SWIMMING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 59, 11 March 1939, Page 23

SWIMMING

CARNIVAL AT TE ARO

PROMISING TALENT

(By "Header.")

The Wellington Club were favoured with excellent conditions on Saturday afternoon last, when the annual carival was held at Te Aro Baths. The attendance was better than has been the case for some time past, and the club should be in the happy position of showing a profit as against the losses experienced in the past. There was a large programme of events, with good average fields, and the racing was well up to standard. Main interest centred in the results' of championship events and school trophies, for which there was keen competition, with several close finishes. Some promising talent was revealed, particularly among the young swimmers, many of whom appear to have made good progress despite the unfavourable season. AN EXCELLENT CONTEST. Although there were only four starters in the 220 yards championship, the race was an excellent contest. The anticipation was an easy win for R. Hatchwell in view of his fine performances at the national championships, but his opponents went really good races, and it required a fast finishing burst for Hatchwell to gain the honours. Over the first hundred, which was swum in 61sec, Pennington and Stokes were close together, with Hatchwell just behind, and Blakeley further back. At the 150 yards mark the leaders were still together, and after the turn Pennington took the lead from Stokes with Hatch well making a forward move. When the last turn was reached, Pennington had a good yard in his favour from Hatchwell, Stokes : dropping back, but still ahead of Blakeley, As they sprinted for the rope, Pennington made a game effort to hold his lead but Hatchwell was moving strongly and with a fine sprint just caught the leader and beat him by a touch, with Blakeley four yards back third, and Stokes right up. . Hatchwell was all out to win but appeared to be swimming confidently all the way. He never allowed his opponents to get too far away, although it looked as if he had underestimated Pennington's pace before they reached the final turn. However, his sprinting ability enabled him. to just get there, but it was a near thing. Pennington went a fine .race and deserved a win. His swimming is better now and he has struck his best form. Blakeley swam on in his usual manner and finished strongly. Stokes swam a surprisingly good race and was prominent nearly all the- way, fading only over the last bit. His forward showing was an excellent effort and his improvement over a distance has been marked. He promises well for next season. .' K. Spry maintained his long winning sequence in the breaststroke championship. His time was as good as any he has recorded locally, and he retains his form exceptionally well. His victory at the finish was a comfortable one and he was not fully extended. Robertson, the intermediate national champion, swam a good race to be in second position, and has improved. His leg action will need attention if he is to continue with this style of swimming as he appears to be developing a fault which may cause his disqualification at some future time. WALKER AND HALL FLYING SQUADRON. The Wellington Club experienced little difficulty in retaining the Walker and Hall flying squadron race. It was a varying contest until the third men in each team had almost completed their laps. Wellington were then in the lead, and with Pennington and Hatchwell to finish for them the result vfz^ a foregone conclusion. The club has a smart relay team and will be hard to defeat for the trophy for some time to come. The teams' races for school competition served to show some good swimming. Wellington College produced a smart team and registered a meritorious performance in winning from St.' Patrick's College, Silverstream, who also fielded a strong quartet. Several of the competitors should be heard of in future competitive swimming. Several of Wellington's swimmers competed at the Gonville Baths, Wanganui, on Saturday evening last but with little success. This was not surprising, as the majority were competing at Te Aro in the afternoon and the drive through to Wanganui to arrive barely in time to compete was not at all helpful. Several other swimmers, including • Crump and Mathieson from Auckland, and a strong representation from Rotorua. were participating. WATER POLO COMPETITIONS. The water polo competitions havebeen completed, and the grade winners, Lyall Bay, Maranui, and Wellington respectively, are to be congratulated on their success. Although conditions have not. been of the best throughout the season, players have displayed keenness and turned out consistently. Miss C. Alexander continues to show improvement in her swimming and would considerably benefit with coaching. She has natural ability and a course of instruction in the-method as recently adopted by the Bureau of Coaching of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, would undoubtedly be to her advantage. \ The inter-house relay race, an event the Wellington Club has included on its programme for some seasons past, produces spirited racing and last Saturday's race was no exception. Other : clubs could follow Wellington's lead j with advantage.