SWIMMING IN NEW ZEALAND LAGS BEHIND

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 955, 24 April 1930, Page 7

SWIMMING IN NEW ZEALAND LAGS BEHIND

IN the following article, a special correspondent deals trenchantly with New Zealand’s inability to produce swimmers of world or near-world class, and advocates an overhaul of several existing features of competition in the Dominion. From time to time, we read glowing accounts of the advancement of swimming in New Zealand, of the natatarial artists who are in world, or nearworld class, and what our representatives would do if they only had the chance to show their prowess. Since the advent of the crawl stroke, swimming has made tremendous strides (perhaps strokes, we should say) in all parts of the world, but whether that can be applied to New Zealand may be left to readers of this article to say. Malcolm Champion was an exponent of the trudgeon (or double over-arm) stroke, and some of the times he recorded would be almost good enough to win a New Zealand title today. As far back as 1913, he won the blue riband of the Dominion swimming world, in 61 sec, and since that time this has only been bettered on one occasion. Of course, there was no competition from, and including 1916, to 1919, but the fact remains that, even with tho admittedly faster swimming stroke now in vogue, very few can “break 60” for the hundred. Another record held by Malcolm Champion was only beaten this season. He won the furlong title at Napier, in 1908, in 2m 30s, and this was the fastest that title had been won in until G. Bridson knocked 2-ssec off it at Greymoutli in January. A great victory for the crawl stroke! When Champion set this time there was no bath at Napier, and he was handicapped at the turns. However, the superintendent of the Auckland baths appears to have lived up to his name. Goodness knows what he would have done had the crawl (apart from the baby brand) been invented in his day. The crawl came into general use in New Zealand just prior to the war, but it was not until E. G. L. Patterson recorded 60sec dead to win the New Zealand title in 1920 that we began to sit up and take notice. Prior to this (on Christmas Day, 1919), Patterson won the Championship of Auckland, at Shelly Beach Bath, in the minute, but owing to the take-off, the time was not recognised. Patterson’s record stood until 1926, when N. Dowsett reduced it to 58 2-5 at Napier. W. Cameron was the latest to put up new figures, 55 4-ssec, at Wellington, in 1929. This latter figure stands as a New Zealand record at the present day. W. Cameron has departed to Australia, and we now have the spectacle of a middle-distance swimmer (G. Bridson) being the only one in the Dominion who is able to “break sixty” for the “hundred” any time he starts. Until J. P. Farrell managed 59 4-4 see the other night there was no record in the season just concluded of a swimmer, witl? the exception of Bridson, getting inside this figure. As mentioned above. Patterson equalled

Do Our Sprinters Lack Stamina? Too Many 50-Yard Events on Programmes N.Z. Championship Systejn Wants Overhauling—Fresh v. Salt Water Records Overseas Levy Should be Expended at Home.

1919, and no one has approached this sinco at Ponsobny. Only a few weeks ago Raper won the Ponsonby Club’s championship in 67sec, and probably very few have got inside that in the bath referred to. Bridson has never competed at Shelly eßeach, so there is no telling what he could do there. What is the cause of the lack of “hundred yards” men? The writer’s opinion is 9 that too much time is devoted to 50-yard flutters. In Auckland this season there is at least seventy swimmers who can do 50 yards in 30sec or under, and these are the ones'that are catered for by the clubs to the detriment of the sport generally. At a carnival a month or two ago, one swimmer, Thomas, started no fewer than six occasions In one night in 50-yards flutters. On each occasion he was well under 30sec. As a matter of fact, his fastest heat was 26 9-10, and his slowest 2S 1-5. Despite his ability over the “fifty,” Thomas has only done 62 4-5 for the hundred. The latter time is looked upon as remarkable for a secondary schoolboy. But is it, in view of his six 50-yard performances in one night? With the energy Thomas required to do six fifties, he ought to be able to break sixty for the hundred. Until clubs cater for middle-distance swimming we can hope for no improvemnt. We may expect, if things do on as they have been doing the past season, as far as Auckland is concerned, aynway, competition for one-width swimmers! In the relay races we find our champions doin one length (33 1-3 yards), so why not go the whole hog and have handicaps for one width of the Tepid Bath? It would be just as feasible as the length, and would have the advantage of larger fields! At any carnival where handicaps of numerous swimmers fading out when over 50 yards are held one can see they reach the 50-yard _ mark. These same swimmers are able to tear round a football paddock for about a couple of hours on a wet winter afternoon, and still have plenty of energy left at the finish, even after carrying heavy boots around with them. But watch them at the Tepid Bath, with practically nothing on, trying to do two lengths—they almost expire! Swimming generally in the Dominion is far below world standard and one cannot hope to see any improvement as long as we have three divisions. During the war it was felt that it would be a good thing to keep interest alive by instituting junior and intermediate championships. These were all right when the open championships were suspended. They have served their purpose and ought to be abolished. We have had the spectacle each year since 1920 of bands of children being carted all over the Dominion to take part in junior and intermediate championships, which have out-lasted their usefulness' and are a source of worry to officials and parents. It is true that junior swimmers are granted free travelling facilities on the railway and are generally billeted where - ever the championships are held. But in the years gone by they have merely seemed to prolong the coninr u ty» r»i r»r» s;l-» i rw IinnAPPSCM-ih-

