In the Water

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 126, 24 November 1923, Page 19

In the Water

COMPETITIVE RACING

ADDS IMPETUS TO SWIMMING

MANY CARNIVALS FORECAST SUCCESSFUL SEASON.

FIXTURES,

Uecembor s—lnstitute Club's Carnival (Tepid Baths). December 16—Wellington and Olympia Club Combined Carnival. (Te Are Batlis.) December 26—Petone Club Carnival (Petone.) January 12—Olympia Club's Carnival (Te Aro Baths.) January 19—Two-mile Harbour Swim. January 22—Worser Bay 3. and L.S. Club Annual Carnival (Worser Bay.) January 26 to February I—Hew Zealand National Championships (Wanganui.) February 2—Wellington Centre and Wellington Club Combined Carnival, Norden Cup con- „ test (Te Aro Baths.) February io (approx.)-Olympia Club Carnival (Te Aro Baths.) February 23 (approx.)—Carterton and Greytown Clubs' Carnivals. March 8 (appro*.)— Wellington Club't Carnival (Te Aro Baths.) Evans Bay, Institute (Men's), Institute (Ladies) dates to bo arranged.

(By "HeADIB.")

It will be seen from the list of fixtures that competitive awimming is showing signs of increased activity on. the part of the clubs, and, as this list •will probably be added to, the present season should be the most successful since the war. During the past four years, although competitive swimming had made progress it was only very slight, and not as marked as it was hoped. The national championship's boosted things along somewhat, but the season was finished before any appreciable effect was noticeable. This, however, did not deter the band of enthusiasts who were working in the direction of-giving the game added impetus, and by a continuation of their efforts they are to a large extent responsible for the happy state of anticipation that is attaching itself to the coming season. There is no doubt that the chief reason for I the slow advancement made up to the present has been the small amount of competition, and in this respect swimming is no different to any other sport in that plenty of competition is the. basis of success: When the younger generation are casting around for a sport which they may take up seriously, it is only natural that he or she, will consider which branch of that sport is going to provide the most competition, and they cannot be blamed for forsaking v, sport — however much they may be adapted to it—if there is not sufficient scope for their energy and ability. It is feasible to suggest that many prospective swimmers have been lost to the game on this account. This being; the case, the increased number of carnivals (and the weekly races now beine conducted by the various clubs) will be doubly welcomed, and there will now be competition enough for all swimmers, sufficient indeed to secure a large number of new adherents to the sport. For very many years it has been the custom for the local centre to limit the number of yice-presidents to two and the gentlemen elected to those positions, the Hon. J. G. Coates and Mr. J. P. Maxwell,. are well known amongst swimmers for the interest they have taken xn matters natatorial. This year, after the unanimous re-election of the' above gentlemen, the matter of increasing the number of vice-presidente was discussed, and several delegates were of the opinion that the number should be increased. This course was decided upon, and Dr. Herbert was enthusiastically elected as a further vice-president. In proposing Dr. Herbert, Mr. p. Coira stated that it was indeed a pleasure for him to do Soi He spoke eulogistically of the services rendered to swimming by Dr Herbert, and of the great assistance he had been to the centre when they had deputatiomsed the City Council in reference to topid baths. His knowledge of the beneficial effects,of swimming was invaluable, and for these reasons Mr. Coira considered that in electing him to a vice-presi-dency it was little enough they could do in recognition of all he had done on behalf of swimming. The speaker also stated that in proposing Dr. Herbert", he did not dp so from a desire of .perhaps securing a donation to' the centra's funds, but solely because of the interest the doctor had shown in swimming matters generally. "Give me a vice-presi-dent who takes an interest in swimming, as .against twenty who will send a donation and show no interest," said Mr. Coira. That his remarks met with general approval was revealed in the unanimous election of Dr. Herbert. The centre is very fortunate in having for its president and vice-presidents Mr.T Ronayne, 1.5.0., the Hon. J. G. Coated Dr. Herbert, and.Mr. Maxwell, because these gentlemen; are undeniably of assistance to the centre by reason of the live interest they take in all its workings. s MISS HOEFT'S RETIREMENT. The announcement that Miss Pauline Hoeft has retired from active participation in swimming will be universally regretted throughout New Zealand, and the loss to the sport will be a severe, one. Ever since the 1920 season, Miss Hoeft has been rated as a hieh-class sprinter, and the times she haa registered during her competitive career are equal to the .best, and placed her on a high plane amongst the lady swimmers of the world. Her first notable achievement was when »she/beat Miss Violet Walrond, after the latter's return from the Olympic Games, and since then she. had steadily improved, so much so that the New Zealand ladies' record for the 100 yards now stands to her credit. The 1922 season saw Miss Hoeft swimming brilliantly, and it was easily her best year. Early in that season she covered the 100 yards in 68 seconds and the 75 yards in 48 seconds, times which were faster than the existing records. Then came the national championships, at Wellington, and the great sprinting ability she displayed during the four days' meeting is still fresh in the minds of the large number of spectators present. The easy manner in which she won the 100 yards championship in 67 4-5 seconds was an eye-opener, and her gallant struggle in the 440 yards in which she was beaten by Miss Shand, will also be well remembered. ' But it was in a 100 yards handicap., race on the last day that her wonderful sprinting powers were in evidence. In this race she covered the distance in 64 4-5 sec—a really great swim; and another equally fine performance was her covering of the 50 yards on the same afternoon in 28 3-ssec, after getting a very poor start. After these two splendid efforts there were many good judges who predicted her to be a future world's champion, and when, after her return to Auckland, she registered 66 2-ssec for the hundred (which was recognised as a New Zealand record) the prophecy certainly looked to be coming true. In October of that year Miss Hoeft, in company with Miss Shand, was invited to Honolulu, and though not in form, gained second place to Miss Weschelau, who was the Hawaiian lady champion. On her return to the Dominion Miss Hoeft did not- seem ).o strike form, and at' Tirnaru she lost the 100 yards championship to Miss Violet Walrond, and was well back in third placo in the quarter mils, behind! .Ntjss.es Shunt) »nd Wnlroai It leok«d m if ih« wm <w j*«

