SWIMMING ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19883, 29 February 1928, Page 16

SWIMMING ITEMS.

THE OLYMPIC NOMINATIONS. CLAIMS OF MISS STOCKLEY. BETTER CHANCE THAN LINDSAY. A special meeting of centre delegates held during the Dominion championship meeting in Dunedin last month, nominated the following swimmers for inclusion in .the New Zealand team for the Olympic Games:—D. P. Lindsay (Christchurch), 400 metres and 1500 metres free style; L. J. Moorhouse (Christchurch), 100 metres backstroke; Miss Ena Stockley (Auckland), 100 metres free style and 100 metres backstroke; Miss Kathleen Miller (Dunedin), 100 metres and 400 metres free style. Lindsay was given first consideration for selection and Miss Stockley second. So far as Moorhouse is concerned he will be making the trip at his own expense.

When the Auckland Centre met - last week strong and well-justified exception was taken to the action of the centre's delegates at the Southern meeting. At this meeting Mr. B. O'Neill, secretary of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, moved that Miss Stockley should be the first swimmer nominated. Mr. Enwright then moved that Lindsay should have preference and his motion was earned. Members ot the local centre criticised their delegates for not having supported Miss Stockley, as they considered her quite up to world championship class, while Lindsay was well below Olympic standard. In spite of emphatic protests from Mr. Enwright, the" centiis eventually decided to forward a letter to the New Zealand Association pointing out that Miss Stockley had priority in times for first nominee as New Zealand's representative at the Olympic Games. Lindsay's Opposition. Eleven swimmers whom Lindsay cannot hope to defeat over 400 metres are Arue Borg (Sweden), J. Weissmuller, C. Crabbe, It. Glancy, P. Samson, G. Kojac, W. Laufer (United States), A. Charlton (Australia), S. Kahanamaku (Hawaii), K. Takaishi (Japan), and A Zorilla (Argentine), These are only those swimmers who can better Lindsay's quartermile record of 5m 24 2-5s by more than 20s. In the 1500 metres event Lindsay has as little chance of success as in the 400 metres Last month Noel Ryan, who is only 16 years of age, won the mile championship of Australia from Moss Christie in 23m 18 l-ss. Christie's time was 23m 21 l-ss. Both these times are much faster than Lindsay's salt water record of 23m 36 4-ss. Yet neither Ryan nor Christie have been included in the Australian Olympic team, as it is considered that they have not a possible chance of reaching' the finals. When Lindsay registered his time he had the advantage of having 52 turns, whiie Ryan swam in the long Sydney Domain Baths, there being only 15 turns. If the gain of a turn is assessed at one second, Ryan's time would have neen approximately 22m 43 l-5s and Christie's 22m 46 l-ss. The American one mile national championship decided over a 110 yds. course at Hone lulu last August, was won by C. Crabbe in 21m 52 2-ss, which time is lm 44 2-5s faster than that registered by Lindsay. The second man, H. Glancy, returned 22:n 13 4-ss. Arne Borg's world's record, 21m 41 3-10s, established in a 50 metre pool, is lm 55£s faster than Lindsay's record. By these comparisons it will be seen that Lindsay's capabilities have been over-estimated and to send him to Amsterdam would be, as the Mount Eden Club's delegate on the Auckland Cenjre, said, "a waste of money." Times of Lady Swimmers. Miss Stockley should certainly have preference for selection, as she has better chances of annexing Olympic titles. She has only to repeat her brillianr. swim registered in the 100 yds. New South Wales championship, which she won easily after easing up, to qualify for an Olympic final. Miss Stockley's New Zealand salt-w«*it&r record of 65 3-5s is 4 4-5s slower than Miss E. Lackie'g (United States) world's record of 60 4-ss, which she established in a 25yds. bath two years ago. Miss Lackie's best time since she pnt up her record is 635.

After her victory in the New South Wales championship, which she won in 66 l-ss, Australian critics declared that had Miss Stockley been extended she would have clipped at least one second off her time. It must be borne in mind that Miss Stockley swam over a straight-out course, and this would, therefore, make a further difference of about 2s in her time. Commenting on her victory, a Sydney paper says: 'Her performance placed her in world class and should ensure her trip to Amsterdam." Miss Stockley has since won the 100 yds.. Australian championship over a 50yds. course in fresh water in the fast time of 67 l-ss. Her best chances of .success are at backstroke swimming. In the 100 metres at the Olympiad she is certain of gaining 8 plao in the final, while she may be the first New Zealander to win an Olympic title. Her Dominion freshwater record of 86 2-5s is only 4s outside the late Miss Sybil Bauer's world's record of 82 2-ss, registered in the faster salt water. When allowance is made for swimming under fresh-water conditions her time in salt water would be about 84 2-ss. i Miss Miller's Claims. After her splendid performances in the New South Wales and Australian 440 yds. championships, Miss Miller has also stronger claims for selection than Lindsay. These claims are strengthened in view of the fact that the Australian lady champion, Miss Edna Davey, whom Miss Miller has defeated in both the New South Wales and Australian 440 yds. championships, has already been selected for the Olympic Games. " Miss Kathleen Miller, in defeating the Australian champion, Miss Edna Davey, swam faster than any lady swimmer Australian has seen with the exception of Miss Fanny Durack," sayt a Sydney exchange. "How good Miss Miller s time is may be judged from the times of other champions who have visited Australia.—Etheldra Bleibtrey (America), 6m 275; Piri Page (New Zealand), 6m 30 l-ss; Gwitha Shand (New Zealand), 6m 9 l-ss; Mariechen Wehselau (America), 6m 11 2-ss; Kathleen Miller (New Zealand), 6m 3 9-10s. Misa Martha Norelius' world's record for 440 yds. is 5m 53 3-ss, made over 25yds. laps.(l 7 turns). It will be seen, if the gain at each turn is assessed at Is, that at the rate they swam in the State championship Australian and New Zealand girls would have registered round about 5m 59s in a 50-metres bath, and 5m 49s in a 25yds.. pool—both better performances than those of Miss Norelius.' BIG TENNIS INCIDENTS. BOROTRA AMUSES CROWD. In describing the recent singles match between those two tennis champions, G. L. Patterson and Borotra, a Sydney paper says there were a few elements of comedy for the crowd at Kooyong, though Jean Borotra has bean singularly quiet and has made few remarks. Patterson struck the net umpire with a well-hit drive t .iring the knock-up in one of his wonderful moments. Borotra broke the cover of the microphone next the umpire. The instrument still functioned, though it had saved the umpire from a solid hit. The flies worried Borotra at times. He does not like our flies at all ("They sting.") .... Petersen was struck in the eye, and Borotra, all solicitude, rushed around the net brandishing a towel and a glass of water to br.tho the injured member. The crowd chuckled—and the photographers took some "close-ups.