SWIMMING.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1920, Page 7

SWIMMING.

ROSS WINS AGAIN. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 11, 0.5 p.m. , Sydney, Jan. 11. The hundred yards swimming champloiisalp resulted: Boss 1, Kirkland 2, Beck 3. The race was won comfortably by two yards. Time, 58secs. The half-mile swimming championship resulted Ross 1, Longworth 2, Christie 3. Won by sixty-five yards. Time, 11.24. As in previous races, the American held command thioughout, and won es>sily without being extended. So far he has never been called on In any races to show what he is really, capable of doing. SUCCESS OF KORJIAN ROSS.

Xorman Ross, the American swimmer, is carrying all before liim in the championship events now being decided in Australia. The following particulars of the new swimmer should prove interesting to those closely watching competitions: — Norman Ross is 23 years of ige. He was born in Portland, Oregon, ljut-will swim in Australia as a representative of the Illinois Athletic Club, Chicago, an organisation with 5000 members. Ross teamed his art, in 1912. Five years later he appeared for the first time in the national championships of the United Sta J <. He was unknown- But he won the 220 yards, 500 yards, and backstroke supremacies. Ross was then on the map, and has stayed there. During the war lie was an instructor in aviation in the States.

On his way to Sydney lie stopped at Honolulu to add a few more laurels to his swimming record. The lnter-AUied games in Europe brought him into the world's limelight. His exceptionally fist Mimes there, and the recommendation of our swimmers who competed against him, recommended the Australasian Swimming Union to invite him to this side of the world.

At the Inter-Allied games he took part in the following races: 100 metres, 400 metres, SOO metres, 1500 metres, all freestyle events; the 100 metre back stroke, ihe 200 metres breast stroke, and the re r lay race. The Australians won the relay race, with America second; a Frenchman won the breast stroke. Ross carried off the rest of the prizes. Here are aome of his other distinctions achieved, mainly in American water; 200vds, 2min 6 2-.>secs, at Honolulu; 200 yds', 2min 101-ssec; 300 yds, 3min 10 3-5 sees; 440 yds, smin 5 3-ssecs, 500 yards, smin 53 2-ssecs. These am all tank records. He explains that tank records are all faster than outdoor records on account of the turns, which greatly aid a swimmer under tank conditions.

Some of his open water times are: Half mile llmin 12 3-ssecs, . 1000 yds 12min 32sec. His best t ; me for n mile is 24min lOsecs in California in the open. And this on the same day that he won the following Pacific Coast championships: 100 yds, 220 yds, 440 yds BSoyds, 150 yds back stroke. 200 yds breast stroke, and the HOyds lap relny. The mile race was the national chamBionsbiiJ.