SWIMMING

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 59

SWIMMING

By

NEPTUNE.

THE OLYMPIC REPRESENTATIVES. On the return of Misses Miller and Stockley we shall know more about the conditions under which they had to swim in Australia, but, no matter what difficulties beset the girls, they have surmounted them royally, and, incidentally, have given the Australians a revised idea of the standard of swimming in New Zealand. Miss Stockley has not been beaten, and Miss Miller only once; but in the latter race, it is only fair to state that the Dunedin girl in all her races encounted much more serious opposition than did her team mate. However, the fact remains that both have upheld the honour of the Dominion in no undecided fashion. All of which brings us back to the controversy which has been raging as to the respective claims of Misses Stockley and Miller and D. P. Lindsay to represent New Zealand at Amsterdam. Lindsay’s time for the quarter-mile is smin 24 2-ssec. Now, Arne Borg (Sweden), J. Weismuller, C. Crabbe, H. Glancy, G. Kojac, W. Laufer (U.S.A.), A. Charlton (Australia), D. Kahanamuku (Hawaii), K. Takaishi (Japan), and A. Lorella (Argentine) have all beaten this time by more than 20sec, so his chances in the 400 metres event do not appear particularly rosy. Neither can I see him as a possibility in the 1500 metres race. Just recently two Australian swimmers—Noel Ryan and Moss Christie —returned a much faster time in the mile championship of Australia than Lindsay’s salt water record of 23min 36 3-ssec, which was registered in a 33 l-3yds baths, which, of course, gave the Canterbury champion an advantage of 52 turns. Ryan swam m the Domain Baths, Sydney, with only 15 turns. Neither Ryan nor Christie has been considered a possibility for Olympia, so it does not seem reasonable to expect that Lindsay would do anything startling at Amsterdam.

Then, again, C. Crabbe’s time in the American mile national championship in August last was 21min 52 2-ssec —Imin 44 2-ssec better than Lindsay’s time over the distance, and Arne Borg’s record of 21inin 41 3-10 sec beat Lindsay’s best time by Imin 554 sec. Now, as to Miss Stockley. In her victory in the New South Wales championship she returned the splendid time of 66 l-ssec, and Australian critics considered at the time that had she been extended she could hace clipped at least a second off this time. Moreover, the race was swum over a straight-out course, whereas in a 33 l-3yds baths she would have lowered her time by still another two seconds. The world’s record, established by Miss E. Lackie (U.S.A.) in 1926, over a 25yds course, stands at 60 4-ssec, but her best time since then is 2 l-ssec slower than this. But it is in backstroke swimming that the Auckland champion should be almost sure of getting a place, if not actually capturing a world’s title. The late Miss Sybil Bauer established the world’s record of 82 2-ssec in salt water. Miss Stoekley’s New Zealand fresh water record is 86 2-ssec —only 4sec slower, so that, making allowances for the faster salt water, her time would be somewhere in the neighbourhood of 84sec—quite up to world’s standard time. Miss Miller’s claims are reinforced by the fact that she has twice defeated Miss Edna Davey over 440yds, and the Autralian girl has already been chosen as an Australian representative at Olympia. Commenting on her swimming an Australian exchange says: “ Miss Kathleen Miller, in defeating the Australian champion, Miss Edna Davey, swam faster than any lady swimmer Australia has seen with the exception of Miss Fanny Durack. How good Miss Miller's time is may be judged from the times of other champions who have visited Australia :—Etheldra Bleibtrey (America). 6min 27sec, Piri Page (New Zealand', 6min 30 l-ssec; Gwitha Shand (New Zealand), 6min 9 l-ssec; Mariechen Wehselau (America), 6min 11 2-ssec; Kathleen Miller (New Zealand). 6min 3 9-10 sec. Miss Martha Norelius’s world s record for 440yds is smin 53 3-ssec. made over 25yds laps (17 turns). It will be seen, if the gain at each turn in assessed at lsec, that at the rate they swam in the Stnie championship Australian and New Zealand girls would have registered round about smin 59scc in a 50-metre bath, and smin 49<ec in a 25yds pool—both better performances than those of Miss Norelius.” ATTEMPT ON RECORD. During the week B. Gellate, junior champion of New Zealand, endeavoured to lower Leslie Olds’s salt-water record over 100 yards, but was unsuccessful (says the Evening Post). Conditions were not of the best, and the time returned (67sec) was in the region of that expected, especially when Gellate was noticed to be swimming a crooked course. Olds’s time is 65 2-ssec. and the local boy will no doubt make a further attempt on these figures before the season closes. They are not beyond him. EMPIRE CHAMPIONSHIPS. LONDON, March 10. The Amateur Swimming Association has endorsed the New Zealand Association’s proposal to hold Empire championships at the conclusion of the Olympiad, and it has instructed a committee to arrange and manage the scheme. A WIN FOR MISS DAVEY. SYDNEY, March 11. The 300 Yards State Ladies’ Swimming Championship resulted as follows: —Edna Davey 1, D. Baine 2, M. Mealing 3. Time, 4min 16 4-ssec.