SWIMMING

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 19 December 1936, Page 15

SWIMMING

J. FLEMING ESTABLISHES BATHS RECORD BRILLIANT DIVING BY A. O’CONNOR AUSTRALIANS APPEAR AT NELSON CARNIVAL J. Fleming, the Australian champion swimmer established a record for the Nelson baths last night in winning the 100 yards event in 57 2-5 seconds The other member of the team, A. O’Connor, gave a brilliant exhibition of spring board diving, his performance being a revelation to local followers of the sport. The weather fqr the postponed carnival owing to rain on Thursday evening, was good but the attendance was affected on account of the late shopping night. However there was a fair crowd of spectators to witness the finest display of swimming and diving ever seen in Nelson. Mr E. Boulton, President of the Nelson Swimming Centre extended a welcome to the visitors and introduced the members of the party. At the conclusion of the sports Mr D. Helmrich, the famous Australian coach, and manager of the visiting team, thanked the Nelson Centre for the hospitality extended to the visitors who had enjoyed their stay in the city. He said he considered the Nelson baths the finest open air baths in New Zealand and he hoped that the performances of the Australians had given satisfaction and would be helpful to the younger swimmers. There were seven starters in the 100 yards open handicap, all the local swimmers going off six seconds and Fleming and Symes off scratch. S;ymes and Fleming reduced the handicap s * steadily with Fleming in the rear by two yards until near the end of the second length when he made a great effort which he continued over the final length. J. Frank (Nelson) turned first for the final length and a great race ensued as he was overtaken by the visitors. Fleming with a wonderful sprint won by ljyds from Frank with Symes two

yards away in third place. A. O’Connor, the Australian diving cjhampictn, thrilled the spectators throughout with his wonderful display the actions in which could be followed and understood by a running commentary by Mr Helmrich. Among the dives were: forward somersault with pike, one and a half forward somersault, backward header, backward somersault, standing mollberg, running Isander, backward spring with 1A somersaults inwards, armstand jump with 1£ somersault, running 2-J somersault forward, and full screw with 1J somersaults, the most difficult dive on the diving schedule. O’Connor then gave a number of thrilling fancy dives and he and Fleming added some comical diving. They were given a great reception. Fleming covered six lengths of the baths in a demonstration swim, the features of his action and powerful swimming being explained by Mr Helmrich.

The following were the results: —

33 l-3yds boys’ .freestyle handicap: G. Thorp (3secs), 1; N. Davey (scr) 2; S. Snow (3secs) 3. Time, 19 l-ssecs 33 l-3yds junior girls’ freestyle handicap: first heat, K. Glass, 1; M. Brough 2. Time, 24 3-ssecs. Second heat, D. Dodsworth, 1; J. Carpenter 2. Time, 25 4-ssecs. Final: K. Glass, 1; D. Dodsworth, 2. 100 YARDS MEN’S FREESTYLE HANDICAP (Open):— J. Fleming (Australia) scr 1 J. Frank (Nelson) 6secs 2 D. H. Symes (Canterbury) scr 3 Won by 1J yards, in 57 2-ssecs, a record for the Nelson baths. Boys’ Dive: D. Thorp, 1; J. Gough, 2; S. Snow 3. 66 2-3yds mixed breaststroke handicap: K. Glass, 1; G. Sutherland, 2. Time, lmin 13secs.