SWIMMING

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16895, 21 November 1922, Page 2

SWIMMING

k Notes and Comments by

“Crawl”

VISIT OF “ BILL ” HARRIS. W. H. Harris, of Honolulu, Olympic white champion, and. "Weissmuller excepted. the speediest swimmer in the world to-day is clue to reach Auckland on December 13 to do a short tout of tho North Island. Unfortunately time will not permit Harris to come south .! fact that will be regretted hv southern swimmers. The present proposals are that Harris shall start his tour at Hamilton, proceeding thence to Palmerston North. AYu.nganui. Wellington (probably), Napier and Auckland There is some doubt as to whether Wellington will accept appearances o' mg to the unsuitability of the dates, in which case the choice "ill probably lie between Christchurch and Gisborne. Harris is the best all-round swimmer ir: Honolulu. Recently he finished very close to AVeissmtiller when that flier left 100 yards behind in 32see odd, and iif all the big championship events in Hawaii he has played a very prominent part. Kahanamoku excepted. Harris "ill be the fastest swimmer evei seen in the Dominion. BETTER DIVING WANTED, A "Titer in the Wellington " Even mg Post.’’ who Knows his subject, ha? this to say on the. subject of diving in Ne*v Zealand: •’ The sub-committee set up by the centre to revise, their rules might "ell consider the inclusion of a clause "hereby all clubs seeking a permit to hold a carnival shall include on their programme a diving competition that conforms to a diving contest as laid down in the New Zealand Handbook. This would, not. of course, eliminate the ordinary plaiu diving competitions from programmes. These could still remain, but if any progress is to he made in diving, and it i> desirable that there should he. competitions based on the proper standard will have to he provided, so that our divers will feel tii.it whatever good practice they put in. they will have more opportunity of displaying their skill than are at pros' nt. offered. In fact, the only compel it ion now available for them is tho National Championship. The standard of efficiency required for this contest is. pet haps, too high for the average thver. With the institution of proper contests, a start could Tie made with the easier dives, and a gradual advance made as the performers became more experienced and confident. The chief advantage in a competition of this kind is that it puts all the contestants on an equal footing, which is more tl-ar can be said of the plain diving contests. It will he well remembered that in many centres, at various carnivals. the same one or t"o names would always he noticed as winning the 'living competitions. Assuming a standard contest is composed of a (1 » falling d.ve, (2) plain header running. (3) hack diV’.’, and (4i pike dive, with one (3) voluntary dive, (the latter i« one the diver knows he can perform the best), it will he found that while some contestants are excellent nt Nos. 2 »and 1. their effort? at. T and 3 are very ordinary. Other contestants again aro very good at T and 3 and only satisfactory at 2 and 4. sr> that (Some competitors gain where others lose points. and v:r.e versa, but all have an equal chance. One competitor may he a few points down on all four dives, yet pick up those points hv executing No. 3 in faultless style. Fvervbodv cannot hc- , come a first-grade plain diver, hut. may t become a high-class somer.saulter. [ l over, and screw diver. Those who . witnessed the last National Diving , f’hampionship at Te Aro Baths will j know this to be a fact-. There was an instance of how points* may he lost and

i\ picked up again. Bill Hicks, the lory! entrant, was quire overshadowed, in tlie fir-1 stage of the competition. vet in the second stage, by two brilliant efforts. he succeeded in gaining first honm:i>. ;ind title of champion. Yfct he has been beaten scores of times in plain diving contests, anrl so it is in the* case of the other contestants for the championship, all of whom would .io doubt, be classed as n little above the ordinary were it not for tbe fagt that the standard competition has given them the opportunity of displayj n.g the undoubted ability they possess. The centre should add a diving con-ie-t to tlieir list of provincial championships. and. to encourage entrants, s'iculd endeavour to secure "W. Hicks's seivices as coach when he returns to the city.” STRAY SPLASHES. The South Canterbury Centre lias arrangements well forward for the New Zealand championships in January. The baths are being put into correct order and proper diving staging erected. Over forty Aucklanders will form the contin gent that will attack Canterbury’* right j to bold the Yaldhurst. and "War Memoj rial Shields. "Wellington is taking »» i lively interest in the mooring, and a ; good contingent is expected from Dun- | edin. As for Christchurch, the trek south should constitute a record. The. Tnuaru meeting, therefore, promises to eclipse last year's gathering in the matter of the number of swimmers present. *•* The following is a summary of the i records of Miss Gertrude Ederle. the fifteen-year-old aquatic star. Thev were all established at Brighton beach pool in a d 00-metre invitation race, when si defeated M : Helen W i.iirw ! igh of N>w York, and Miss Hilda Tames, the English champion, bv twenty and forty yards respectively:— Xew Old

| The former records ior 300 yards art' r I JQO yards were held by Miss James 1 ; 440j’ards by Mise Ethel M 5 Gary. of Net York ; -500 yards by Miss Fanny Duraek ° ! oi Australia : and 500 metres by Mis 0 | Claire Gnlligan, of New Rochelle. NY f i and Miss M'Gary jointly. ° Amongst the prominent Wollingto ~ i swimmers. C. Claridge. A. Claridge ! Mollier and P. I>. Towards are alrcad i’. active training, and will no doub represent their province at the forth , | coming national championships at T 1 : morn. Mollier shows exceptional pr» j 7 mise, and if be continues with his trait | irirr will be heard of in the near future ' A E. Patterson, the New Zealan x ‘_ 100yds record holder, is still undeHde I i a< to whether lie will take tin the spot , j this year. Tr is sincerely hoped (sax v a Wellington paper) that he will n« v quit, as his advice and example will h A invaluable during this year. The Mar.* f ] nni Fife Saving Club has amongst it ,] j members several junior members, wh i will give a good account of thetnselvf k j during the season. Kirk. P«. Eletohm n j Wiffin. and Praneley. under the caybi i ii. struct ion of the club’s \ ATv P. T>. Edwards, will uphold th club’s reputation. cr The Wellington Centre is arrangin II for Miss Sbnnd’s appearance at a earn: n val at Wellington on her nay back t d Christchurch.

record. record. i Distance. Min-See. Min. See. 300 yards . . 3 082-.; 4 83d ; J0(i yards . .5 2'2 ‘?-o <* - 3-;» ! 400 metres . . 5 .531-5 0 16 3—5 MO vards . .5 .54 3—5 (’> 16 3-*5 1 .500 vards . . « 451-5 7 81-5 —T 091.S 7 .‘(1 *?—5