and have been the means of youngsters getting trips they were not entitled to, either as prospective champions or otherwise. Next season the open championships are to be held in Wanganui and the junior and intermediate in Ashburton. What will be the result? The expenses of the Auckland Centre will be greatly increased and goodness only knows they have had a hard enough time this season. Trips to Dunedin, Wellington, Greymoutli and now Ashburton in successive 3-ears are a heavy drain on finances, and anyone in the know is aware that these trips are merely sight-seeing excursions. The New Zealand Council would be well advised to drop_ everything but the open championships and let swimmers of all ages compete, as in other countries, in these championships, if they are up to standard. To any student of swimming it must be obvious that the classifying of our swimmers into three divisions has resulted in a general mix-up. Take the case of Miss P. Robertson. Last season, when an intermediate, she was swimming at the top of her form, recorded 65 3-5 s for the 100yds, and won the Dominion title in that division ih 68 2-ss. There is no doubt that had Miss Robertson been allowed to compete in the open class she would have beaten Miss Stockley at Wellington. The latter won her title in 68s, it is true, but she was pushed all the way, while Miss Robertson had a very

easy win. Prior to competing at Wellington these ladies met on numerous occasions, and Miss Stockley was beaten more than once. What lias happened this season? Miss Robertson has gone back over six seconds in the 100yds, and is unable to do the fiftj* under 31s. One has only to study the records of women swimmers to realise that they are at their best between 16 and 18, as sprinters, anyway. Since Fanny Durack won the world's 100 metres championship at Stockholm, in 1912, not one champion has been over 18 years of age—the majority have been under 17. The American women’s team which won the championship two years ago averaged 16 years of age and only a week or two ago the cables announced that a Miss Maddison had reduced the world’s record for 220 yards to 2m 355, and her age was announced at 16. In Canada Miss Irene Pine, a 15-year-old, won the 440yds Canadian championship in 6m 26 2-ss. It is true that this time is about half a minute slower than the New Zealand record, but it is also true that Miss Pine is only a novice, and competed for the first time in August last. Readers might say, “What about Miss Stockley? She was well over 20 before she reached her best.” That is quite true, but it may be mentioned also that Miss Stockley’s 100yds re-