down grade, but that her form at Timaru was all wrong was proved at Auckland on the occasion of the visit of the Australian lady champion, Miss Mina N\yiie. In three races over the hundred yards in'which they both competed, Miss Hoeft won the first race, Miss WyUe the second, and the third and deciding race was won very decisively by the Auckland lady. As Miss Walrond was also a competitor in 1 these races it will Jje_ seen that Miss Hoeft was fast ref»???- ng i brilliance she displayed in Wellington, and further proof of this was given whau she lowereS her previous record by one-fifth of a second a little later on. This season she had commenced, training again, but for private reasons she has reluctantly decided to retire from active competition Her best (record)- 150 yds, lmin 52sec; 230 yds, Sram 52sec; 300yda, 4min 10 3-ssec;44d yds,6mm2ssec. These are splendid performances, and her prowess in the water ■n ill always rank high in the field of ladies' swimming m this country. Win or lose she was always the true sportswoman, and swunming as a sport throughout the Dominion has suffered a decided loss by her retirement from its ranks, as indeed it always must do when that swimmer is of the calibre of Miss Pauline Hoeft. PERSONAL AND CLUB NEWS. C. Herd whose recent performance in Ohristchurch was commented on in this column last week, competed at the national championships when they were held here. He swam in the Intermediate Boys Breaststroke, and gained second place, the winner being the local boy, Albert Claridge. In the open championship, on the same day, Claridge again beat Herd, and was only just beaten for first _ place by O. Atkinson, who won an exciting race by a, touch After these two performances a bright future was anticipated for the Wellington lad, but his improvement has not been equal to that of Herd. There is still time for him to make good, and if he settles down to training, the 'senior Dominion title should be within his reach. Last year weather conditions were all against local swimmers for an early commencement, but at the present time warmer conditions are prevailing, and training should be m full swing. ■ " The Wellington Club held a 50 yards handicap on Monday evening last. There fi S ja^ cry §°° d el?tl'y> which necessitated three Tieats, all of these being keenly contested. • The handicapping was excellent, and with good racing; the finishes were productive of much excitement. In the first heat, Howie swam a good race, and over the last twenty yards he kept sufficiently well in front to get the verdict by half a yard from bletcher and Zohrab, who had a great «et-to from the centre-board, and even- I tually finished a dead heat for second Place. Fletcher, the scratch man in this heat, covered the journey in 26 3-ssec— a fast sprint.. Young Rawson was unlucky, as he appeared to be a good second to Howie, but he was not placed-by toe judges. The second heat was won fairly comfortably by J. Blakeney, who is a much-improved swimmer, and has put on. a lot of condition, which should be of assistance to him later on in the season. There was another dead heat in Uus event, the judge being unable to separate M Hardie and Look for second Place. Of the two, the former seemed to be going the easier at the finish, and it looked as if he might have been much closer to the winner. He was apparently only swimming for a place, which he i might have lost, as Look came fast over tb.e last ten yards. M'Hardie's time was 27 l-ssec, another good sprint. WinEtanley, who is essentially a distance ! man, swam a good race in the third' heat, and "A-as unlucky in not being placed nv«t. as he touched in front of Edwards, to whom he was conceding 2sec start. Th«i latter also.swam well, and was very j close up, close enough to secure the verdict of first place. As both qualified for the final, no great injustice was done, but stai, even in heats, any swimmer | likes to be awarded the place of honour if he wins it.

