SWIMMING NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 288, 6 December 1933, Page 4

SWIMMING NOTES

By

"FREESTYLE."

The impending visit of thc Australian lady champions is commencing to make its importance felt, and the iact that thc Gonville Swimming Club scarnival will be held two weeks fiom tonight draws pointed attention to the necessity for having everything in readiness.

Tho programme drawn up by thc Gonville Club for the occasion of the visit of Misses Claire Dennis and Frances Bull is a comprehensive one, and no doubt thc importance of the event will lead to thc entry list being swelled to abnormal proportions.

Nine events were decided at the Gonville baths last Thursday night, on the occasion of the weekly club night, and thc number of contestants made it. appear like a carnival, if similar support is accorded throughout the rc s t of tho season thc indications arc that there will be a record season.

A feature of thc Gonville club nights is thc fact that the older and more experienced members arc to be found giving up half an hour, and sometimes more, to tuition of the younger members. Practice in stalling, turning and finishing should enable some members to improve their style considerably. Constant training is half the battle, but there are many little points which enable tho careful swimmer to achieve greater results with no more exertion.

Perhaps it may be owing to tho fact that little more than a month’s serious training has been done by the majority of swimmers, no distance event is included in thc programme for thc Gonville Club’s carnival. As there is no event over further than 66 2-3 yards one must come to the conclusion that few swimmers care to race over 100 yards at this stage of thc season. Something novel will be introduced by thc Central Club to-night at their weekly club swim, for in thc diving competitions points will be awarded contestants for degree of difficulty. This appears to be a move in the right direction. Should L. Smith not be on hand during thc Australian ladies’ visit this month, B. Haworth appears to be the logical contender for Wanganui to pit against Aliss Claire Dennis. He is the best breaststroke swimmer at present in commission in Wanganui, and the times recorded by him differ very little from those registered by Aliss Dennis. A race between these two should certainly provide a thrilling finish, with the odds slightly in favour of the Australian visitor. A good programme has been arranged by the Central Club for their club night this evening. J. Cardc will no doubt be swimming from scratch in the 50yds. and if he can win his prospects for the distirct title certainly appear good. K. Welsh is swimming well these days and it is pleasing to note that his turns are improving. Among thc younger central swimmers showing promise is AL Watt, a little girl from Wavorley, who finished first last week but was disqualified for breaking. Gonville swimmers arc fortunate in having already finalised their cup competitions, save that a swim-off is arranged for to-night in the case of the Junior Cup competition. Thc committee has decided to concentrate on coaching swimmers. H. Gowan is swimming well at Gonville and he should go well later in the season. J. Campbell and F. Donaldson have ben training solidly and should put in some good times in their next essays. T. Tunbridge should try to improve his arm stroke and thereby increase his speed. B. Williams and J. Wilshcr are showing good form and give indications that they have been training consistently. Aliss E. AlcDonald swam a great race last week over a short distance but she should do some training in order to increase her staying power. Aliss Alorcwcthcr is swimming well but considerable improvement could be made in her turns, a point over which she could get some assistance or coaching from the committee. A little coaching would enable Aliss J. Glover to play a more prominent part in club racing. Aliss Al. Brown still lacks a finishing sprint. If she could cultivate this it would make a great difference to her swimming. Tho interchange of club visits proposed by the Gonville Club is likely to bo established in tho near future. No cups, shields, or other trophies are to be competed for at these, inter-club nights, and this should bo nil to thc good in promoting friendly rivalry, thus tending to discourage that “pothunting” which is so undesirable a feature of any sport. A definite date should at once bo allocated for the district championships. As in thc past, these are apparently being loft to a last-minute decision and thus swimmers have nothing definite on which to base their training. An announcement would bo appreciated. While on the subject of fixing dates it is not inopportune to remind the centre that fixing the dates of tho primary schools’ championships not later than thc last wook in February would enable, intending competitors to got in some useful training during tho holidays. In addition, a definite date would enable headmasters and others to arrange their programmes early in thc school year. Taranaki swimmers will, remarks a New Plymouth writer, regret to learn of the pending departure from the province of the New Plymouth Club captain, G. Beaven. Beaven, who is on the staff of thc Railways Department, has not been long in Taranaki, but he has been one of the most enthusiastic followers of the sport here. Last year there was scarcely a swimming carnival which he did not attend ami he competed with conspicuous success. Beaven is Now Plymouth Club champion and last year won tho Flannagan Cup open water swim. In addition he is one of thc most useful and promising members of the New Plymouth Club’s polo team and hero his absence will bo felt. Beaven leaves this week for Taumarunui, where he is to be stationed. He intends to return to New Plymouth to compete in next year’s Flannagan Cup race.

