SWIMMING SIDELIGHTS

Chronicle (Levin), 17 March 1949, Page 7

SWIMMING SIDELIGHTS

"Freestvle")

Levin C!ub Did Well At P.N. Carnival

(Bv

We'dnesday, February 9, saw the Palmerston ' North Club's carnival run off at the Municipal Baths. The Levin club was represented by two intermediates and two seniors, and as a team it was the ,most successful to date at any club carniva. attehded this season. Each member secured a place, the best effort being by Janet McClune who, as an intermediate, swam in the open 220 yards freestyle' handicap. Swimming a very niceiy judgedrace from the limit, Miss McCliine •touched the end for the last lap just ahead of the scratch men, and! put in a very good sprint to finish' a touch anead 0 £ P. Hindson j (Pahiatua) and K. Lines (Levin).! She was also second in her heat of 1 tne intermediate girls' 33 1-3 yards 1 freestyle off the scratch mark. She' did not swim in the final. I Miss Pam Frank.in was first in her heat of the intermediate and junior 66 2-3 yards breaststroke, i but was unfortunately disqualified i for breaking water. Miss' C. Turner: pulle'd off another nice effort by; winning\the women's 33 1-3 yards: freestyle. Miss C. Turner and K.j Lines were* second in the dual relay. This was a very stout effort as Miss Turner got out at one end after swimming the above race to run down to the other end and swim in the relay. Trevor Hudson is improving at every appearance. i He won his heat in the 50 yards freestyle open from well back to go , on to win tne. final. 1 A star turn was staged by the swimming girls of the Palmerston North club in the form of a water bailet, which was most spectacu-' lar. The 20 or so girls were alli dressed alike in black suits with; white caps. Their slow motion swimming, timing and figure work were the result of intensive training and fitness. Miss Margaret Tremaine, the producer, is to be congratulated on her work anu initiative.

Foxton's Carnival A large team represented Levin at the Foxton carnival last Saturday. Of the individual results, David Rathbone did the best. He has been making steady progress late1^ and this gained for him a first in his heat, first in the semifinals and second in the final.

The two principal races were the junior relays, for which two handjnome cups were donated by the | business people of Foxton. The 1 Levin junior girls won their race and the boys were second in their 'event. There were a number of j entries for each race and the excitement and enthusiasm shown was terrific. Tne boys' race comprised seven winners who were re- ! quired to swim 50 yards each, and -they were Darcy Rikihana, Warren iand Peter Travers, Richard Rout|ley, David Rathbone, Alec Heremaia and R. Chapman. Unfortunately this event was the first on the programme instead of near the end, which resulted in the Travers' brothers, who were engaged in a tennis tournament in Levin, arriving too late to participate after a great effort to be on time. John Routley substituted and Rikihana 'swam -twice. Under these circumstances the team did very well. Strangely enough the girls' team, which comprise'd Jime Miller, Diana Rathbone, Mary Todd, Janice Silson and Prue Robbie', were in a similar situation, for most of the girls were performing at the girl guides' garden party. Following- a message receiyed at about 3 p'.m., they arrived at 3.30 p.m. to take the water. June Miller was first away and established an early lead which each swimmer gradually increased till June, who took Prue Robbie's place, clinched matters with a fine finish. Woodville Carnival A large n'umbcr of local swimmers have entered for the Woodville carnival and as this will be the last carnival for the season, indications are for a successful show, A bus will leave the stand at 11.30 a.m. Those making the trip are advised to have an early lunch and take along a few sand-

wiches for the return journey. The expected. time of arrival back in Levin will be between 7 and 7.30 p.m. 1 The local club championships ' will be hel'd on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. or if the weather is uhsuitable, Thursday. Anyone wishing to •join the club is asjked to contact any member of the' committee or the club secretary immediately as the registered list of members is now being compiled for the -New Zealand Council. Two New Titles For Levin The second portion of the Manawatu swimming championships was held at Dannevirke on Tues'day night, a team of five swimmers from the Levin club making the journey. The team was successful in return - ing with two Manawatu championship awards to their credit. Miss Janet McClune won the intermediate gir's' 220 yards freeSty.e comfortably and Richard Routley, the junior boys' 220 yards freestyle. Miss McClune was not seriously bothered at any s'tage of the journey and finished with V

plenty of reserve. Her time of 3.32 : an'd 2/5 secs. was a long way outside her time of a week ago when j she clock-ed 3.19 and 3/5 secs. at Palmerston North. Nevertheless she swam a well judged race. Richard- Routley did very well

and put on a good show. Although Iweak on his turns, he maintained | good speed and judgment. He 'finished very strongly with a nice i sprint and was not in the least dis- ; turbed. | As with most sports teams, there is always the bit of bad luck which creeps up either on a team or in1 dividual and Diana Rathbone was no exception. She made what appeared to be an excellent start j but was pufied back for a fresh J start-. This was a bad enough pen- ! alty but on the second attempt ; which was a]so good, she mistook I the rope, which is used for false ! starts and in this case was a little low, as being lowered again and stopped. By the- time she again b.ecame' mobile her opponent was over a length ahead. Nevertheless, she put up a great effort and was only beaten for first place by about three feet for the junior girls' 50 yards freestyle title. She has made very good progress this season, graduating from a medium swimmer into championship class with still a few years ahead in the same grade. Hints To Remember We have now deait with breathing and arm action which brings us to the next stage — leg action. The movement of the leg is from the hip. Thjs is where the rnore common fault is found, the bending of the leg at the knee. The leg should be kept straight but not stiff . The toes should be in line with the leg and turned slightly inward. To make the leg beat drop the leg downwards the required distance using no more energy than is actually required. On the! down ward beat flick the ankle thus | giving a more or less propsllor like. action to the foot. As the dbwnward beat is being made with one leg bring the other up to the surface with an equal amount of force and at the same speed. When kicking the leg should not break 'Water.'- The human bo'dy is wonder"fully made. The very action of iifting the leg smartly, brings into play a set of muscles which .were rested when the down ward kick was being made. Never use more energy than is necessary but let the action. upwards aiid downwards > be decided.