SWIMMING

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2359, 15 January 1915, Page 8

SWIMMING

KAHANAMOKU'S GREAT HUNDRED Dulte Paoa Kabanamoku, champion amateur swimmer of the world, on Saturday, at the Domain Baths, smashed his own 100 yds. record with astonishing ease, and incidentally, when ho started to swim with real earnest, made all our Australian cracks —Barry, Longworth, Page, and Stedman —look poor by comparison, albeit Barry, in pushing Cunha hard for second place, undoubtedly broke his own Australian record of 56 3-osec., says the 'Sydney "Telegraph" of January 4. .Between.7ooo and 8000 people wedged and jambed themselves into the baths. Daring spirits perched high on tho diving tower and _ adjoining roofs, while even a tiny strip of beach that showed as the tide receded was claimed as a vantage point. Such was the sight that greeted Kahanamoku as he stopped into a boat along with George Cunha, and was rowed to tho starting board. This was the moment the 'crowd had been waiting for,'and it let itself go with a spontaneity that brought an expansive smile to the big brown man's features. For Kahanamoku is big—6ft. lin., 13st. 81b. As he' adjusted his tight rubber cap he chatted gaily to some around him he recognised, the attempts of the megaphone steward to get his name correct tickling him immensely. Butoiitho word "Ready," Kahanamoku poised, tho embodiment of rubbery fitness. "Go!" and the half-dozen contenders for tho title hit the water, Stedman and Longworth having a little the better -of the start. The Australians tore ahead, churning the water furiously witharms and feet. But the crowd gazed in astonishment and fascination, not at this display of flurry, but at the cool, measured strokes of the Hawaiian and his companion, whose style differs but little from his. "Why, he hasn't started to swim,", was heard on every hand. And yet he was not more than half a yard behind Barry, who was putting forth every ounce of effort he could command in an endeavour to get a break on the field. But at 55 yards Kahanamoku was in . front. A shake of his head, and, while . his, feet did not splash, the water literally. boiled behind him, and his arms 1 reaching forward as though sliding along a greased way, gave the impression that he was gliding through the water. As he neared the finishing pontoon tho glide merged into a rush. Cunha had pursued similar tactics, but_ Duke's 1 sprint had caught him napping, and he was more than 6 feet behind, with Barry still swimming witb dash/; but ; half a body's length away pushing tho American hard. I "Time, S3 4-ssec.," said the announcer —a world's record. The thing seemed preposterous, so easily had been the accomplishment of it. But one remember-, ed that the late Barney Kiernan rarely appeared to be in a hurry, though he dealt harshly with all sorts of records. Only one could not help wondering how few seconds Kahanamoku ■ could swim ' JOO yards in if lie swam "all out" all ' the way. Kalianamoku's time beat his own world's record of 54 3-ssec., the Engt lis'h record of 55 2-ssec., and the Australian record of 56 3-ssec. Curiha was i- timed at 55 l-ssec., and though Barry's !. was not clocked it must have been well within 56sec'. —a big improvement on his own record. Longworth, Stedman, and ; Page 'finished almost simultaneously, . and tliev were all doubtless within sSse.o. 7 For all that it had been won so easily it was a great spectacle—six faster swimmers probably never travelled over a course in competition. c Z Last evening tho Thorndon 'Amateur o Swimming Club decided tho heats of 0 the'loo yards handicap for a trophy de- £ noted by Jtr. H. Bcauchamp. The reg suits aro as follow: —First heat: C. Des- '• raond, 7sec., 1; A. W. Smith, losec., 2: 15 8. Wheeler, scr., 3. Also started: [' Webster, King, C. Desmond, and Burns. ;t Won easily. Time, lmin. 17 2-ssec. Second heat: W. O'Alear, 7seo., 1; F. " Roberts! scr., 2; J. Shearer, 3scc., 3. ,n Won by three yards. A close finish bc)f tween second and third. Also started: s ' W. Lomas, H. Harris, and C. Shorly, Tho final will be decided to-night. Oi Saturday afternoon the club is holding Js an "at home," when a 50yds. ladies ie raco will bo decided. Afternoon tc; is will bo 'provided, lit