Now that the centre is functioning so smoothly it might not bo inopportune to suggest that something be done with Saturday afternoons during tho season. There is so much latent talent available on line Saturday afternoons 'that it is surprising that more use has not been made of it. Perhaps only the suggestion is needed. In connection with tne "l.eum to Swim” Week suggested at tho annual meeting of delegates, the following regarding a South Island scheme may be of interest;—Tho first week of ‘‘Lea.ru. to Swim Fortnight” will soon be nearly over, and it is pleasing to record, that thc attendances have improved as tho weather got warmer during the week. Good work has been done uy the instructors, and it is to be hoped that thc holding of a carnival in the middle of tho campaign will further stimulate into.est m the effort and result iu a good number or learners coming forward loi' the secund week of iustruction. Club swimmers are showing a spirit of self-sacrifice in devoting themselves to this educational campaign, and tho excellent work that has been done shows that the experience gained in thc clubs in coaching has not been wasted. A feature of tho effort has been the keen* ness displayed by many of those attending the baths to learn to dive, and tho centre was fortunate in securing the services of the New Zealand chain* pion, R. C. Calder, as a coach. Otago has always been to the fore in diving, and from the results of Calder’s recent efforts more good divers should be brought out. It is not suggested by tho centre or thc clubs that learners can hope to become very proficient in the short space of a fortnight, but it is hoped that the majority of them will at least have mastered the rudiments and be encouraged to carry on with their swimming after the campaign ends.

Most swimming enthusiasts and supporters will agree that tho Wanganui Centre did right in supporting the suggestion of tho Taihapc Club with regard to costumes. It is a winder that the Now Zealand z Council itself has not yet seen fit to repeal thc antiquated rule which deals with costumes of swimmers, especially rs practically all costumes these days are made to ensure greater freedom of the limbs without offending public taste. The Wanganui East Club had a most successful club night last Thursday, the races providing some excellent finishes. Thc diving events proved most popular, as many as forty members entering for them. 11. AlcKenna put up a good performance in winning thc men’s diving, while R. Gordon also showed up well. Stan Burton and Hutchens went well in thc 25yds breaststroke last Thursday night, and as both boys show promise they should concentrate on this action. Thc youngest member of tho chib, Nola Hawke, has a good over arm style and should do well in the junior class. Tho club is doing a great deal to encourage tho younger members, and already some promising talent is making itself evident. Wanganui swimmers will remember thc visit paid to Raetihi over a year ago on thc occasion of the intermediate district championships there. Tho Raetihi Club, it is understood, is anxious that Wanganui swimmers pay a visit to their pool this season, a date in January being suggested. Visiting swimmers are assured of being billeted at Raetihi, and this should ensure there being a large crowd for tho January carnival. A further budget of questions and informative answers, as taken from the Brunze Medallion standard of thc Royal Life-saving Society’s examination, may prove of interest to life-saving club members:— Question 14: When rescuing a tired swimmer, why should you instiuct him to keep his arms straight? Why have you been taught to swim round with your subject instead of turning him round in an upright position? Answer: Tne object of instructing the swimmer to keep his arms straight is to prevent the rescuer from swimming over the subject, to release the weight from his shoulders and to ensure that the legs ot the swimmer are not impeded. By swimming round with the subject instead of turning him, the rescuer learns to guide his subject, a necessary accomplishment if hu has to be steered in any direction. Many swimmers find Uie guiding ditlicult when using this method, because of the unequal power exerted by legs, and/or arms. Question 15: At what level should the break from the wrist grip be made, and why? Why should your arms be straight throughout? What would you do if the grip was over the back of your wrists, thumbs on the inside? Answer: The bieak from the wrist grip must be made at hip level, as it is at this point that thc maximum force can be exerted. Thc object of keeping thc arms straight is to enable the release to be dune effectively, thereby pulling thc subject doser in the endeavour to submerge his face, thus lessening the possibility of a second grip. If the arms arc not kept straight, the tendency will be to endeavour to effect this release on or above thc surface of tho water. When gripped over the back of thc wrists, the action should be reversed by raising thc arms upwards and outwards, and thereby breaking the grip. Question 16: When releasing yourself in thc second method, what part is taken by (a) your right hand; (b) your left hand; (c) your legs? Why should tho push be towards the bottom, of the water? Answer: (a) The right hand is brought up outside thc arm of the subject, the palm of the hand is placed under his chin and his nostrils pinched between the second and third finger, (b) Tho left hand is placed in tho small of the subject’s back with tho object of pulling him towards and under thc rescuer. (c) At the moment of making thc release in the water, tho legs are sharply brought together in order to raise tho rescuer above tho subject, thus giving power to push down with thc right hand, and pull closer with the left. Thc push is made towards thc bottom of the water in order to submerge the. face of thc subject, causing him to swallow water and choke, with the result that ho will release his grip. The rescuer should keep himself on top, and so maintain ( mastery of the situation.