THE BEST YET.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20561, 12 March 1935, Page 12

THE BEST YET.

Visiting French Swimmers at Tepid Baths. BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES. Swimming the quarter-mile in 4min 58 l-ssec, Jean Taris, champion of France, at the Tepid Baths last night, registered the fastest time yet recorded for this distance in New Zealand. It was a brilliant effort, and was received enthusiastically by a big crowd. The time was 15 l-ssec under G. Bridson's New Zealand record. .Emile Poussard was equally brilliant in diving exhibiTaris left the local men fiftyfive yards behind in a swim that was a wonderful exhibition of precision, for his length times varied only between 21 sec and 24see for the whole distance, apart from ISsec for the first length. Taris swam in an effortless manner in what was to him a holiday race. C. Cliff (East Christchurch) was

second, beating D. H. Symes, the Now Zealand quarter-mile champion, on the touch in a great finish. The time of the second man, however, was a good deal slower than the best recc.rded by Symes, who has done little training since the conclusion of the national championship meeting. Eater in the evening Taris gave an exhibition of swimming which delighted the crowd. He swam a length using his feet only in slow motion and then a length at a fast pace in the same manner. He also covered a fast length using the stroke that he has made peculiarly his own. Wonderful Diving. Poussard's diving was a revelation and some of his more spectacular evolutions were such as have never before been seen -in Christchurch. In the invitation dive Poussard took first place with 75.74 points, the nearest local competitor securing 49.7 points. In a special exhibition series Poussard gave some wonderful performances, although the state of the board, for which local officials apologised, prevented him from attempting some of his most difficult dives. He reached a brilliant climax last evening with two and a half somersaults, perfectly executed. Both the Frenchmen proved to be exceedingly popular and were keen to no everything in their power to make .lie carnival the success it was. During .he evening they cheerfully signed batches of autograph books and programmes. The attendance was probably the largest that has ever been seen at a carnival in the Tepid Baths, and the Canterbury Centre should show a profit on the venture. The visitors were welcomed by Mr M. E. Lyons, president of the Canterbury Centre, who outlined their outstanding performances. M. Poussard expressed his thanks, speaking in English, and was accorded a great ovation by the audiThe first event on the programme was an attempt by D. H. Symes to lower his own New Zealand record of 28 1-ssec or 50 metres. Symes swam well but lost slightly, on the turn, and his time was 2S 2-ssee. The next event was an attempt by Tt. Rimmer (East Christchurch) to lower .T. O. Hattersley's Canterbury record of 61 2-ssec for the intermediate boys’ 100yds. Rimmer was in good form, i covering 50yds in a shade under 28sec and he recorded 60 4-sseo for 100yds, taking 3-ssec off the record. Results:— INTERNATIONAL INVITATION DIVE—E. Poussard (France), 75.74 points, 1; S. Muff (Linwood), 49.7 points, 2; H. Nunes (Phillipstown), 4 4.77 points, 3. 440 Y DS INTERNATIONAL INVITATION RACE (New Zealand record, G. Bridson. amin 13 2-ssec; Canterbury record, D. P. Lindsay, smin 21see)—Jean Taris (France) 1, C. Cliff (East Christchurch) 2, D. H. Symes (Elmwood) 3. Time—4min 5S l-ssec. The race was a procession after the first length. In the second length Taris drew away, swimming like a machine, and he covered 220yds in 2min 21 l-ssec. At this stage Symes and Cliff were together nearly 30yds behind and R. Rattray (Christchurch-United) was five yards further back. Taris drew further ahead over each length and at the end of twelve lengths had lapped Rattray. Taris went on to win from Cliff by 55yds. Cliff and Symes staged a great fight to the rope, Cliff beating the New Zealand champion on the touch, his time being smin 39 2-ssec. Rattray was some yards further back. A feature of the Frenchman’s swimming was his even times for each length. With the dive he recorded ISsec for the first length and thereafter varied between 21sec and 24sec. At one stage six lengths on end were covered in 24sec INTERMEDIATE BOYS’ 220YDS INVITATION SCRATCH RACE—R. Rimmer (East Christchurch) 1, N. Stokes (East Christchurch) 2. K. Cutting (East Christchurch) 3. Won by a foot. Time—2min 40 3-ssec.. WOMEN’S 33 1-3YDS INTER-CLUR HANDICAP—First beat: Miss A. Morris (Elmwood), lsec, 1; Miss B. Graham (Christchurch Ladies), 1 see, 2. Time—--19 3~ssec. Second heat: Miss Q. Tomlinson (Christchurch-United), 2£sec. a swim over. Time—2l 3-ssec. Third beat: Misses P. Cairns (Phillipstown), 3seo, and C. Buchanan (Linwood), 6see, equal 3. Times—2o l-ssec and 23 l-ssec. Final: Miss Buchanan 1, Miss Cairns 2, Miss Morris 3. Time—23 3-ssec. 100 YDS MIXED INTER-CLUB BREASTSTROKE HANDICAP—First heat: H. Knott (Phillipstown), ssec, 1; •L Hardie (Ashburton), minus 1,2. Time—9lsec. Second heat: C. Roscoe (Somerfield), 7see, 1; G. Asher (Phillipstown), Ssec. 2. Time—B7 4-ssec. Third heat: G. Laurie (Christchurch-United ), 13sec, 1; TT. T. Schou (East Christchurch). 12sec. 2. Time—9o l-ssec. FinaL Schou 1, Laurie 2, Asher 3. Time MEN’S *66 2-3 YDS INTER-CLUB HANDICAP—First heat: C. M’Kenzie (Christehurch-United), 6sec. 1. Time—--39 3-ssec. Second heat: R. B. Neale (Elmwood), 7 Jsec. 1. Time—4o l-ssec. Third heat: J. Hatehwell (ChristchurchUnited). 6sec, 1. Time—39see. Fourth heat: P. E. Bridges (Timaru), 12sec, 1. Time—4 4 1-5 sec. Fifth heat: M. L. Candy (Elmwood), 10? sec, 1. Time—<»2 3-ssec. Sixth heat: A. Whitman (Lyttelton). 13sec, 1. Time 48 2-ssee. Final: Bridges 1, Candy 2. M’Kenzie 3. Time—4 3 l-ssec. 100YDS MEN’S TNTER-CLUB HANDICAP (64sec limit)—First heat: G. S. Cooper (Elmwood), Ssec. 1 : M. L. Butterick (East Christchurch). 7sec, 2. Time—64 3-ssec. L. Newell (Sydenham) finished first but was disqualified for starting before his time. Second heat: G. Low (Christchurch-United). 4Jsec. It L._Allen_ (Phillipstown). sJsec. 2. Time —59 3-3 see. Final: Cooper 1, Low 2, A Pen 3. Time—63 2-ssec. FLAG RACE—J. Donaldson (East Chr’stoburch) i. FOUR T.EveTHS SCRATCH INTERCLUB MEDLEY (one length each breaststroke, ba r-k stroke. sidestrok* and dog paddle)—Christchurch-United (G. Low. J. Bruce, N. S. Batchelor and A. T. Bolam) 1, East Christchurch 2. Welcome at Pioneer Club. The two French swimmers. MM. Jean Taris and Emile Poussard, were accord-

