives, calling for great skill and perfect timing. Among the dives performed were a header, forward running with tuck; the same dive with pike; plain header; one somersault running with pike; backward spring, one somersault forward with pike; back somersault straight; 2£ somersaults forward running with tuck; and the following comic dives, duck, plonk, frog, roly poly, and wild Chinaman.

W. Fleming, the 220 yards Australian champion, and D. H. Symes, the New Zealand champion, met in one race, the 220 yards handicap, in which four started. After two lengths J. Frank (lOsecs) was in the lead, but the visitors drew level as they turned on the second to last length. Symes and Fleming did not exert themselves unduly over the last distance, Fleming winning narrowly from Symes, with Frank a few yards behind. Spectators were impressed by the easy, powerful action of both the visiting swimmers.

The results of last night’s events were as follows: —

66 2-3 yards intermediate boys’ free style handicap: G. Thorp, Bsecs, 1; N. Davey, 4secs, 2; J. Foster, lsec 3. Time 47secs.

Girls’ 33 1-3 yards handicap: P. Walker, lsec, 1; M. Brough, 7secs, 2. Time, 23isecs. Men’s open dive: Greenem 1; Kerr 2.

66 2-3 yards breaststroke handicap: G. Sutherland, lOsecs, 1; D. Burn, 4 secs, 2. 220 yards invitation freestyle handicap: W. Fleming (Aust.), scr, 1; D. H. Symes (N.Z.), scr, 2; J. Fi'ank (Nelson), lOsecs, 3. Time, 2.33 l-ssecs.