SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 401, 9 January 1909, Page 12

SWIMMING.

(Bv Srtiifln.)

CARNIVAL DATES. January 23.—Swifts Carnival. February 6>—Y.M.O.A- Carnival. Pubruacy 20.—'Wellington Carnival. March 6.- —Tiiorndon Carnival. Starch Ift.—:CtjfAto Carnival . ■.<,

P. A. BeauropairO secured an easy ,win in tile 440 yards championship 6f Victoria. His time, Siuin. 55 3-ssee., isnot a record) but it is 4sec. better than when lie won the world s slilt-wAter championship in England last Augilst. '. < . - , . - The Viotorian Amateur Swiinming Association has seieoted F. A, Beatir6paire, J. A. Guhn, T. W. Mason, and Trevor Richardson to represent the State in the Australasian ohampionshipa. in Sydney. ' '\ -

■ The ,220 yds. ehnmplonship was a aisaiv pointing race (says "Natator" of the .Canterbury Times,' writing after tho Lyttelton regatta); inasmuch as only three competitors faced the starter. The struggle, .however,; was fairly interesting.- Bull crossed' Dodgo and he crossed Rich, but these little incidents probably- did not affect... the result. Dodge is to be congratulated on his success, but I hope to See nifn doing a considerably better: performance .before the end of the season. Rich will probably improve a good' deal also, and Bull is far from his''best at present. ■ He has been able to do little swimming'since the season opened, but'lie is showing'attractive work, ana-in good condi-tion-he will, 1 think) be a'much better man than he was last year.

Commenting on the mile handicap at the Lyttelton, regatta, tlib "Canterbury Times", Jays:' — " The, front-markers, Jarman and Cohgrevo, made no mistake about setting' the pace, and both swim well, while R. E.' Dodge performed valiantly in the second division, but before half, .a mile had been; covered, Manure's chances were easily apparent. With half tho journey gene, he was lying 'ia an excellent position, and there Was . then no question about his ability to beat Gemmell. Manhire was swimminga beautifully easy stroke, getting the full benefit of both arms, and lew of the competitors were', doing that-. There was no hesitation about his work, and no checking of progress as ho made his'.strokes. Bis style was. indeed very similar to that of F. W. Springfield,, tho Queensland . and former.. Australasian champion. Manhire never varied all through; and bis finish was. a fine'. ;'j6t "syork. i: Ho icarries almost as ■ much; weight. as; .Gemmell, but tho latter made much harder work of tho race, .and could not' live with' the brilliant ' young Addingtort' representative. Dodge, .'who, put .up an- per-. ifaManee'.in getting third- place,. swam an .Wkward'stroke. but, he'' has plenty.' of time.' to imtrbVe. 'Hill ran him .close, swimming attractively at times,' prid' he ..pfomisbs to. make a-eipable'journey swimmer,'-'Hioh did : remarkably well to finish fifth. Ho was pro-' bably not qfiite; at the of his 'form-, and ■he showed signs of weariness in the last charter of . a'mile; but'his time was credit-', able, and the fray ho tackled his great task left no one any, room to doubt, the stout" 'Bess of 'his' heart.'. . ' Reed, who finished not ' far behind him,' deserves a word of praise for seeing the journey out, and <■ Sanderson. was going ' steadily until. cramp .'bfjair lum ' three; 'Hundred yards from home. Jarman < also swam pluckily, though ho could not see the journey out. ' -■ \

DIVING. A series of articles by -Mr. Ribbands on diving, ; At f.preseht:;ru4ning in : - theoSydney; "Referee;" may be.of intorest to swimmers, more, especially, those Who give diving parr ticular attention.' .. .'..

' ('-Th6re,&re!eight essential features of detail iri' every dive :r-(a) Attention ■ at starting; (b) ■the..takeoff and;run,; (c) straight/knees and poivited toes, (d),united legs, (o) straightened arms, (f) correeb'holding of hands, (The foregoing are valued at 1 point each,) (g) Good splash,'(h) goodstyle.'(These, two items are raiued at. 2 points each t6 Ui coyht'Uf-!.but'ipartiy successM.) . it"StaH'ln^'! , ;.¥h6tt. : rffie''fc'otottetj't'or is'called 1 upon 'by the ' 'he^'■ Bhiill; ' advanco according 'to tte' natui-e ;bf the dive,; thV rtirinihg -of' stoiiing'. position line':' Note^Dives 1 are supposed to be' exoiuted' from ''standard:-spring divihg boards; 13ft. long, 18in; '.wide,'2in. thickv. above, tho' wafer -.'low board, Sfti .Cini 1 , high' 'board 10ft;-'' The\boat3y'slipped'Mto positipn' 'ttt''6fl.''6ln.'* : ff6a' divihfe ,^en'ds;, -and, firtnlyfixed: at' starting ends.' Tho ; position lines ■'are 1 white bands "painted, at 'Ift. and -12ft. 'ffoin the diflng'en'dsj.'tb indicate''start' for ; standing,' and, running., dWes 'respectively.. ; . At word "ready" given" by, the, starter, the -Compotitor 'shall, cross the'iliqsitidn .linej- and. stand, in running ' dive, with heels ;to the. ,-whito line, and in standing dives anywhero convenient between the wliito lino and the diving eiid of ; the: board, his bodj- drawn up at attention. ; - "■ ' ■ -.

