Swimmer’s Remarkable Feat

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 42, 19 February 1937, Page 2

Swimmer’s Remarkable Feat

FIVE TITLES; FIVE RECORDS. (Special to "Times.") HASTINGS, Fob. 18. JWJieoi ha established a fresh H.B. record for the 440yds. at the Maddison Baths, Hastings, last evening Dick Watkins, of tlie Alakora Club, proved himself to be the outstanding swimmer of -tho province. He has achieved the remarkable performance of securing all live provincial championship titles and als.o the record times for tho five distances. The titles for the 100 yards, 220 yards, 880 yards and mile came his way at the championships earlier this week and in addition he added to his collection of records the 100 yards, which be covered jn. 57 4-4Ssecs. Ho already hold tho record times for the furlong, halfmile and mile, leaving only the 440 yards outstanding. Last night, in a solo swim, he set out to deprive S. Boadman of this record, which was 6et up in Napier two years ago at 4mins. 39 2-ssecs. Watkins swam very steadily throughout the journey and clipped off 7 1-5 seconds, two of the watches clocking Crains. 32 l-Csecs,

His times for the various distances were as follow:—50 yards, 28 4-5; 100 yards, 62 1-5 ; 150 yards, 1.38 4-5; 200 yards, 2.17 3-5; 220 yards, 2.34; 250 yards, 2.58 1-5; 300 yards, 3.39 3-5; 350 yards, 4.20 4-5 ; 400 yards, 5.3; 440 yards 5.32 1-5.

Watkins’ achievement of securing the five titles and the five record* ha* not been equalled since the War. It is believed that in the old days Felix Seymour accounted for all tho titles and record* at ono stage of hi* career, but there are no official records kept of those days. In recent years swimming has made remarkable strides, competition is much keener and times are very considerably reduced over all distances. Watkins may well claim, under the circumstances, to be the outstanding swimmer of all time as far a* Hawke’* Bay i» concerned