ATHLETIC SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18657, 13 March 1924, Page 4

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

— ♦ SWIMMING. I ARNE BORG'S VISIT. ARRIVAL ON MONDAY. Arrangements are well in hand for the carnival to be held in the Tepid Baths on Monday evening, in connection with the visit of Arne Bora the. Swedish-cham-pion. Borg is expected to arrive by the Niagara on Monday morning. He will give an exhibition in the Tepid Baths, commencing at noon, for the benefit of swimmers belonging to clubs, and those who will be competing against him in the evening. Sdiool children interested are invited to b« present at Arne Borg'a demonstration. On the occasion of Langer's visit they were extended the same privilege. One feature of local swimming in the past few years has been the enthusiasm shown by the children and it is a fine idea to encoage them with a display by one of the greatest devotees of the art ever born. Since his defeats by "Boy" Charlton, the Swede has become adapted to the saltwater swimming and climatic conditions of Australia, totally different from those pertaining in his own, land, where fresh water pools are the only ones in use. He has since improved on the limes which Charlton did in beating him, and in several Australian papers of late it has been declared that if the Manly boy were to meet him again he would not have matters all his own way. By many people it is thought that when Borg encounters Charlton in the fresh water at the Olympic Games this year, the latter will be beaten. That of course remains,to be seen, and Johnnv Weissmuller, the American champion, ill also have to be reckoned with. The tours jof great swimmers are a stimulus to the sport. Not only do they show competitors the most up-to-date methods of propulsion, but t'hey arouse the interest of the general public, ensuring additional patronage at future carnivals. However, the writer would not advise anyone to 1 try to adopt Borg's style of swimming altogether. His style is absolutelv unorthodoxhis own natural stroke in direct opposition to all the principles of the modern American trudgeon crawl which has been proved to be the best. Oversea champions' Tours.

. With the impending visit of Borg, it is interesting to recall the visits of other foreign champions and their performances in the Tepid baths. In March, 1920. the Olympic champion, Norman Ross, of America, visited these shores, and Was responsible for some wonderful performances. His powerful physique and adeptnesg at turning were in no small measure responsible for his success. He competed .at two carnivals on consecutive days. He swam 220 yds. in 2m. 25.2-tw., the then world's record being his own time of 2m 20 l-Ss. The same evening Ross swam ICOyds. in 77 l-55., swimming the backstroke. His style of the alternate armstroke was new to local swimmers, and ! the stroke was one ; result of hia visit. Next day he pit up a new 500 metres world record of 6m. 44 4-55., which was 6&. faster than his - previous best time. He also swam 100 yds. in 60s. • ' . Shortly after the. departure of Ross, tha Australian Olympic swimming^team, consisting of ' F. Beaurepaire, W. Herald, K. Kirkland, and 'Miss L. Beaurepaire., homeward bound, took part in a carnival and were responsible for some creditable Wimming. . ■ ' The lady ; Olympic champion,- Miss Ethelda Bleibtrey, was the next Visitor and we were given some idea o.f hot? swimming can .be mastered ' by a- woman, 'lite American, in her two appearances, "beat. Miss V. Walrond over . 100 yds. in 685.," and 300 metres in 4m. 41 3-ss.', and Miss P. : Hoeft over 50yds., owum , in 29 2-ss. - In April, 1921; three months after his countrywoman's visit, . Ludy [Lartger, after ! a successful "period in Australia j called at Auckland en route for\home. ; He. competed f- against fl|p)cjal /vwimraers and finished ' ahead of v Leo Ktonfold fov-fer 100 yds., in 61 2-55., 300 metres in 3m. 575., 500 metre®: in *6m. 585., And 100 metres in 66 2-ss. . j ■ 5 Visits $ from oversea champions to Auck.land have not been made since • 1921, although ■•. W. Harris, of . Hawaii, toured southern towns. The Minute Broken at Last. The carnivals held by the Parnell Club this season have been remarkable for «ie records ■ • broken in - championship :. events! But none of the times ha& been so merit orious as Leo Kronfeld's 595. for 100 yds., and Gordon Brid&onc i s , 6m. 25 3-Ss. ror 440 yds.'' To " break - the minute " has been the ambition of all ; sprinters, but until • ('Tuesday ' night - no, one j had succeeded under record . conditions. ' Kronfeld has made 5%. the mark to be b*«6eh now, and promises to improve still Wore in the near future. m?; From j,he start of his record-breaking swim, Kronfeld was the only one in : the 1 race. He thrashed the water with powerful armstrokes, whioh lifted him out ;to his waist. On i the second lap 'he C passed 50yds. in 26 4-ss. Starting on the final lap, it t was realised that he would go close _to the record'. He maintained his high ! body 1 position and with - a final effort. I spurted in great style to the , finish, i As anticipated in this- column ' previously, Bridson convincingly lowered the quarter-mile record. He is a very big arid strong.. boy for .14 . and baa a future as a distance swimmer. ' His .' sectional times I were: 100 yds. lm. 21 3-Ss., ; 200vds., 2m. |49 3-55. ; ; 300 yds., 4m. ' 20s. When _he learns to breathe on one side only, obviating rolling arid to swim with relaxed arms he will improve still more. An Unfortunate Event. The disqualification of the Waitemata A team in the Tui Memorial ; intefclub relay race was a very unfortunate incident, arid marked what would have been an exciting contest. There was a deal of dissatisfaction over the happening and, some talk of a re-swim to-night. If the relays meet again it should be for the purpose of proving which team is the best and not for possession of the trophy, •which ' has been fairly won. ; Miss Stockley's Improvement. Contrary to general expectations, Miss Ena Stockley has, developed into a firstclass distance swimmer as well as a sprinter. Her win in the 220 yds. ladies'championship was a* good one and her first success in a championship. The time, 3m. 0 2-55., was better than her 3m.. 3s at Wanganui last month, when Miss' Shand won in 2m. 57 l-55., a Dominion record. The only other starters, Misses Pin Page and Jean Bell, who finished second and third respectively, gave credit able displays. The meeting of Misses Shand, Stocklev, Bell and Page in the lQOyds. scratch raco this evening should be the best race of the Season. The Olympic representative will require to do her best to beat »a l3 « ?, t . cckle l' judging by recent times ' At Callione Dock a few days aero the ' the latter won a handicap in 705., and J Miss Shand was timed to do 70 2-ss. I I Again, in the inter-club ladies* relay Miss Stockley put up better time than the other three ladies at the Tepid Baths Her time was 695.

A year a,pro this month the Auckland Summer Carnival commit,t«p held ~ swimming sports at Calliope Dock. So far prize-winners have not received their trophies. They will be pleased- to learn that the centre secretary, Mr. J. has been making investigations and promises an early settlement. The much-requ'red extra dressing accommodation at Shellv Beach baths has been provided in the gallery in the form of movable . partitions. SOUTH : AUCKLAND CENTRE. [n7 TELEGRAPH. —OWN : CORRESPONDENT.] , HAMILTON. Wednesday. . ,The Sonth ,Auckland Swimming ..Centre met la&l evening. Some discussion took place regarding the allocation of the school championship. It : was decided that in all future seasons the allocation of these .championships be decided by the centre.