In the Water.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 27 January 1923, Page 14

In the Water.

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS

HANDICAPPING SYSTEM.

FIXTURES. January 27 to 2nd Eebruarjr-New Zealand National Championships (limaru). February 3—Ashburton A.S.C. Carnival (A«hbnrton). - February 10—Wellington A.S.C. Carnival (Te Aro). February 17—Carterton ■ A.S.C. Carnival (Carterton).

(By " Hbadeb.")

The national championships, which commenced at Timaru this afternoon, will be continued on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings next. On th« first and second mentioned days there will be six championships decided, and four on the final day. The senior events on Monday are the "220 yards freestyle and 150 yards back-stroke; the former race should be one of the best of the meeting. The ultimate winner will take some picking, and there should not be much difference between the trio, Batchelor, Enwright, aud Murrell, at the finish. Cunnold won (the event last year, after a very close struggle with Batcholor, but this yeVr 'he will not be a starter. Enwright .had a' good lead at the 175 yards in ■that race, and looked sure to win, but had made the pace too willing, and was beaten into, third place. Now, however, he has specialised more over the distance, and is sure to be a hard proposition for the others, and should just about secure the honours. Murrell won his heat last year;- in which' he beat Batchelor, but the final was swum in much faster time. He finished close up fourth. He likes this distance, and must be given a good chance. The back-stroke championship will only have a small entry, and the, placing will be the same as last year—Atkinson, Batchelor, Deem. In the intermediate class the distances are 880 yards (boys) and 75 yards \girls). C. Claridge should have no difficulty in winning the former Bvent, and Miss Piri Page will retain 1 her title in the girls' race. The junior boys and girls will race over 75 yards and 50 yards, breast-stroke, respectively, and if Cameron, of Canterbury, is as proficient in this style as the freestyle, he will win, but Wanganui are reported.as having a good lad in Boyd. Bridson, the local representative, has not done much of this style; still he will be handy at the finish. In the girls' race a close contest should '.result between Miss Breward, Canterbury, and Miss Breen, our. local nominee, as both are said to have broken standard recently. The selector has formed a high opinion of Miss, Breeh,. and is sending her to Timaru really .to gain experience for future contests, but at the same time considers her chances very bright in this race^r-and he should know.

On the Wednesday evening come the senior 880 yards free-style, 220 yards breaststroke, men, and 440 yards, ladies. The half-mile should have seen Cunnold and. Batchelor fighting their duels over again, but the. latter should retain his title in Cnnnold's absence. Cunnold is the record-holder for the_ distance, and is a former winner, and while he was beaten into second^place last year in time that was lOsec outside his record, it was mpi-e than likely he would have reversed positions this time. ' MurreU was third last year, and_ should gain a place again,but who can say what Enwright may. not do? He causes,surprises when least expected, and this may be the occasion for one., of them.. Atkinson might also* start in, this race, and if be does it will be an interesting go aJT the way. The breaststroke event, on form, will again go to Atkinson, who registered a ■very smart performance in Christchurch recently in time that was very close to his New Zealand record of 3min, 7see. A. Claridge is shaping in really good style, and will ba close up, and so will Grooks, of Hawkes Bay, who won this event two seasons ago, Another good breaststroker in Boltpn, Wanganui, will be in the field; and is said to be going remarkably well, in which case there, will be no loitering on the way. Thelatter is< well-known to swimmers of this city, Competed here for two seasons, during which he figured prominently in all breaststroke and diving events. The -entrants for the ladies' championship event will.probably be the same as last year, and' unless Mis! Hoeft makes a speedy return to form, Miss Shand will have an easy, win and retain her'title. ■There is not likely to be any- alteration in the positions occupied in last season's event—Miss Shand, Miss .Hoeft,. Miss V, Walrorid.' For the intermediate girls, the distance is 100 yards, and Mies Piri Page should not experience much difficulty in holding on to her title, ' with the. Misses Mather and E. Walrond in the places. The junior girls' 100 yards championship is held by Miss M. Farquhar, of Auckland, and as the entrants appear to" be the aamq as last year, with one or two additional new contestants, ■ she may *win Miss Fernandez, Auckland, wSs second and Miss MJler (Otago) third, and of the two, the' latter young iady, if, she is not out of this class, should prove most dangerous. In the boys' 440 yards, Bllmgham {of Hawkes Bay), who gained second place to M'Tigue last year, looks to possess a good chance of securing championship honours, although Canterbury supporters ■ consider Cameron to be a stayer as well" as a sprinter. But the first-named should win, and perhaps his most serious opponent will b«. Bridson, who stays" well over the distance., The first stage of the 'diving championship will be taken on this night, and will comprise the four compulsory dives, which are: low board, hunch dive, running, and half-screw, forward, standing, high board, header backward, and half-borer forward, running.

