SWIMMING

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 101, 23 January 1936, Page 14

SWIMMING

Hutt Carnival Success TEAM FOR HAMILTON General Notes and Comments (Br Trudge.) Fixtures. January 25 —Peck Shield harbour race, Thorudon breastwork (Dock Wharf course). January 25—-Masterton club annual carnival. January 25, 27 and 28—New Zealand intermediate and junior championships at Hamilton. January 29—Maranui and University combined club carnival, Thorudon Baths, Murphy Street. February B—Worser Bay club annual carnival, To Aro Baths. February 15, 17. 18 and 19—New Zealand national (senior) championchips, at Dunedin. February IS —Featherston club carnival, Featherston. February 22 and 23—New Zealand surf life-saving championships, at Dunedin. February 29 —Wellington club annual carnival, Te Aro Baths. Hutt anti Successful Carnivals. The initial swimming carnival of the ■Wellington season conducted last week by the Hutt club was an unqualified success. The splendid manner in which it was conducted and the promptness with which events were got off speaks volumes for the manner in which officials attended to their respective duties. The public appreciation was shown in no uncertain manner. If one can judge by the attendance last Thursday, night carnivals would undoubtedly prove a success in Wellington, but unfortunately the city does not possess the same facilities as Huft for staging such carnivale, and until the Wellington City Council seep eye to eye with the local swimming centre and does its utmost to provide the essential facilities m the form of municipal tepid salt-water haths tlie centre, to make a success of its carnivals financially, could do no better than stage night carnivals at the Hutt.

Loss to Surf Life-saving. . All surf life-savers not only of Wellington but throughout the Dominion will learn with sincere regret of the retirement froni the secretaryship of the New Zealand Surf Life-Saving Association of Mr. Frank Chapman, who is shortly leaving for Sydney. Mr. Chapman is known in the four main centres of New Zealand

-where »urf life-having is in vogue. He has always been a popular figure at surf championships. Mr. Chapman’s loss to this vital beach pastime is going to be a severe one to New Zealand, but one consolation is that he will prove a great asset to New South Walcw. I join with all Wellington life-savers in wishing Mr. Chapman prosperity in business and an abundance of health while in Australia. Should be return tp Wellington in the future he will receive a true life-savers’ welcome home.

Fiiltilled Expectations. As was anticipated by tlie writer, S. Muff, Wellington club, fulfilled expectations in annexing the Wellington centre diving championship for men. Certainly he made one or two mistakes, but on the whole his performances off the board were of a high standard. He had 14 points to spare from R. Tiippen, Hutt, the ex-title holder. There is every reason to expect that, providing he continues to go on improving, Muff must hold a reasonably good chance of representing Wellington in the diving championship at the national meeting in Dunedin next month. He certainly is superior to anything we have in 'Wellington at the present time. Prior to coming to 'Wellington Muff resided in Christchurch, and last season was runner-up in the Canterbury men’s diving championship.

Unlucky Bell. After winning the Wellington boys’ 100yds. intermediate championship last Thursday night W. Bell, Lyall Bay club, was considered a certainty for inclusion in the Wellington team for Hamilton, but while his prospects against Pascoe and S. Jarvis were being discussed among officials at the Riddiford Baths, Lower Hutt, Bell, who had left for home shortly after his race in a sedan car driven by himself, had met with an accident on the Hutt Road and was being conveyed to hospital in the ambulance. He had a miraculous escape from serious injury, coming out of the fray with a skin puncture to one of his thighs and severe shock. Much as the selectors would have liked to have included Bell in the representative team, wise counsel prevailed when they decided that it would be asking too much to send him to Hamilton when still nervy, and accordingly they deleted his name from their selection. After trying hard and succeeding in working his way into the 'Wellington team bad luck dogged .Bell. Now the Lyall Bay surf, life-saving A team, holders of the New Zealand championship, of which Bell is the junior member, is concerned as to whether he will be available for the Dominion championships, at Dunedin, next month. He has been well whooled in his work and has replaced F. (Paddy) Ryan with the utmost satisfaction. Prior tri Bell's accident the team was working with great unison and confidence.

