SWIMMING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10418, 23 March 1912, Page 5

SWIMMING.

A cable from Sydney tells us that it has been decided to 6ond Miss Fanny Durack and Miss Mina Wylie to Stockholm to represent Australia in the Olympic Games. The first step-in this direction was taken at a meeting of the New South "Wales Ladies' Swimming Association held in Sydney on March 6. For some time there had been trouble in the ranks of the Asso- [ oiation and this was brought to a head on tho occasion referred to, when two matters discussed—the question of sending Miss Durack to Stockholm, and the desirability of allowing men as spectators of ladies' carnivals. One of the causiis of discontent was respecting the small value of the prizes offered by tho Association at its competitions, and the excuse made by the Association was that sufficient funds were not available. It was suggested by some of the complaining ones that this difficulty could be overcome if .men were I admitted to the Association carnivals, as this would be the means of a large increase in revenue. At the meeting on March C Mies | Rose Scott, who is president of the Association as well as of the Sydney Club, occupied the chair. Twentytwo members were present. A show of hands was first taken on the question of sending Miss Durack to Europe, and the result was a unanimous vote in tho affirmative. Afterwards, however, another motion was carried in favour of raising funds to send Miss Durack, Miss Mina Wylie, and a manageress to Stockholm. The matter of admitting men as spectators at carnivals proved more contentious. On the question being put 12 votes against the proposal to admit the men, and 10 for it. A ballot was then asked for, when 14 voted in favour of admitting the men and eight against. In consequence of this decisional iss Rose Scott announced her intention to resign office as president. The progress of woman as a. speed swimmer is interesting (writes " Natator" in the Sydney "Referee"). "My' ' gasped a wondering universe when Sidney's Annette Kcllerman "did" the "hundred" in 1.22 ten years ago. Two years later Brisbane's Miss F. Canstreaked over the big r.print dash fast enough to hit the "clock" at 1.19 2-5. Two vears further on Sydney's Miss Dorothy Hill's name stood side by side in tho'book with Miss Carr's, Meanwhile the best elsewhere was 1.24 3-5 bv Misses Scott and Ourwen (England). 1907 saw Miss Jennie Fletcher (England) chin in with a couple of swims better than anything so far. In two big efforts she credited herself with 1.18 and 1.19. Then, in 1909, Miss Jessie Fletcher, at the home (Manchester) of that remarkable English sprinter, Derbyshire, and in the baths where, as tlie son of the keeper, he developed his. powers, effected a clean wipe-out of everything which had been done liefore by kicking the rentnry ci yards away in 1.13 3-osec : and the following year witnessed Miss T. Steer, a countrywoman of Miss Fletcher's, as a well-ac-credited claimant for an equal share' of the robe of world's record. Next Miss Curwcn, having matured n few years, put her spoke into the wheel with an achievement ticked at 1.12 2-o. And now Avhat a, difference! "Fan," as her friends call her, has certainly set them all a go.