SWIMMING ITEMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23017, 20 April 1938, Page 18

SWIMMING ITEMS

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS EVENTS AT TEPID BATHS KEEN CONTESTS ANTICIPATED Keen and exciting competition, typical of the annual contests for the senior swimming ehimpionships of Auckland, should again characterise the events to be decided in the Tepid Maths to-morrow night, and, stimulating interest further, is the probability that some performances will excel as New Zealand records. The breaking of records is considered to be within the capabilities of X, Crump, in the 100 yards men's free-style event, and of Miss Mona Leydon, in the 220 yards ladies' free-style event. The time jeopardised by Crump's challenge is 54 !$-£>s, and since established by R. B. Frankham three years ago, it has survived the efforts ot P. Ha nan, Crump and other sprinters, none having succeeded in breaking or even equalling it. Swimming in a 66 2-.'5 yards' race at the Waitemata Club's carnival last week, Crump was timed at M 3-ss. A faster sprint for this distance is, of all New Zealand's champions, credited to Frankham alone, who recorded •'}.'! 2-os several years ago. At any rate, Crump's performance was suilicient to show that he has a grand chance of gaining the record lor 100 yards. He has stamina, and, provided he is fit siiul is extended by his opponcuts, he should take less than 54 •"i-os.

So impressive lias been Miss Levdon's swimming recently that her success in depriving Miss 1. Purdie, of Otngo, of the 220 yards record is apparently inevitable. The time stands at 2m 40s. As line a tussle as any should be provided by Misses K. (Jrev and V. Coulthurst in their race for the 100 yards ladies' title. So far this season they have shared honours equally. They have retained their foYm, and are still well matched. The men's champion for 440 yards free-style will, no doubt, be A. Paseoe, hut, if P E. Mathieson starts, he will make the race more interesting as Pascoe's most formidable opponent. Mathieson will have a lively race with C. K. Buchanan for the 100 yards men's backstroke championship, and in the 100 yards and 220 yards breaststroke events the struggle between I). "Webster and \Y. J. Jarvis especially should stir excitement. COACHING SCHEME ADOPTION BY CENTRE The complete adoption by the Auckland Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association of a recommendation made to the New Zealand Council by Mr. W. O. Stockley, of Auckland, that a bureau of instruction and coaching should be established, "to make national efforts for raising the standard of swimming ability, to standardise swimming and training methods and to supervise instruction and coaching," may be accepted as a big step toward the general introduction of efficiently organised coaching, so that swimmers may have means of turning their natural talents to best account. The reports submitted by Mr. Stockley and by Mr. E. C. Isaacs, of Dunedin, manager of the New Zealand swimmers at the British Empire Games, were comprehensive in detail, and both are bound to provoke useful discussion and lead to important reforms. For this reason, they will yield the most beneficial results from the Games to the sport in the Dominion. Speakers at the Auckland Centre's meeting agreed that expert coaching was essential and would induce others to enter the sport, and that much more was to be learned from an overseas coach than from visiting champions.

CLOSE DECISION FASCOE AND MATHIESON The victory scored by A. Pascoe in the 880 yards championship of.Auckland, swum at the Waitemata Club's carnival, was not as comfortable as was anticipated. He was pressed closely by P. I',. Mathieson, who in the final stages continually looked capable of winning. However, Pascoe triumphed over his rival's efforts during the last (50 or 70 yards, and won by about two vards in 11m. 37 3-ss, which was 44s slower that the New Zealand record. Having already proved himself the second best half-miler in the Dominion to tlie record-holder, L. Newell, of Canterbury, Pascoe justified the confidence of his suporters in gaining the Auckland title. A youthful swimmer, in his first year as a senior, he cannot be rated a high-class distance performer, nor is he likely to develop into one. Nevertheless, as Auckland, in common with s the rest of the Dominion, is numerically weak in really good distance swimmers, he is a valuable swimmer to possess. Mathieson's showing was foreshadowed by his success in Otago championships last season and in previous seasons. It is certain that he will trouble Pascoe when they meet in the mile championship.