SWIMMING

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 42

SWIMMING

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. TIMARU, January 27In delightful weather the first day of the swimming championship meeting was held in the Tiinaru Baths on Saturday afternoon before an attendance of nearly 2000. The principal events were the 100 Yards National Championship and the ICQ Yards Ladies’ Championship. In the former three heats were swum, the following qualifying: —Murrell (Wellington), Atkinson (Canterbury), Enwright (Auckland), Sutherland (Canterbury), Batchelor (Canterbury), and Edwards (Wellington). In the final, Enwright, from a good start, led all the way. Batchelor threw out a challenge in tlie last 25 yards, but left his spurt too late and failed to catch the holder, who touched a yard ahead. Murrell was third, some distance back. Time 62sec. Four started 1 in the Ladies’ 100 Yards — Misses P. Hoeft and Walrond (Auckland), M. Simes and G. Shand (Canterbury). Miss Simes got the best of the start, but Miss Hoeft and Miss Shand were soon fighting for superiority. With half the distance gone, Miss Walrond and Miss Hoeft were together, but the holder turned first, and, making for home, seemed to have a two yards’ lead. In the last 50 yards Miss Walrond put up a great fight, and in an exciting finish beat the holder in the last 20 yards on the touch. Time, 70 4-ssec. Five started in the Mile Championship, but Moorehouse (Canterbury) and Enwright (Auckland) pulled out early. Hill (Canterbury) the holder, swam steadily all the way, gradually increasing his lead and ultimately winning by close on 100 yards from Murrell (Wellington). Wilson (Auckland) was the only other to finish, and was a similar distance behind the second man. Time 25min 49sec. The 220 Yards Boys’ Intermediate Championship drew nine entries, and the final was an easy victory for C. Claridge (Auckland), with V. M'Tigue (Canterbury) second and P. Lindsay (South Canterbury) third. Time, 2min 47 3-ssec. The Junior Boys’ 100 Yards Championship was a close and exciting race most of the way, the chief contestants being W. Cameron (Canterbury) and P. Murphy (South Canterbury). The former kept an early lead throughout and won by half a length. Time, 77 4-ssec. H. Bridgson (Wellington) was third. The 75 Yards Intel-mediate Girls’ Breaststroke Championship brought five competitors, the race being marked by the performance of E. Hanan (Canterbury), w-ho reduced the New Zealand record by one-fifth of a second. P. Svenson (Wanganui) was second and A. Imandt (Wellington) third. Time, 68 l-ssec. There were three heats in the 50 Yards’ Junior Girls’ Championship, and again a new record was established. In the first heat .Miss M. Jepson covered the distance in 34 l-ssec—three-fifths better than Miss E. Walrond’s time. In the final Miss jepson equalled the record. Miss D. Magee (Auckland) was second in the final and B. Cooke (Canterbury) third. Time, 34 4-ssec. Other events were : 50 Yards Inter-club Handicap (eight heats) —F. G. Raymond (Swifts, Timaru), 6see, 1; A. Johnston (Old Boys, Timaru), 6sec, 2; D. A. Lawson (Old Boys, Timaru), 6sec, 3. 109 Yords Junior and Intermediate Interclub Handicap.—Miss M. Simes (United, Christchurch), 13sec, 1; J. Hawkes (Old Boys, Timaru), llsec, 2; P. Murphy (St. Patricks. Timaru). 16sec. 3. Time, 77 4-ssec. Polo Championship (first round) —Canterbury ff goals, beat Otago nil. The Diving Competition was won by Miss Bristed (Canterbury). AUSTRALIA FINDS A WORLD-BEATER. (From Oob Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, January 17. Until last Saturday the world’s swimming record for the 880yds distance—llmin 24 1-5 sec —was held by Norman Ross. A Sydney boy, Andrew Charlton, who is only 15 years of age t lowered that by 19sec. Charlton, - now the idol of the swimming world, has for some time been exhibiting a wonderful turn of speed. The lad first showed promise about three years ago in a half-mile race at Manly. Then but 12 years of age, he won against adult swimmers, and has since improved beyond all expectations. He has the remarkable chest development of 38-Jin normal, with an expansion of 4Jin, and it is this wonderful lung capacity that enables him to accomplish so much. His rythmic stroke is the acme of perfection. He just seems to glide along without the least bit of exertion. He is not a sprinter, but his capacity over. the longer distances he has already, shown, and it is impossible to say what he may accomplish with a little more age; Charlton’s opponents in the race on Saturday, which was for the championship of the State, included Christie, the holder of the title, and Wilkes, From the word go, Charlton went ahead, and as each- lap was left behind the distance widened between him and Christie, who was lying second. From a few yards it increased to double that distance at the end of the second lap, and a few laps after the big array of stop watches that were indicating his prowess showed that the record must be broken. The enthusiasm of those in possession of this information communicated itself to the huge crowd, and Charlton ploughed his way towards a double victory—one at the expense of the record-holder, to. the accompaniment of _ a sustained roar. It was a wonderful swim. Using a beautifully powerful arm action, swinging deep, and following up with a powerful thrust, and a natural trudgeon kick and a flutter, Charlton swept up and down the baths with effortless ease. Over the last 2ysds he sprinted and touched the board nearly a hundred yards ahead of Christie, who was second An ovation greeted him, and when, after a breathless silence, the man with . the megaphone announced that the time was llmin ssec—l9sec better than the previous world’s record—the enthusiasm was doubled. The most impressed man over Charlton’s swim was Harris, of Honolulu. “It was the most wonderful thing I have ever seen,” he said, “and it will probably be the most wonderful thing Sydney people will ever see. To see a boy 15 years of age chop 19sec from a world’s record is almost incredible, and it shows what a wonderful race it would be between the American champion Weismuller and Charlton. The former is only 18 years old, and even now we don’t know what he can do, and it’s the same with your chaanpion.” Harris had a narrow win in the 100yds championship race. For this event the competitors took their places on the board in the following order: Harry Hay (Manly), 1; K. Kirkland (University), 2; F. Carberry (Sydney), 3; W. Harris (Hawaii), 4; W. Herald (Manly), 5; N. Longworth (Rose Bay), 6; Beck (Sydney), 7; W. Longworth (Rose Bay), 8.

None of the swimmers gained any advantage in the take-off dive, and the result was in doubt right till the last moment. When half the distance had been swum, Harris was leading by a little, with Herald, Hay, and Carberry close up. At 75yds Harris and Herald were neck and neck. Eventually the Honolulu competitor won by a touch.