On the last day's programme will be swum the 440 yards senior and ICO yards intermediate championship. The former event is probably the hardest race of all to win, and will probably go to Batchelor, who was second to Cunuold la6fc year, but, as has been stated above, Enwright, Murrell, and Atkinson are all liable to bob up unexpectedly ; but if. any of them .are to w4n they will have to.display better form ovor this' distance than heretofore. It should be a great race. With Fairgray and Batchelor now in the senior grade, the intermediate 100 yards should fall to C. -Claridge, who swam third to both of them lust year, although it Will be no easy race for him. There are'other smart

lads engaged in- this race, notably, M'Tigne, of Canterbury, and Dowsett, of Wanganui, both of'whom are registering gopd times, especially. the former; but the local representative is swimming really fine, aud will go very close to lowering the record for the distance. The diving championship will be completed by taking the post and voluntary dives, and if Hicks has his day on he will not lose his title, but Walker (Otago) showed much promise last year, and will be dangerous. Canterbury will have a repretentative this year, K. Cameron, and he is reputed to be a very neat performer, and Con Wilson is a diver of class. Some spectacular diving should be witnessed. Two unofficial championships on this day's programme are the 500 yard* flying squadron (teams of five) and the 50 yards invitation scratch race. In th© former event Canterbury should secure first honours, bnt as to whether they will put a team oat or not will depend upon the water-polo competition, and the samemay apply to Wellington. All the sprinters will contest the 5Q dash, and it will be an exciting race, with Wheeley, Sweeuey, Edwards, Atkinson, and Murrell fighting out the finishes. In all probability the system of handicapping at present in vogue in New Zealand will come up for dfscussion at the annual conference. There is no doubt that some revision is'necessary, Vrat.it is a little difficult to advance one particular system in preference to the other. After a thorough round-table talk there should be some plan evolved which will put the handicapping on a uniform basis, and then the standard of swimming most show an improvement. Under ihe' present scheme, practically no headway is being made, and the result of tue attitude of the council will be awaited with more than passing interest. There is a likelihood that the Wellington, C]ub will not proceed with their intention of holding a carnival on 10th February, owing, it is stated, to the possibility of a clashing of dates wr>n an important athletic gathering. While the writer is not in favour of two such emateur bodies holding big events on the same data, he is strongly of the opinion that the Wellington Club should continue (on with their arrangements and hold the carnival as originally intended. It is an unfortunate position that the two bodies should sd clash, but naving bespoke this date some two months ago, they would be perfectly justified in carrying on with their programme. The very excellent list of events tlwy had drawn up, including two provincial championships, seems too good to let drop, and there is no doubt in "Header's" mind* that if the carnival is proceeded with, it would be largely patronised both by the Bwimmeis, ana public alike.

Woreer Bay was dwrfdedly unfortunate in the way of weaflier, on Monday last, but, despite the adverse conditions, a- ver,y good programme of events was got off. The- life-saving' event wae a very inetructive and -well-executed contest, and was much appreciated by the public. There were very few big entries in the inta'club races, tout the rain, no doubt, kept many intending competitors away. lUringiWas keen,.and there were some very good, finishes, In the 50 yarda the final was a -good go, but Mur". rell from,scratch, but fie was a. 'bit lucky cap too much, and, oquld not catch the placed) mon. He was timed to do 26 2-ssec in his heft. Hill, who was third in this race, won the 100 yards with, a good",.bit to spare, and should be heard of again. He is a member of the G.P.O. Club. The 220 yarda was won by Muirell from scratch, buth c was a bit lucky in that .Mollier, who was in front of him at the finish, did not swim between the flags, and so had to be disqualified. It. was unfortunate - for- Mollier, but »tho judges had no' option, and had to award the race jto Murrell. Other swimmers who shaped well : were G-rimstone, Turner, Biddoll, Fletcher, and Blakeney, all of whom were place-getters in their respective races. ' '