SWIMMING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19783, 5 March 1927, Page 4

SWIMMING

PROGRESS IN WANGANUI EXCELLENT SCHOOL SPORTS NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “Crawl”). There has been a real boom in swimming in Wanganui during the season just closing and the Wanganui Centre can look forward to a first-class seasor next year. The Centre has set out to increase the popularity of swimming in Wanganui and it has certainly succeeded in its aim up to the present. During the winter months the Centre proposes conducting social engagements which should swell the funds consider ably and should give the Centro enougl finance to carry through next seasoi without any undue worry. Where Does Lindsay Stand? It is interesting to note that at the last National swimming championships of New Zealand and Ausralia, that, in the majority of the races the New Zealand times were considered the faster. It has been contended that Lindsay is second only to Boy Charlton and this is borne out by the fact that Lindsay’s races were won in times much under the previous records, and that Lindsay had no pace maker. Surely now the time is ripe for an interchange of champions. Technical College Sports. On Wednesday afternoon the Technical College held its annual swimming carnival and some very fine performances were recorded. The spectacular side of the meeting was provided by novelty events and the flying squadron race for teams of 20 men aside. Tilley, the winner of the senior championship, recorded five exceedingly consistant performances. He opened his score by winning the 220yds. from Dovi and Gorman in 3 min. 15 2-ssec. The time was not by any means fast, but Tilley swam really well. His next place was in the 440yds. championship when he swam second to Gorman. The time again was slow. Tilley was third in the 100yds, second in the 50yds, and third in the 50yds handicap. Fine All-round Sport. Thakabau put up a good performance in the 100yds. championship which he won from a fellow countryman in Dovi. Thakabau is one of the finest all-round products of a Wanganui secondary school of recent years. His attainments on the cricket field are too well known to require repitition in this column. Thakabau is a brilliant footballer and is the boxing champion of the Technical College. The Fijian boy, who is a grandson of the late King Thakabau, one of the most famous of the Fijian Kings of his day, was sent to New Zealand under .a special arrangement. Providedyhe comes up to the required scholastic. standard at the end of the year, there will be every opportunity of Thakabau making a big name for himself in sport in Dunedin next year. Chisholm Shows Promise. The junior championship was won very easily by Chisholm. Chisholm won all the speed championship events and won the 25 yds. open handicap and was second in the 50yds. open handicap and the 100yds. open handicap to boot. He is a very promising swimmer, and with schooling on the right lines, he should prove a decided .acquisition to Wanganui swimming ranks. A Smart Performance. Dowsctt created interest by appear l ing for the Old Boys team in the relay race, and swimming in the 50yds. Old Boys’ handicap. In the handicap ho was beaten by Reid, whom hp conceded 2 seconds, in 26 4-ssec. Dowsett did not really extend himself but the winner put up a decidedly smart performance and takes a good deal of beating over a short course. Local Swimmers in Demand. Miss Natalie Stratton has been invited to Feilding, to swim at a big carnival being held to-night. The Feilding chib also asked that a distance swimmer attend and W. Ryland will also go to the, carnival. Th c Pargeter brothers of Wanganui will compete in handicap events. Misses Stoekley and Miller will be among the competitors in the ladies’ events and thc performances of Miss Stratton against this pair will be worth while seeing. West Coast Championships. It is rather unfortunate that the arrangements for the West Coast Championship swimming meeting clashed with the visit of the Duke of York. The meeting was to have been commenced last evening and concluded to-night, but it was found next to impossible to get thc Wellington and Manawatu swimmers up. The meeting, consequently was postponed indefinitely and there appears to be no chance of it taking place this year. The Wellington Centre was particularly keen on thc meeting but had thc championships been held the centre might possibly have found a stumbling block in the funds. Another concern would have been the selection of good swimmers who could spare the necessary time to make the trip. Championship Times. The Australian ladies’ swimming championships have been held, but only one performance is exception:-' This is thc Australian and New Zealand record time of 3m. 27 2-ssec., returned by Miss Dorothy Thompson, for 220yds. breastroke. Thc Queensland girl’s time is remarkably good, .and 3 4-ssec. faster than her previous best. There is no official world’s record for the distance, but the record for 200 metres (218.6yd5) is 3.20 1-5. The following table shows the times registered at the

Australian and New Zealand ladies ’ eh ampion shins: — Australia. New Zealand. Time. Time. lOOvds 1.10 1.7 3-5 220yds 257 1-2 2.52 3-5 440yds 6‘.23 5-8 6.11 2-5 220yds. b ’stroke .. 3.27 2-5 3.39 3-5 New World’s Spirit Record. One of the most remarkable performances of his entire career was registered by Weissmuller at Chicago on January 7, when he dashed 100yds in 49 4-ssec. in th e Tri-Colour Club’s 60ft. pool. Weissmuller held the previous world’s record, 51 l-ssec. Despite his brilliant marks of the last three or four years, swimming coaches have declared that Weismuller nor any other swimmer in the near future would ever do the century under 50scc. . Only a few years ago 60sec. for the distance was regarded as noteworthy. Four watches caught, the I t A. C. star at thc new time, and three other watches got him at 49 3-ssee. He leaped to a fast start as R. E. .Davis fired his gun. He hit the water cleanly and ploughed away straight as an arrow. Weissmuller appeared in his best stroke as he negotiated the five lengths of thc tank. The crowd cheered him on the last two lengths, giving encouragement that aided in making the record. His coach, William Bachrach, was showered with congratulations. It was Weismuller’s first record of thc indoor season and his first important performance in more than six months.