SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 17926, 23 March 1922, Page 5

SWIMMING

[By Venator.! The recent ladies’ carnival was marred 1 by the indiscipline of many of the competitors. Everything was all a-jumble and a-clatter. When swimmers put their names down to start they should start, and not have the officials craving them to fulfil their parts. People do not pay to see a lot of boys and girls wrangling about starting. Every competitor should know when and where to start, and be prepared to start at short, notice if necessary. It is to be hoped that on the next occasion the ladies will pay more attention to tho interests of Iho public at least if they cannot consider their own. At the same time the officials could remedy a lot. I make the following suggestions for occasions when both sexes are performing (1) That tho boys and girls be separated, thus preventing the formation of groups and the approach of outsiders ; (2) that scats bo provided for the competitors to sit on only, and that some officials be there to see that competitors have their coals and gowns on between events ; (3) that outsiders bo kept in thenown places, and that no swimmers other than the competitors be allowed on the starting platform during the evening. Centres live and thrive on the clubs. When clubs fail centres grow poor. To be affiliated tho clubs pay substantial fees; therefore it behoves tire centres to help every club without fear, favor, _or affection. Now. when a centre advertises itself for a carnival that clashes with a club’s gala, the centre is not doing the correct thing. We must play the game like sportsmen, or suffer eventually. Every club running a gala or carnival should have the direction and protection of the centre, and not its opposition or indifference. A centre that clashes in such circumstances is not functioning properly.

If ono club clashes with another tlio centre should! step in and rectify matters. But where is the trouble going to end if the centre is the erring party? _ Numbers of new pools are being built in different parts of the world, especially in progressive America. An era of greater activity is mapped) out for swimming, even in New Zealand’.

I note from the Royal Life-saving Society’s handbook for the year ending 1921 that the total awards advanced in numbers, some 254 in excess of previous years. Canterbury contributed 120, Hawke’s Bay 88, North Taranaki 61, Wanganui 140,, Wellington 142. Otago's figures are very low, being only 15; but this is not duo to the executive, but rather to the swimmers themselves.

Every swimmer in Dunedin within the next year who is capable of swimming 100 yards should endeavor to secure some certificate of award for proficiency in Ufasaving. Unfortunately, the modem methods we see used for the leaching of swimming do not quite lend themselves to the requirements of the Life-saving Society. Speed seems to be the only objective to-day (even though we have nothing speedy in Otago). Smash a. minute into atoms and you are a hero; hut the reliable swimmers of the back and breast strokes pass unnoticed. The two principal strokes for the lifesaver are the back and' breast strokes. A knowledge of the others is no encumbrance, except that a swimmer is.tempted to use them to' save life quickly, and thus get winded and get lost himself. Picture a wreck somewhere a lunged miles from shore, with a few score souls overboard struggling for life. Away dashes a 53sec 100 yards man! You would wonder where he was going with a hundred-mile stretch ahead, wouldn’t you? The strokes to stand to you or anyone else in such a critical situation would bo the old marktimers on the breast and back. Again, what strokes were most often used by the men who swam the English Channel and by the many men and women who attempted the feat? All varieties were used, but the breast and back worn most often availed of. The first conqueror of the Channel practically confined himself to the breast stroke.

On Saturday next the school championships are to bo hold in the Municipal Baths under the auspices of tho Otago Centre. These championships are being talked about a great deal, and large entries aro reported, even some from as far a,way as Oamaru. The centre has drawn up a long programme, but being championships, and all having to Mart from scratch, tho events will he got away quickly. Boys and girls should bo ready to too tho mark without unnecessary explanations. The best advice on© can give to schools organising teqms is to enter the three best for each-/event. A second and third count, and help to tot up a team's points, thus giving tho team a chance to win the cap, even though it has not tho champion. Brace Ford is a likely winner of the primary schools’ championship up to ICO yards, and, Daulton the 150. Saulton should easily win the junior dive. Jack Gascoyne should win tho secondary schools championship, Myrtle Jones tho girls’ championship (secondary), with M. Lano and Y. O'Donnell fighting hard for second place. All three have a, good chance in the longer distance. Kathleen Miller should win the championship events on performances, with M. .Tcpson close _on her soles; St. Clair, tho points prize, Arthur Street second, and High Street third. Anderson Bay should release a strong girls’ team with M. Thompson, M. .Stubbs, and M. Jepsom. Tho best times over put up in the Otago schools championships should bo recorded next Saturday.

George Frye is a good one on the breast and should touch champion form if he cares to train, George has a bit of a hook in one of his legs when, kicking, but careful coaching should rid him of this, Mr Bannatyno is to bo complimented on his fairness toward' tho fault, as bo rightly judged that the act was unconscious. These hooks are all remnants of some ancient side kicks,

Some eight years ago J. Doake was picked a champion. Between that time and now the war and apathy cut a, deep gash, lam pleased to see this promising swimmer throwing a lot of his old enthusiasm into Lis work again. Ho is fast becoming a hard man to beat in local events. P. Z. Harris will have to bo at his best to hold in check the hopefuls coming on. J. Doake, W. Cunningham, D. Watson, K. X. Heskins, and Matson should develop into a tidy team.

In the recent ladies’ carnival tho fair sex made an error in not having a ladies’ dive by itself. Hiss M. Foote, though a good diver, has a long way to go to come near W. Cunningham, H, Walker, and company. B. Hankinson, a Kiwi junior, in _ securing third place in that dive, is going to be a promising one off the boards. The relay event somehow' somersaulted at tho start, the scratch girl getting oil on tho limit.

During tho winter a polo tournament should bo arranged with the object of securing a pood team for next year. This work should not bo let run as late as last year.

It is whispered that a shield will shortly be presented to the centre for competition, and a cup for life-saving. Let vis hope rumor is correct. If it is, an impetus will be given to both branches of sport, and champion teams should 1 ho developed.