New Points System For Inter-club Swimming

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29067, 2 December 1959, Page 20

New Points System For Inter-club Swimming

JN an endeavour to stimulate more interest and friendly rivalry into inter-club swimming carnivals in Christchurch, the Canterbury Swimming Centre has decided to introduce a handicap points system. The scheme was suggested by the president of the Wharenui Amateur Swimming Club and chairman of the New Zealand association’s coaching committee (Mr D. W. Cain). The handicaps have been based on eight carnivals held last season, and will operate in all events except the relays and dives. The number of points which a swimmer earns for his club is dependent upon the number of entries. If 50 or more swimmers enter for one event, the winner will receive 11 points, the second swim-

mer 10, and so down to the eleventh fastest, who will receive one point. In events with 40-49 entries, the points start at 9, 25-39 at 7, 15-24 at 5, and 6-14 at 2. These points are awarded to the competitors who record the fastest times in the whole event, irrespective of who wins the individual heats. In an attempt to stop the large number of scratchings which always seem to occur at inter-club carnivals, each club will be penalised to the extent of two points for any swimmer who scratches. It is hoped that this will encourage a swimmer not to let his club down and lose it points.

The idea of the scheme came about as the result of a discussion by Mr Cain with Don Talbot, coach of the world recordbreakers. John and lisa Konrads.