TKAINER ESSENTIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18827, 30 September 1924, Page 9

TKAINER ESSENTIAL.

M IBS SHAND'S CONVICTION;

AMERICANS* ADVANTAGE.

SOME WONDERFUL PERFORMERS.

[BY TELEGRAra.—PKESS ASSOCIATION. J WELLINGTON. Monday.

"New Zealand will never do well at the Olympic Gaines unless each team has its trainer." Such is the firm conviction of Miss Gwitha 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 tho unique honour of being the only member of thq gentler sex in the Southern Hemisphere to participate at this year's Games, and although championship honours did not come her way at Paris, fortune smiled kindly on her at tho Tailteann Games in Dublin. 'At Paris, Miss Shand explained, the water was particularly warm, but it did not suit her. "And how was the temperature at London V Miss Shand was asked. . "Bitterly cold," she replied. "It was raining bard all tho time, and we camo out of the water blue" "And Dublin?" "There we swam in a pond 110 yards long.' Tho 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." During the tour Miss Shand enjoyed, good health, except while at Paris. It is her belief that those are the occasions on which a trainer is absolutely essential. "I'm satisfied," she declared, "that New Zealand will never do well at the Gaines unless each team has its trainer. No c*io else can understand you. It's simply a case of repeating the initial faults that one may make. That's where the Americans score every time. They have their trainers, so you can realise how hard it. is to compote under those conditions.' Competing in the Games at Paris against such stalwarts as Miss Leckie (Chicago), Miss Wheslau (Honolulu), and Miss Morlions (United States of America), Miss Shand reached the finals in the 440 metres and the semi-finals in the 100 "•«"*•' Miss Shand won the 200 metres and 400 metres events at the Tailteann Games, but did not exert herself in the 100 metres on account of the cold and the strain tne 400 metres race would impose. She filled second place in tho 440 yards at don, and competed also in the international race, America v. England, at Harrow on-the-Hill. V , . Of. the form displayed by her opponents, 1 Miss Shand could not speak highly enough. "Simply marvellous," was the enthusiastic description of the stylo of the world 3 record-beater, Miss Wheslau, ana Misses Leckie and Mortons. "They all favoured the six-beat American crawl, and were a picture to watch. Y~.w "Boy Charlton has a wonderful stroke —the trudgen crawl"—declared - Miss Shand, "and he just glides + along ;as though it were not the slightest effort to him.° Johnny Weismuller is a sprinter who simply flies through the water He has a swing from the shoulder and favours the six-beat." ' :';, A Miss Shand expressed deep gratitude for the kindly companionship of Miss Gunther, who travelled with her.