cord is 4 l-10s outside the world’s record, and had she competed when younger, the possibilities would, have been that her name might have figured on the record book. Women champions in all countries are generally well under 20 years of age, apd seem to be at their best between 16 and 18. By barring Miss Robertson from the open division last season her chance of winning a title appears to. have gone. Miss Miller, now only 20, has announced this as her last season as a competitive swimmer. She has not swum up to her best this season. And again we have had Miss J. Bell and Miss P. Page. These girls did their best swims while under 19 years of age. Miss M. Farquhar, who is the same age as Miss Miller, has had a successful season in Auckland, however, but she has not equalled her best times in competition. As an old Scottish proverb (?) has it “Facts are chiels that winna ding!” and it is time the New Zealand Swimming Council had this matter brought to its notice. It is obvious to everyone. Even in Australia we have Miss Jean Cocks breaking records at 14 years of ago, and competing in open championships. She is not 16 years of age yet, and recorded 65 l-ssec for the 100 yards a fortnight ago. The rule which barred a junior or intermediate swimmer from competing in the open division only came into force a few years ago. E. V. Cunnold competed, when an intermediate, in the open division, and won the half-mile championship in each class, at Dunedin, in 1921. Had this absurd restriction been in force in 1920, Miss Welrond would never have left these s-hores for the Olympic Games at Antwerp, as she was only 152 years old. This swimmer was, according to present New Zealand classification, only a junior, and was only an intermediate when she retired. Could anything be more absurd! This year we have seen a New Zealand Junior Girls’ Championship, 100 yards, won in 80 l-ssec. Miss Walrond was doing 71sec at the same age. In the boys’ division we have had the spectacle of J. Magee winning the intermediate 100 yards breaststroke two years in succession without onposition. Only one intermediate breaststroke swimmer in New Zealand! One wonders if it would not be far better to leave breaststroke swimming to the frogs—the first exponents of the art! And. mark you. to compete at Greymouth in one championship required practically a fortnight’s holiday. Is it worth it? The swimmer must be the only one to think so. The same remarks apply to the women’s breaststroke. There is no one in the same class as Miss Pidgeon, who decided, in view of lack of competition. to retire from the sport, and did so for 12 months. She was persuaded to stage a come-back after the Auckland Championships this year, and in view of her performance, practically without training, she was chosen to go to Greymouth, and had no difficulty in regaining her title, recording 3.41 2-5. As showing the quality of women breaststroke swimmers in New Zealand, the title was won last year, when

Miss Pidgeon did not compete, in 4.22. Thfc runner-up to Miss Pidgeon this year was Miss Jean Thomson, of Auckland, but this swimmer can hardly be classed as a champion. The standard time for the women’s 220 yards breaststroke is 3.51, and one very much doubts whether Miss Thomson can do , this. , _ It may also be suggested that unless swimmers edn equal to standard, they should stay at home. In this connection also, one thinks, that unless at least six competitors nominate no championship should be held. This would/ cut out the backstroke and breaststroke events, for there is not half a dozen swimmers (of both silt, all told, in Mew Zealand, m these classes, up to championship standaiu. and as far as world class goes, are not out of Primer I. . Up to this season, records m -\e» Zealand were divided into two divis-ions—fresh-water and salt-water. Who ; was responsible for this classification i we do not know, but in future' we are to have onlv one class of records, irrespective of whether they are made in fresh water, salt water, or_ (as has been said in Auckland), soup. >ew Zealand is the only civilised country that kept two classes of records, though in England there are saltwater championships. These cliampionships are merely held in seaside towns which have no fresh-water baths, and if a record was made it went down as the record. It has been contended that fresh water is much , slower than salt water, but there appears to be no justification for this belief, for, out of the 49 records on the world’s record book, no less than 41 have been made in fresh water. Soace will not permit the writer to deaf more fully with the subject, but in liis opinion it would be far better to get the idea of overseas tours out of our minds until we can genuinely produce world champions, and the writer can see no hope of this. In Xew Zealand, a world champion would have to be born. In America and on the Continent (apart from Britain and Ireland) they are made. Once a swimmer shows promise in America, he is adopted by a wealthy club, as, for instance, Johnny Weismuller. He was taken under the wing of the Illinois Athletic Club, Chicago, with the j result that the only work he did was j swimming. Followers of the sport j had to pa 3” 25 dollars to see him j swim, and he travelled from one end j of the States to the other continuously for years—and still remained an amateur! New Zealand cannot hope to produce world-beaters under conditions referred to above. For one thing, the sport is mostly confined ! to working lads, and for another, there is no wealthy club to adopt prospective champions. At the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles it must be kept in mind that the Americans will leave no stone unturned to win every championship, and that the times recorded at Amsterdam are almost sure to be broken in each case. Unless we in Xew Zealand can produce swimmers to better the times recorded in 1928, and do it nearly every time they start, it would be useless sending a team across the Pacific. One would advise the Xew Zealand Council to expend the overseas levy in the Lorn inion. The sport could do with it, particularly if Auckland is any criterion of the position in other parts of the country.