SWIMMING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 274, 18 November 1937, Page 4

SWIMMING

FOR AUCKLAND BACKSTROKE CHAMPION A LOSS TO WELLINGTON Peter Mathieson. New Zealand oackstroke swimming champion, is to be transferred to Auckland. Mathieson entered the police force some months ago and has been undergoing a period of training with over a hundred other cadets at Trentham. There was a strong possibility that he would be one of the 24 selected to be attached to the Wellington district. It is understood, however, that the lack of facilities for training in Wellington was a deciding factor in the transfer. As he comes from Otago, and it is a rule that at the commencement of their services to the department, constables must servo in a district other than their own, Mathieson was eligible for transfer to Christchurch, Wellington, or Auckland. Without doubt, Auckland is the centre in which Mathieson will get the best opportunity for training. At present, on last season’s performances alone, he is almost a certainty for the Empire Games team, states the Evening Post. This season, however. owing to being stationed at Trentham. he has had very little opportunity for training of any kind. The nearest swimming baths tp the camp (with the exception of a stretch of river water a mile or so away) are the Riddiford baths. During his stay at Trentham he was approached by several clubs regarding membership, but wisely refrained from signing up with any of them until his immediate future was determined. A Brilliant Record Mathieson really reached the international class by his performances in Australia early in 1936, when, following the annexation of the New South Wales 110 yards backstroke championship in 75sec., and a performance of 65sec. in a 100 yards handicap event, he won a 220 yards handicap race from scratch in 2min. 8 l-35sec. Thus he clipped three seconds off the record established by Ihe Japanese champion, Kiyokawa, in Australia. Unfortunately, as the time was put up in a handicap race, it could not be recognised as an Australian record. His rise to the top flight has been phenomenal. In 1934 he was well beaten in the 150 yards New Zealand backstroke title event by W. Whareaitu, of Rotorua, and G. Low, of Christchurch. After twelve months of steady training under the orders of his father, a baths custodian, ' he broke the Otago 400 metres and 200 metres records in January, 1935, and followed this up by reducing the Dominion 150 yards backstroke record to lmin. 45 4-ssec. This performance brought him an invitation by the New South Wales Amateur Swimming Association to accompany W. J. Jarvis, also of Otago, in a tour of Australia. Subsequent improvement brought him within 6sec. of G. Kojac’s world record for the 200 metres of 2min. 32 l-ssec. Since then, Mathieson has put up New Zealand records for all backstroke distances. He is also an excellent freestyie swimmer, and a successful amateur wrestler. An active member of the St. Clair Surf Club, he is considered the club’s second best beltman (the best being W. Jarvis) and has represented the club at the New Zealand surf championships. If available, he stands an excellent chance of being selected as one of the New Zealand team of surf life-savers to tour Australia next February.