•The attention, position. shows', the diver's body erect—head up, chest out, legs straight, (>nd heels together. The shoulders "' must be set backi - While the arms, extended wards,' lie oloso to the chest;' tho forearm inclining to',the front , of. the . body,'-: so that the; straightened,; touching '■ lingers.; - and palms of tho hands shall rest on the front of the ■ thighs just above the' knees. ■■'

On commencing a'run the attention should change instantaneously into a .second posi■tioh,; .by.the right:.knee being smartly raised, resting'oil the toes. At -the same time the: extended. ;arms. are -lifted, into a position ■ parallel; to. each other and tho top .of the: raised thigh, the othor limbs remain-' ihg as they .were 'At .{After''. a' momentary pauso. the. bpdy,;f[Sj.S,lightly.'/inclined forward, throwing' its'; weight ;on'.'the' toes of the. right foot, from;,which a piish-off start is effected by tho launching forward of the left leg. ; . .

The Take Off and Run On.—After a brief pause at attention, not exceeding thirty seconds, the divo must be proceeded with. Running down the. board the diver must maintain liis .straightened afnis .at an- angle of 45. degrees to tho front of the perpendicular, thighs. Ilis body must bo erect with hollowed back.

■■. Un taking off from the board ; the feet must be close to-each other and'quit at the same instant with: the, exception of - the jump dives 7 and 40, back-turn sombrsaults, dives 38-, 89, 55, 66, 67, in the diving grade; also the running; plain,, and swallow.; dives from the firm 15 feet and 30. feet high platforms. In the ease of these osceptionß tlio take-off is niado from one foot only.

Straight Knees and Pointed .Toes.*—After leaving; the board the legs, inclusive of tho whole - distance between foot and hip, must, form an unbroken line. Tho toes must be pointed,

United-.ljegs.—The legs after leaving tho board f until their disappearance below the .water, must .- not .be parted,- ! nor-. although united* may they overlap,

• Straightened Arms.-—The arms must bo extended full length without elbow bend, and when moving from one position to another, as ill the swallow' and buck dives, shall be swung rouiidly and gracefully from the shoulders. Both arms must move together in unison,

Correct Holding of Hands.-—Tho fingers on either hand must be touching laterally and extended in lino with the forearm. Tho fore-lingers of each hand miist touch each other dewii their length, Avhile the thumbs are tucked. under; the paims of both hands must lio in tho saino plane, noit-hoi' fronting each other her turned aivay. .

Good Entry-Minimus Splash.—Splash is occasioned .by the • divfer's ( • jbody, hands, or legs throwing ovor or falling flat ; therefbro the line of direction taken by the body should not exceed tho perpendicular. The body's water-striking anglo depends oil its velocity and distance out from tho board. Good Style.—Good style in diving must combine doniideiica, boldness, and dash, with suppleness and grace. The body should bo sprung from tho board powerfully upwards 911 a outwards j tho only exception. being- in the' standing, fall, and drop dives. ..when iiariitl cImHRO of body tioli ii rc» (julied ill- oseculmj; a characteristic dive such

as the back-screw, tho first and every succeeding position should be clearly defined by a pause, followed by a smart, quick movemerit into tho next position. "Arms Leading" signlflos that the bands must bo the first part of'the body to touch the water. ; The arms must'bo extended" laterally past the sides of the headj hands with fore-fingers touching. ■ . "Arms to Side" signifies that the straight' ened arrfiß are to be pressed close down the respective sides of the body, as in the starting attention position.The' arms should '.ba inclined, to the front of ,tho body; and.not rest straight down where, the trdusers eefttn ..would run, although for convenience of' expression "arms to sides" is used to dendta tho position. "Feet Leading" intends that tho, toes shall be the first.part of the.body tci touch the water. In all feet leading dives tho arms 'must be to sides of the body as tho water : is entered.