SWIMMING ACTIVITY

Evening Star, Issue 23696, 2 October 1940, Page 9

SWIMMING ACTIVITY

ATTACKS ON RECORDS NOTES AND COMMENTS [By Hooker.] N.Z. Record Equalled. Ngaire Lane (Kiwi Club) lias made pioeress as marked in back stroke swimming* as at free style, and last week she made two attacks on the New Zealand junior girls’ record of 35 4-sscc established in 1939 by Miss Hetty Owens, of Auckland. Miss Lane’s first effort early last week resulted in her returning the fast time ot 36 4-ssec, and the fact that she was slow up to the turn suggested that another attempt might bo more fruitful, Ibis was wade last Saturday night, Miss Lane equalling the present New Zealand record. Back stroke has been a comparatively recent addition to the list of championship events for junior girls, but already the mark has been lowered sc\vra! tunes. When the late Nani Kira put up her record at Hamilton more than two years ago her time was 57 2-ssec. Miss Lane now holds the Otago 50yds and 100yds free style and 50yds back stroke junior girls’ records. Famous Dutch Swimmer In England. Among famous sportswomen who have sought refuge in England from Nazi tei ror and cruelty is Miss Willy Den Ouden, the Dutch swimmer who at one period of her brilliant career held no fewer than eight world records. Miss Den Ouden was fortunate enough to get away from her country when it was overrun by the Germans, and was overjoved when, a few days after her arrival in London, she discovered that her only brother, an officer in the Dutch army, had also reached the shores of Britain. Her hurried flight cut short the new career on which she was embarking—that of a film actress. From a record-breaking point of view, she had practically finished with swimming after beating the best in the world over eight distances —100yds, 100 metres, 200 metres, 220yds, 300yds, metres, 400 metres, and 500 metres. Willy Den Ouden, a fine type of sportswoman, still holds the 100 metres free style record of 64 3-ssec, set up in 1935. Dunedin Stalwart Honoured.

At its annual meeting last week the Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club elected Mr D. C. Bannatyne as president, and in doing so did honour to a man who has been associated with the sport in Otago since the early days of the centre. Mr Bannatyne was formerly associated with the old Otago Club, and for many years past he has been the Otago Centre’s educational officer, having a good deal to do with the success of the “ Learn to Swim ” campaigns that have been held in the country districts. He is also a member of the Water Polo Match Committee and an Otago water polo selector, and he has devoted a lot of time to furthering the interests of this game. For many years, too. he has been closely associated with the work of the Otago branch of the Royal Life Saving Society, of which at one time he was secretary. Breast Stroke Swimmer’s Effort.

Runner-up in the New Zealand junior girls’ 50yds breast stroke championship last season, Betty Stewart will be a formidable challenger for the title this year, and, she should have little difficulty when the season has advanced a little further in lowering the Dominion record of 40sce, established by her sister. Mary, in 1938. Both girls are trained by "Mr Alex. Greig, the veteran Kiwi coach, and the younger girl has made considerable progress in the last few months. Her style left nothing to be desired when she made an attack on her sister's record last week, and she went close to success, her time being 40 2-sscc, great swimming at this time of the year. She inherits her swimming ability, for her mother, Mrs W. Stewart (formerly Miss Mary Motion) was the first woman to represent Otago at a New Zealand championship meeting. Nowadays Mrs Stewart is doing good work in teaching many of the young , members of the Kiwi Club something about the art. Splashes.

The compilation by Hr J. Shocdy, hon. secretary-treasurer of the Australian Swimming Union, of a list of winners of national titles decided since the formation of the union in 1909, discloses the extraordinary fact that Andrew (“ Boy ”) Charlton, who hat been the most successful Australian in Olympic events, has never won an A.S.U. title. Charlton’s efforts in Australia were confined to National Games and New South Wales championships. Just before entering senior ranks Noel Chambers, young Christchurch-United and Sproydon clubs champion, has been waging a campaign against Canterbury intermediate boys’ swimming records, and be reduced the 220yds mark by 5 l-ssec to 2min 30 3-ssec and the 440yds time by 6scc to smin 32 4-ssoc. The previous records wore held by H. Goldsmith and C. Cliff respectively. Chambers is also a most promising performer in the surf, and last season lie distinguished himself by winning the New Zealand junior surf beitman’s championship. Kiroshi Nakama (Hawaii), who visited Australia in 1939, and bis brother, Bunmei, with Adolph Kiefer and Otto Jartez (Chicago), were the dominant figures at the raeent American national championship meeting, which was most notable also because of the absence of such stars as Peter Pick and Balpb Flanagan. Nakama won the 440yds free style in 4min 50 l-ssec, and the 880yds in lOmin 8 7-10aec; while Bunmei won the mile in 21min 13 2-sseo. Jaretz won the 110yds free style in 58 2-ssec and the 220yds in 2min 13 1-lOsec. Kiefer won the 110yds back stroke in 65 5-lCsec, and also took two medley titles. J. Skinner won the 220yds breast stroke in 2min 48 4-ssec.