New-York tribune., 1921-08-28
Leading Girl
Swimmers Bid
For L. S. Title
Stars of Country in National
Championship 3-Mile Race
Off Brighton Tomorrow
By Jack Masters

The long distance swimming cham
pionship of America will be decided
tomorrow afternoon, when a field of
the foremost women swimmers in the
country take the water at Point
Breeze, L. l. with the Brighton Beach
Baths as their goal. Naturally, the
three-mile struggle for the title is the
paramount issue for these daring
medal chasers. but for those who have
observed swimming in its different
phases there is another angle to the
race.
During the past few years there has
been marked change in the type of
competitors in water races for women.
The mermaids of old who triumphed in
the heyday of Elaine Golding, Clara
Bouton, Lillian Howard and others
famous for their aquatic achievements,
were physically constructed along lines
that gave for sturdiness and staying
power.
Despite the fact tnas nearly every
mark from fifty yards up has been re-
vised under the record breaking per-
formances of the present-day girl
swimmers, it has been noticeable that
the brawny, type Of mermaid gradually
has given away to a class of per-
formers who strike the observer as
bordering upon frailty.
Strokes Greatly Developed
One theory is that scientific develop
ment Of strokes has eliminated wasted
motion and increased the speed, so
that the swimmer would probably be
better fitted for an endurance test.
This would seem to be the answer, but
the question cannot be definitely set
tied until a clash of the two distinctive
types of swimming tells the story
Among the starters in to-morrow's
race Will be Miss Charlotte Boyle, a
national champion and record holder;
Miss Ethelda Bleibtrey, who has the
distinction Of holding more champion
ships and worlds records than any
athlete in any branch of sport: Miss
Helen Wainwright Miss Margaret
Woodbridge, the Western champion;
Miss Eleanor Uhl, Of Philadelphia;
MISS Eileen Riggin. Miss Florence
Eriscoe. Miss Margaret Edcle and Miss
Katherine Brown.
Miss Brown is probably one of the
most unusual figures in the realm of
sport and gives every indication of be-
coming one Of the greatest swimmers
III Ine country, lOr she is Dut eleven
years old, and at this tender age has
flashed speed and form which have
made many more experienced COM
pctltors look to their laurels.
American Swimming Classic
The classic, which is being promoted
under the joint auspices Of the New
York Womens Swimming Association
and the Brighton Beach Baths, is
scheduled to start at s o'clock in the
afternoon. The race is really the blue
ribbon event Of American swimming,
and after lapse Of five years it is re-
turning to its original course.
Competitive swimming came into
vogue with the first holding of the
Point Breeze-to Brighton swim in 1910
Clara Bouton won this inaugural, and
u Elaine Golding Mrs. Lillian Howard
was the winner in 1918, while in 1914
Martha Hadstadt was over the line
first No race was held in 1914, and
the following two years the winner
was Miss Claire Galligan. In 1916
the sport came under A. A. y. super
vision and the long distance race went
West where it has been held until it
was revived here this year in the form
of national championship.
Four track and three field events are
on the card at Ulmer Park this after
noon, where the annual members
games Of the Swedish-Amcrica A. c..
will be held. In addition there Will be
a soccer match between the Danish
Thor Club and the Athena eleven.
The New York A. G. announces that
It's boxing tournament, to be held at
the Fifty-ninth Street clubhouse, will
BE- open TO amateurs in six classes,
10, 1l8, 128, 1873 145 and 1853 pounds
The local association Of the A. A. u.
will stage boxing show at the Fox
HillH Hospital on Wednesday evening,
Scptember T. The affair Is solely for
the benefit II wounded soldiers con-
ralcHcinY there.
Bvrnc to Enter Columbia
Joe Byrne, last years star sprinter 1T
Sf.f Il wf 4 -