The final took place on Wednesday evening, and provided a good race. At the forty yards mark it was difficult to pick the winner, but from that on Edwards finished strongly, and got the verdict- by a foot from Howie and Win- [ Stanley, who were almost a dead heat for second. The latter appeared to beat *is rival, but the judge decided in favour of Howie. The winner swam a good race, and was finishing faster than most of tlie others. Fletcher and M'Hardie, the back mark men, could not concede the handicap, but each recorded a good sprint. The next distance, 100 yards, will be contested on Monday night and tho Olympic Club will also hold a IGO yards race on Tuesday night at the Tepid Baths.

A pleasing feature of the race was the welcome reappearance on the start-ing-board of Erie Patersou, New Zealand record-holder for the 100 yards. He started in the third heat, and although he has had only two or three swims, he slipped over the 50 yards in 25 4-ssec. Ihis is a first-class swim, and shows that ho has lost but little of his dash. As the season progresses and he gets into racing condition, a reproduction of his past J3erformance» should be no trouble to him, and maybe his spell from the sport (during which he has been studying for examinations) will have done him good. The writer has frequently stated in these notes that "Pat" is the fastest sprinter in the Dominion, and can see no reason to change his view. "Header" expects him to be ona nf the first to reduce his own record for the 100 yards, which stands at 60sec. A promising swimmer in Zohrab showed.good form in last Monday's race, his time for the 50 yards being just undar 29sec. This is a splendid effort for a novice, and he should figure prominently in future evems

THE AFFILIATION ARGUMENT. Mr. ft. J. Sprigging, secretary of the Island Bay Life-saving and Surf Club, in a. lengthy letter to "The Post," criticises what he terrn3 "misleading statements" in "Header's" noteß published on 20th October. "In the first place," writes Mr. Spriggens, "I will mention the centre (revised) 1923 rules that are in my possession. Rule 8 plainly states : 'Clubs of 100 members or over, £2 2s; clubs of 50, but less than 100, £1 11s 6d; clubs of less than 50, £1 Is.' The following misleading statement appeared in 'The Post' on Saturday, 20th October: '100 members or over, £1 115.6 d; 50 to 100 members, £1 Is; under 50 members,-10s 6d.' The fees to the New Zealand Council are the same as the Wellington Centre (revised), as I have already quoted, therefore the most any club is liable for is £4 4s, not £3 13s 6d, as stated. This is not an. 'enormous' sum, and no club would object to paying that amount, but what the clubs are up against is this 6d levy, in addition to the affiliation fee."

Th.c Institute Club has been grantedpermission to hold its "Chatham" Carnival on the sth December, and its programme will shortly be issued. There are only two interclub events (100 yds and diving), but a good array' of club events make up an attractive list, and the carnival should be well patronised by the public.