NEW SWIMMERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20639, 30 January 1937, Page 16

NEW SWIMMERS

LOOKING FORWARD TO TOKIO GAMES Impressions of a Former Official Swimming is always producing its surprising young stars. Once upon a time this country was the leader in speed swimming of the world. Then came the Americans in eclipse. Next the Japanese, the Swedes, and men and women of other countries. But there have always been young ones in

Keiran, A. M. Charlton, Noel Ryan, to Australia making their names—B. wit, in recent years. At the moment the feats of Dorothy Green, the girl from Western Australia, and R. Newbiggen, the Newcastle boy, are being discussed wherever swimmers meet. Still greater things are expected of the pair by the tune the Olympic Games are held in Tokio. Mr C. G. R. Wilson, formerly one of the keenest and most industrious swimming officials in Sydney, and an ardent Rugby Unionist (with North Sydney), came down from Taree to see the swimming championship at the Olympic Pool at Milson’s Point. He has never lost touch with, or interest in, swimming. “I thing Newbiggen and Miss Green are going to create history,” said Mr Wilson, discussing their exploits. “They should become Olympic representatives at Tokio and if they train on judiciously, will do well there. I think Newbiggen should be left in the hands of Harry Hay. If so, he looks good enough to become a world’s champion over the 110 and 220-yards. By the manner in which he finishes, he strikes me as being built for distances as well as the sprints.” In vein of reminiscence, Mr Wilson went on to say:— “I think Barney Keiran was the best Australian swimmer I have seen. Strokes have changed, of course. He used to swim the trudgeon. He was only nineteen when he died, and he had broken the records practically every time he competed. Two nights before he died he broke the 220 yards record held by Fred Lane for years in the Australian Championship at Brisbane. Keiran never specialised over the 100 yards, but from 220 upwards he was a wonder. “Billy Longworth was a splendid allround champion from 100 yards to a mile, but Keiran would have beaten him over the longer distances. “Keiran met Dick Cavill first over 440 yards, at the Pyrmont Baths, when he represented the Sabroan, and Dick Cavill won comfortably from his boy. “Keiran was practically unknown till when he defeated Cavill at Rose Bay Baths in the first Australian Amateur Championship carnival conducted by the N.S.W.A.S.A. It was 33 years ago. The distance was half a mile. He won by about half a length of the baths, if not more, in record time. It was a sensation. “Dick Cavill was the wonder of his times as an all-round swimmer from 100 yards to the mile. No one really knew what he could do. We never saw him training. “Another sensation of a later period was when Billy Longworth defeated Cecil Healy and Frank de Beaurepaire in the three-quarter mile at the Domain Baths. It was a great race and a surprise, because Beaurepaire, a great swimmer, had just been very successful in Europe. Cecil Healy had developed the crawl stroke over distances by this time. But Longworth astonished spectators and his rivals.