SWIMMING

Otago Witness, Issue 3757, 16 March 1926, Page 9

SWIMMING

By

NEPTUNE.

A matter that should come under the notice of parents and teachers of swimming is the use of water wings. There may appear to be a degree of safety in their use, but it is a bad policy to allow their use. A child using water wings comes to rely on them for support in the water, with the result that the time comes when they cannot be done without. There is always the risk, too, that the wings will become dislodged and come too far under the armpits, with the result that the head is thrown under water. Such an occurrence would possibly end in drowning, especially if the child were not with people who were handy. The practice is not indulged in to the extent it used to be, but a boy was seen using them the other day, and before they again come into general use it is as well to warn the children that their use is not advised. It is pleasing to note that the breaststroke is becoming more popular than it used to be. This is a stroke that is excellent over long distances. While not permitting of the speed to be obtained from the crawl stroke, it certainly gets the swimmer through the water, and is more restful than the others. In the Dominion there are quite a number of good breaststroke exponents. Miss Pidgeon is in a class of her own as far as the ladies are concerned, and it is a pity there are not more ladies to compete against her and give her a chance of racing among her own sex It is to be hoped that more ladies will take to this stroke and so make the competition more keen. An interesting feature of the recent Aew Zealand championships was the fact that every free-style event in all grades was won by competitors using the crawl stroke—either straight out or trudgeon. fins is the first occasion in the history ot this meeting that such a thing lias happened, and, although we may be behind other countries in this respect, the turn has been made and it is not likely that any plain trudgeon swimmer will gain championship honours in the future Our progress is sure, even though it may be

The following extract from an Australian paper gives an idea of Doyie’s nerform?rio eS |' — l here wcr if thlee com petitors in the 100yds championship, Doyle having on his ngnt Grier and Uarberfy. It "was a splendid start. Doyle was in wonderful tonn, and turned a yard and a-half ahead of Drier, who was fast around but did not appear to possess the same dash as the leader. Doyle turned nearly two yards ahead at 66yds. Grier set out after him with powertul strokes, and almost succeeded in v\ inning the title. The touch bar was too close for him. however, and he lust failed, the margin being one foot. Carberry was half a yard away, third. Doyle had taken 2-ssec longer than his original tune of 58sec, Grier 58 i-ssec, Carberry 58 2-ssec. Roth first and second were accorded a splendid ovation. Doyle broke the bt.ths record for 33 l-3yds, which he covered in 15 2-ssec and for 66 2-3yds, for which he took 36see, beating Norman Ross’s record, made m 1920 The departure of A. E. Baird for Napier, where he is now residing, came as a big surprise to the swimmers of Auckland. His absence will be a distinct loss to his old club, Waitemata. and to Auckland, but the Napier Club io which he now belongs, may rest assured that it has one of the finest swimmers in New Zealand domiciled with m its gates. Having lost its mile, 220yds, 440yds, and 880yds champion, Auckland will have to look round lor another man to take his place Baird has gone, and there is not tho slightest good in grieving over the matter. Although Auckland’s loss will be Napier’s gain, it still has in G. Bridson, a distance swimmer, who, while still in the intermediate grade, will not be long in entering the ranks of the seniors, and becoming a serious rival to any man in tho Dominion The swimmers of Auckland will all wish Baird the best of luck in Napier, and hope that he will continue to outclass all comers fo.* some time to come. His efforts in Napier will be watched with interest.

The Invitation from the Waitemata Amateur Swimming and Life-saving Club to three Australian swimmers to visit Auckland and compete in carnivals has now been definitely accepted. The visitors will leave Sydney for Auckland on March 13, states tne New Zealand Herald. The New South Wales authorities were in favour of some of their swimmers making the trip, but tl ey were firm in their opinion that a manager should accompany tho swimmers and it was cnly on these grounqs that a trip could be made. Mr O. J. A. Kemp, secretary of the Sydney Club, will probably be selected as manager, and a series of trial races will be held to select

the three swimmers to make the trip. It seems that F. Doyle. M. Christie, and Dr K. Kirkland will be the three chosen, but there is still some doubt as to Christie’s ability to get away. The visit should do immeasurable good to the sport in Auckland. Doyle, the voung Australian sprint champion, is already widely known on account of the marvellous performances that stand to his credit. Christie is the champion distance swimmer of Australia, while Kirkland is a sprinter and backstroke swimmer of note. SWIMMING. AUSTRALIAN SWIMMERS. SYDNEY, March 9. The swimmers Doyle, Carberry, Christie, ana Kirkland have declined the invitation to the Waitemata Club to visit New Zealand. Grier accepted the invitation, but it Is not likely that any swimmers will visit the Dominion. AUSTRALIAN CHAMPION’S VISIT. AUCKLAND, March 10. R. Grier, of Queensland, champion Australian swimmer, has accapted the Waitemata Amateur Swimming Club’s invitation for three appearances in Auckland. He will arrive by the Marama next Tuesday.