ed a sportsmen's welcome in the Pioneer Sports Club's rooms late yesterday afternoon before a large attendance. Mr C. H. Taylor was in the chair. The visitors were introduced by Mr Charles Bryant, who has been their manager on their New Zealand tour. Mr Al. E. Lyons, president of the Canterbury Swimming Centre, expressed the pleasure that Canterbury swimmers felt at. the presence of the French champions, especially as the South Island had few chances of securing appearances by men with international sporting reputations. On behalf of kindred sports Mr C. S. Thomas extended a welcome to the Frenchmen. He paid a tribute to their performances and also to the deeds of their compatriots in other branches of sport, and prophesised that their oountrv would be a force to be reckoned with at coming Olympic Games. In a brief speech Mr Bryant said that the renowned visitors were fine sportsmen and magnificent exponents of swimming. M. Taris delighted the gathering by reph ing to the welcome in French. He paid a tribute to Mr Bryant’s managership and expressed his liking of the Dominion. M. Poussard replied in English. “Outstay in New Zealand is very hard for me,” he declared smilingly. " The people like too much speaking.” He added that their stay had been very interesting. He said that they had seen some of the Dominion’s best swimmers. They were very good, but would be better with a better training system. M. I’oussard went on to pay a tribute to the standard of New Zealand Rugby, stating that he had seen the 1924 All Black > In action and hoped to see the next All Black side in France, as well as swimmers from the Dominion at the next Olympic Games. Hornby Club. The results of the races swum In the Hornby Baths on Sunday were: 50yds. Club Championship—W. Minards and F. O’Flynn (dead heat) 1. J. Garrett 3. Time—33sec. 100yds Championship—F. O’Flynn 1. IV. Minards 2. J. Garrett 3. Time —72sec. 23vds Club Championship—W. Minards 1, F. O’Flynn 2. J. Garrett 3. Time—l 4 l-ssec. Moore Rose Bowl. Women’s Dive—Miss M. Mackie 1. Miss H. O'Flynn 2, Miss J. Thompson 3. Exhibition and instruction was carried nut by several of the leading Christchurch swimmers, including Messrs H. Knott, J. Allen, R. Clark, G. Asher, F. Burrows and G. Marshall.