HANDICAPPING ABOLISHED

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28249, 10 April 1957, Page 7

HANDICAPPING ABOLISHED

Move For Swimming Club Carnivals

Scratch swimming in all but 440 yards events will replace handicap racing at club carnivals next season as the result of a discussion at the quarterly meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association last evening. The change was supported by the Beckenham and Wharenui clubs. It was argued that the system would stop dragging-out carnivals because it would eliminate poorer competitors at club instead of carnival level. A proposal for splitting carnvals among two or three areas was discussed by delegates. They were faced with foregoing the social side of swimmer-official contacts at one carnival meeting or limiting carnivals to two hours, said Mr D. Cain. Mr N. Robertson (Spreydon) said that there were too many events to get into an afternoon's carnival programme. and suggested that swimming should be held on Saturday mornings, too. Grade Swimming

It was suggested that grade swimming be reintroduced. Grades would give every swimmer a chance, it was said, but Mr J. H. Broomfield (Elmwood) said he believed that competition was needed and that grading levels varying from club to club would give even less competition.

“It would be more intensive competition,” said Mr D. Baruch (Beckenham).

The secretary (Miss Doreen Brown) said that grade swimming was given up about 1945 for two reasons—swimmers and officials disliked being separated, and the centre kept changing the programme.

Miss Brown said that the management committee could make and vary the order of events for carnival. races. She believed that programmes could be improved by a strong organiser willing to push the events along. The 50 and 100 yards events took up most of the carnival time, and they could be speeded up by divisions into different events when entries were heavy. Mr Baruch moved that handicapping at carnivals should be abolished and with the 440 yards amendment, this was carried by the meeting.

Selectors’ Work Discussing selectors’ responsibilities for getting team members to peak level, Mr Cain said that selectors had too much to do keeping the team at peak. “Surely that is the job- of club coaches, not selectors,” said Mr McFadden.

“I feel the selectors should guide those without coaches, especially,” said Mr Cain. He disagreed with Miss Brown’s suggestion that an official coach could be appointed for he felt coaching and selection went hand-in-hand.

Mr McFadden said that the Spreydon club was working on a scheme to help better swimmers. The club would have definite ideas to submit A proposal to elect selectors at the first meeting of the management committee instead of at the annual meeting was referred to clubs.