Miss Gotlieb Promising. The inclusion , of Miss V. Gotlieb, Hataitai club, as one of the two intermediates in the Wellington team for Hamil-

ton, is fully justified. Although she will face strong opposition at Hamilton she should, nevertheless, make her presence felt if one is to judge her on her tine performances at last week's carnival when she equalled Miss Kathleen Miller’s Wellington 100 yards record. She gives every prospect of developing into a free-style swimmer of no mean ability and a credit to Wellington. All will wish Miss Gotlieb the best of luck at Hamilton.

Wellington Backstroke Record. Although 9 2-ssec. outside the New Zealand time for the 100 yards backstroke. Miss A. Morris, late of Christchurch and now of Victoria University College club, established a record for Wellington when she left the distance behind in 87 l-ssec. Prior to her successful attempt at last week’s carnival there was no recognised time for the distance in Wellington, Miss Morris’s attempt was performed in fresh water and it would be interesting to see what time she would establish over the same distance in salt water.

Peck Sliield Harbour Race. The annual harbour race for the Peck Shield will be held on Saturday afternoon on the .same course as last year, from the dock wharf to a point along the Thorndon breastwork and back. The race is timed to start at 2.30 p.m. O’Neill’s Hamilton Task. Dan O’Neill put up a great fight in the 100 yards Wellington boys’ intermediate championship last week, going under to Bell in one of the closest finishes of the carnival. Both O’Neill and Bell were regarded as certainties for the trip to Hamilton. However, the accident to Bell has prevented him from inclusion. With only O’Neill to represent Wellington in the boys’ intermediate grade against such ■ outstanding lads as Pascoe, of Auckland, and Syd. Jarvis, of Otago, the capital city’s chance of a boys’ intermediate title does'not look at all bright. Where O’Neill might surprise will be in the distance event. He is swimming well at present, but has not reached the same standard as the northerner and the South Islander. Still, one wishes O’Neill the best of luck at Hamilton.

Mr. Coira and Mr. Cliapman. Some early reminiscences of life saving in Wellington and happy associations with Mr. Frank Chapman, hon. secretary of the New Zealand Surf Life Saving Council and Maranui club, who is about to relinquish both offices on account of being transferred to Sydney, were given by Mr. P. Coira, president of the lifesaving association and one of the most popular swimming and life-saving officials in Wellington. Baek in the early stages of life saving in Wellington Mr. Coira became associated with Mr. Chapman in establishing the pastime in the Wellington province. “I feel quite sure that Mr. Chapman will always have his heart and soul in the sport he has devoted so much time to, and on his return to the Dominion in due course he will have gained much to help the voluntary work of life saving on our beaches. In fact I feel that the time has arrived when Mr. Chapman and myself

should make room for young blood, but so long as the young fry fail to step forward I must, despite the absence of my friend and associate in the sjiort, carry on in the interests of probably the most outstanding and essential sport in the Dominion. I, along with Mr. Chapman, have been told in anything but polite terms that a change on the association would be to the advantage of the sport locally, but despite the grievance that has prevailed Mr. Chapman and myself still retain the confidence of our clubs. Really it is a remarkable coincidence when you look into it.” ■Whatever the failings may be none will doubt the sincerity and desire of Mr. Chapman to place, at al] times, the surf life-saving movement on the footing it deserves. "As president of the New Zealand Surf Association I can testify to the valuable work that Mr. Chapman has performed in the establishment and carrying into effect of the surf association, and I feel sure,” said Mr. Coira, "that Mr. Chapman could not be other than delighted to realise the great progress that has been made since the inception of the association —progress that Mr. Chapman has contributed to in no small measure.”

During his visit to Australia, said Mr. Coira, Mr. Chapman has been asked by the council to study the methods of the Australian association, and it was certain that the knowledge thus gairipd would be of value to the movement' generally in this Dominion.