SWIMMING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 30, 5 February 1935, Page 4

SWIMMING

TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND FRENCH AND CHINESE SWIMMERS A I’I’HA IL\ XCE AT GONVILLE Wanganui swimming enthusiasts will be interested lo learn that, the two French swimmers, Jean laris and Emile Poussard, and the Chinese breaststroke champion, Kwok Chun Hung, are expected to make an appearance al the Gonville baths on the night of Thursday, March 7. Advice io this effect was received yesterday by the Gonville Swimming Club, whose application went lorward last week to the council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming x\ssoc>ation. The trio, who have met with considerable success in the Australian championships at Melbourne, are due at Auckland on March 4 to commence an eleven days’ tour. At a recent meeting of the council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association the following suggested itineiary was drawn up ior the consideration of the Australian Council and the swimmers themselves.— Monday, March 4. —Arrive at Auckland; appear at carnival in the evening. Tuesday, March 5. —Proceed lo South. Auckland and swim either at Hamilton or Cambridge. Wednesday, March 6-—Proceed tu New Plymouth, arriving about 3 p.m., and swim in evening. Thursday, March 7. —Proce id Wangnuui and swim in evening. Fr.:'!:iy, March 8. —To Palmersi ».i North and swim. •Saturday, March 9. —To Wellington; leave in evening for Christchurch. Sunday, March 10, and Monday, March .11. —At Christchurch; swim on Monday evening. Tuesday, March 12—Leave for Wei lington. Wednesday, JMi"eh»l3.—Swim a Riuiiford baths, Lower Hutt. Th irsday, March .14. —Leave for Sydney. The itinerary has been arranged, stated a recent circular, with a view to giving as many centres as possible an opportunity of seeing the swimmers, and was subject to confirmation after subm.’ss.oi'. to the swimmers.

As the trip will be very hurried, probably exhibition swims only will be given, although it might be possible to secure some appearances in handicaps. That will be a matter for arrangement laivr with the manager or the tour after con'.’rring with the swimmers. Visitors’ Fine Records Jean Taris is the champion swimmer of Franco and Europe. Much has been written about the manner in which Taris was inspired to make swiinu.ing championships his objective alter he saw A:.drew Charlton, he iav.ous Australian, win at the Paris Olympiad in 1924; about his peculiar style of arm a;; * .eg action; about the taei that at one time he held world's .'rJs .or M’U MO, 500, 1000 and .'5Ol meties, and about the numerous championships he holds at the present time; but tne highlight of his career was a marvellous effort in the final of the 400 metres at the Olympic Gaines at Los Ang( les in .1932, when he was beaten by ji ches by the An.< rican champiu.', 11 a re).' c e Crabbe. iSim u sustaining an injury lo his hei-.d in a lull from a high tower board some two vears ago, EiiUle i’oussar ‘ had confined his attention to springboard diving, at which he is adept. Poussard s iiparloire is vx'.'-n.ive and his execution is exccptio.ui’l) good. There is a division of opinion its to whether Poussard is as accoiupiirhed a diver as Frank Kurtz, the brilliant young American diver who visited Ausrrftlia and New Zealand two years ago. In some respects the irenchmaii gives a better and more entertaining display than did the yonng American, but because he is of rather a stocky, powerful build he does not always give the same impression of graceful entry into the water as did the slimly-built Kurtz.

Kwok Chun Hang, the slender 21 ycai-old Chinese, has remarkable ability for one who is practically selftaught, and the fact that his tunes are better than those of the best exponents of breaststroke in Australia removes all doubts as to his speed through the

As an example of the desire of the young Chinese to improve his style, it is worthy of mention that on being introduced to Les Ureu, former Australian breaststroke champion, Kwok, as he has asked his i'r>eirds to call him, immediately sought from Uren advice as to the elimination of such faults in his style as a ” bobbing” motion between the strokes, a shortened pull through. I ron coached Kwok and an improvement was noticeable. Australian swimming enthusiasts were immensely pleased with the three visitors, as the two young Frenchmen and the Chinese boy were a most unaffected trio of champions. They were as keen to learn from others as to assist if they thought their advice could be of use, and in exhibitions they proved that in their various departments they wore right at the top.