SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 17921, 17 March 1922, Page 3

SWIMMING

[By Vexatoe.]

Mi’ F. Mitchell writes in regard to my remarks concerning Mr H, Walker. lie says ho was Press steward on tho night of the big carnival, and that he used in full the information supplied to him by Mr Walker, I quite realise that Mr Mitchell did his duty in tho matter, and was entirely fair; but tho newspapers reported what they heard. Mr •Walker’s excellent achievements at Wellington were not announced officially from the platform of our local carnival, and Mr Walker himself was a, performer that evening. The papers, of course, could 1 not report what they did not hear. Mr Walker was deserving of special mention and prominence for his able performances at Wellington. Bathers in the Municipal Baths are still on tho increase, and additional swimmers arc also in evidence.

Tho general scarcity of money has succeeded in influencing the Education Department to cancel all contributions to swimming and life-saving classes. The. subsidising of these classes by the small grants tho Government occasionally made had been much appreciated, and certainly accomplished a lot of good. It is to bo hoped, however, that the contributions will be renewed on a larger scale when money becomes less restricted, as money directed toward the encouragement and development of swimming and life-saving is very wisely expended. Miss ITocft, the Auckland lady champion, will be swimming at the united sports carnival in Christchurch to-night. Tho limiting of polo championship matches to ten minutes is a timely alteration that most people, especially those concerned, will appreciate. The Otago Chib released a couple of good races the other night. Three lads swam very well on tho breast stroke, while tho final in the 66yds gave a splendid finish. P. Z. Harris gave away a second to ,T. Doake on scratch, which Jimmy lookin full, and won on 42sec. Harris clocked in his heat.

The Ladies' Swimming Chib, under Airs Fraser, will shortly be a strong combine.

Mable Lane, Agnes M'Dowcll, VatM’Donnell, Myrtle Jones, and W. Lane will bo among the competitors in the Otago schools’ championships on March 25. The schools’ championships are hound to draw a big crowd. It micht bo a wise move if tho centres confined themselves to championships only, and left to the clubs the control of the lesser section of the sport. F. Mitchell did several good dives on Monday night last at the Municipal Baths. You cannot beat the old-timers when they “ take it in their heads ” to toe the mark or touch the springboard. The Waiona Club will produce some promising young blood at the coming school championships. The Kiwi Club has failed to dig up a polo team to play in opposition at the coming carnival, so have had to ho content with a No. 4 team. I would have liked to learn that the D.A.S.C. team formed tho opposition, but that’s an event for the distant future probably. Sharks are reported to be very plentiful in various bathing resorts in New Zealand. It has been said, I note, that sharks never venture into breakers. This opinion is wholly wrong. Every bather can take it ns sound truth that this fish can go anywhere a bather can go in sea water. This is no fish yarn, as many unlucky bathers were inclined to believe. Tho water is the shark’s natural element, and ho knows all about it. It is many a long day, reader, since you were a tadpole and 1 was a fish. And it makes all the difference, bear in mind.

Tho Municipal Baths will shortly ho well equipped with gymnastic apparatus and diving boards. These things should be of great utility to those who revel in all-round fitness.

We were all pleased to see our old friend MTndno back onv more. His keen efforts to get fit for the dive in Wellington, and his very promising performance there, have given him a prominence that he, merits.

I have heard many comments made on tho New Zealand championship dive, especially tho post dive section. The post dives should all be of , equal value, and if not each diver should be called upon to perform tho same dive. Drawn dives of varied difficulty and value will always cause dissatisfaction—such as a somersault for one and a plain jump for another. The points for a one and a-half somersault are higher than for a straight dive, therefore the diver who draws the somersault must, of course, lead on points. Fancy diving is only in its infancy in this country ; but as time goes on judges will have a better grip of what is wanted.

A brother scribe in the Christchurch ‘ Star ’ gives a good suggestion regarding the championships. Ho thinks it would be generally more convenient for competitors and the public if the championships were confined to one of tho four chief centres each year, Wellington and Auckland in the North Island, and Christchurch and Dunedin in the south. Each centre’s turn would thus come round every fourth year. It may not seem quit© fair to progressive little places like Napier, Wanganui, and Timam, 'but the championships are getting big events to handle, and the public is following them with great interest and in large numbers. It takes big centres to handle big events and to cater for the needs of competitors and patrons with any degree of satisfaction. Timam is a live little place, and I am glad that it has secured the control for next season ; nevertheless, I consider the Christchurch writer's suggestion a wise one, in so far as the public and competitors are concerned. Wanganui in the past ran off some big Australasian meetings, and - will probably revolt against the four-centre idea. .Still, it is reasonable to suggest a cutting down somewhere.

DUNEDIN LADIES’ CLUB,

The Dunedin Ladies’ Swimming Club held an attractive carnival in the. Municipal Baths last night before a moderate attendance. This club is the oldest ladies’ swimming organisation in Dunedin, and there are a number of young swimmers who should give a 'gfiod account of themselves in the future. There are a largo number of girls who have shown marked improvement under the instruction of Professor Olds. Tho programme opened with a fancy dress parade, in which the majority of the competitors took part. Tho costumes were novel and varied. A dual relay handicap was one of tho events, in which the girls sw.r from one end of the bath and tho buy from the other. This event aroused much enthusiasm. An exhibition of diving ami a keenly-contested polo match were also entertaining events. A number of hoys and girls gave a demonstration of the crawl stroke.

Mr D. Bannntyne, who represented the Otago Swimming Association, acted as timekeeper and starter, the other officials being Messrs F. Nicholl, D. Watson, R. F. Allen, and E. Dawson, judges; Mr T. Hughes, check starter; Mire G. A. Meredith, ladies’ steward; and Mrs A. Fraser, secretary. Following are the results ; 100 Yards Kiwi Handicap, boys (five competitors).—L. Dalton (9sec) 1, G. Frye (7sec) 2. Time, Blisec. 50 Yards Ladies’ Race (ten competitors).—Miss V. Jepson 1, Miss J. Ledgerwood 2. Time, 48? sec. 33 1-3 Yards Girls’ Race, under 15 (seven competitors).—Miss M. Jepson. 1, Miss J. Ledgerwood 2. Time, 26seo. Springboard Dive {seventeen competitors). —Mr W. Cunningham 1, Miss M. Foote 2, Master R. Hankinson 3. 65 2-3 Yards Junior Boys’ Interclub, under 14 (seven competitors). —E. Waldron (3sec) 1, B. Hankinson (3sec) 2. Time, 65sec.

33 1-3 Yards Girls’ Race, under 16 (five competitors),—Miss M. Jepson 1, Miss J. Ledger wood 2. Time, 25sec. Beginners’ Race, one length, girls (eight competitors).—Miss V. Waldren 1, Bliss G. Cooper 2. Time, 34sec. Dual Relay Handicap (ten couples competing).—Miss BJ. Jepson and Mr D. Watson 1, Bliss V. Jepson and Mr L. Dalton 2.

Exhibition Diving (eight competitors) —Mr W. Cunningham 1.