GREAT SWIMMING FEAT.

Shannon News, 4 January 1924, Page 3

GREAT SWIMMING FEAT.

MISS SHAND SWIMS 220 YARDS

WITHIN ONE SECOND OF WORLD'S BEST.

A great swimming feat, was perI formed by Miss Gwitha Shand, the 1 quarter-mile New Zealand* champion and record-holder, at the T-epid.Baths,""' Auckland, last Tuesday evening. Miss Shand competed in a 220yds. invita-_ tion scratch race at the Waitemafca Swimming Club's Carnival. Her only opponent was Miss Piri Page, intermediate champion of New Zealand and a member of the Pariieli Club. From the start Miss Shand took ,the lead, .with Miss Page slightly behind. After. 100 yards had been covered the Chiistchurch girl was about 3 yards ahead, and thereafter gradually drew away from Miss Page. Swimming a (powerful trudgepncrawl, Miss Shand ultimately won by 20yds, from her younger opponent, wlio,. altfhough outclassed, kept gamely on. The time was 2rn. 4?s. This is a New Zealand record for the distance, and is also better than Miss Fanny Durack's Australian record of 2m. 515,, established many years ago. The world's record for 220yds. of 2m: 46 2-ss. is held by Miss Gertrude Ederlei, America, so Miss J Shand's time is only 3-ssec. slower than the world's best. She .would certainly be a serious contender for honours at the' fortihcominl Olympic dames next year. .

Steps are being taken by the Waiteinata Club to have the time recognised as a national record. Four timekeepers timed the- race.