SWIMMING

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17125, 4 December 1929, Page 3

SWIMMING

RYAN’S RISE TO FAME

WILL BE HERE NEXT WEEK

(Notes by “Lender”)

Nothing could bo more dramatic .than the rise to aquatic lame of the Australian swimmer, Noel Ryan, who burst upon the swimming world of New South Wales in 1927. if is success in the combined High vS'chools’ carnival that year was followed within a week by still more striking performances, which attracted official as well as press attention, and it earned Ryan the .distinction ofi sharing with Charlton and Beaurepaire the honor- of being selected to do battle for his State in the Australian championships while he was still of school age.

While ho was proving thus invincible among the juniors in the baths, Ryan was demonstrating his ability in another field. At the Bondi surf carnival he easily won the junior open surf championships. The question of his age was raised, and it was found he was not 16. As the rules require that the winner of the race should ho 16, Ryan, after winning his first championship, lost the prize. Before the carnival of the North S'teyne Club, however, Ryan had attained two new qualifications—his 16th birthday and tho bronze medallion of the life {Saving Society. There Were no grounds left for protests, and his opponents were thrown back on their swimming ability. Ryan won with ease.

A really authoritative picture of the boy is given at this time by Harry Haym, the Australian coach, to whom much of the credit of Ryan’s later do- i velopment into the swimmer ho is today is due. “He will go far. and eventually finish in world class,.” Mr. Haym declared. “Although frail, he is determined, even tempered, attentive, and always willing to learn. Keenness is the one keynote of his work, for bis slender physique, will not permit! of arduous work. His action is an independent crawl, with high lifting elbows, and a strong pull, which makes his stroke a gliding action, from which he obtains his pose. Although he is nicely balanced, he is still a long way from perfection. Despite his weakness of wanting to swing his head when .in action, together with slightly defective leg work, I consider that Ryan, when he floats still higher and remedies his present deficiencies, will emulate the deeds of Boy Charlton.” Ryan had still bigger things in store with which to astonish the swimming world before the season was out. In January, 1928, he made his debut in the Australian championships, and after swimming second to El. W. Jones, the Australian distance champion in the 440 yards event, he convincingly defeated Moss Christie, an Australian 1924 Olympic representative in the 1500 metres Olympip tests, in 22rnin. 30sec., the best time ever recorded by an Australian swimmer over that distance. Ryan finished his first season of representative swimming with, among others, the following performances to his credit: lOGvds., 61 2-ssee.; 220yds., 2bnin. 36 l-ssec.; 440yds-, 5 min. 33sec.