SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 20148, 12 April 1929, Page 13

SWIMMING

NEWS AND NOTES [lsj Hookbb.]

I THE INVERCARGILL VISIT, Those Dunedin swimmers and divers who wore fortunate enough to make the trip to Invercargill last week-end will not readily forget the highly successful carnival that was staged by the Baths Committee of the council, or the most enjoyable time that was spent during their stay in the south. Invercargill has a reputation for hospitality, and it lived well up to its name during the Dunedin swimmers’ visit. One and all the visitors were enthusiastic in their praise of the pool, which probably has no superior in New Zealand. The water is fast, and Mr J. L. M'lndoe, president of the Otago Swimming Centre, told the writer that he considered it as fast as that of any fresh water pool in New Zealand, with the possible exception of Christchurch. In a very short space of .time Invercargill swimming has made wonderful strides since the erection of the Tepid Baths, and one lias only to look at some of the younger swimmers to see that they have been very well coached. Mr K. S. Williams, the baths superintendent at Invercargill, was well known at one time in Wellington swimming circles, and his efforts in the south arc now beginning to bear fruit, which makes it all the more a pity that he has resigned his position. The new • superintendent is Mr JrJ. S. Baker, who has done valuable work as Mr Williams's assistant, and who should fill the position successfully. He was responsible for the handicaps at Saturday night’s carnival, handicaps which produced many fine finishes. The writer has little doubt as to what proved the biggest attraction to the huge crowd that thronged the baths, for| while there are some promising divers in Invercargill, the followers of the sport in the southern city have never seen anything like the display that Boy Calder and Mick Walker gave. This pair went right through the handbook, and. although at first they found some difficulty in getting used to the boards, they soon settled ; down to give a brilliant display, Cal- : tier being just a little the more finished of the pair. He got up beautifully, ■ and his flight- left tittle to he desired, though in one or two of the screws Walker showed to the greater advantage. Calder did a good double hack somersault, though he has done better, the champion doubling as he was entering the water. His back somersault was a splendid effort, while both men did the difficult Molherg somersault very well. Calder and Walker staged a splendid comic turn, their stunt diving being clever and effective. Apart from the entertainment afforded the Invercargill public liy the spectacular display of the two champions, their exhibition should serve a good purpose in that it served to introduce to the Invercargill public the modem style of diving. Invercargill possesses some very neat divers, who with a little experience might he expected to shine in open company, but they lack knowledge in the liner points, which is where such exhibitions as those staged by Boy Calder and Mick Walker are bound to be productive of good results. In too many instances it was noticed that many of the home, competitors in the dives did not get up high enough off the board, although in most cases their entry was fairly good. Calder, who judged both dives, with Walker as his co-judge, told the writer that very few of the local divers had any idea Of flight, while too few of them remembered to point their toes when entering the water. These are littlo points which aro certain to bo corrected by • the local coaches, and there is no doubt that, with the promising material available, Southland should soon ho represented by divers able to hold their own in outside competition. A good deal of disappointment was felt in Invercargill at the inability of the New Zealand junior boys’ champion, Beg. Geddes, to participate in the carnival, but there was come compensation in the appearance of C. B. Lewis, former New Zealand tklOyds breast-stroke champion and holder of tho Otago title, who gave the crowd a taste of his quality when lie conceded big starts in the KJUycls breaststroke handicap and "■on brilliantly in 79sec. Lewis, it will ho remembered, contracted pneumonia during the progress of the New Zealand championships, and he has done very littlo swimming since. This makes his performance all the more meritorious. Lewis did a very fast first length, ami, employing his usual powerful stroke and regular leg action, he finished in great style. Had he been pushed I. believe lie could have out two seconds off his time, and, with proper preparation, there is reason to believe that ho would have a good chance < f annexing the championship again. Miss 31. Mathieson competed in tv, o swimming events, and also in the ladies’ novice dive, and, although tho Otago intermediate girls’ champion was conceding some long starts, she acquitted herself well, though she was rather sluggish over the. first 20yds of the 06 2-3 ladies’ breast-stroke handicap. She finished in great style, however, and was beaten only by a touch by Miss Fay Basstian, who was in receipt of five seconds from Miss Mathieson. The winner’s time was 6b 3-ssec, so that Miss Mathieson was moving at tho finish. Miss Mathioson was giving away up to eight seconds in tho 60yds breast-stroke handicap, but she suffered through the erratic course swum by ono of the other competitors, and did not get up for a place. In the novice dive Miss Mathieson gave a very neat display to secure second place. She was inclined to go ' too far out without getting the height, but her entry left littlo to bo desired. The winner of this event was Miss L. Wilkes, an Invercargill girl, who will repay coaching. The winner, of the 60yds ladies’ handicap was Miss N. Basstian, who was off three seconds. Her time was 36 3-ssec, and, as she is barely fifteen years of age, she has a promising future, she and her twin sister, Miss Fay Basstian, being the outstanding lady

Nancy Basstian is credited with 23 3-o.sec for a length, ami has swum three miles in two and a-quarter hours,

this being her first attempt at the distance. Both she and her sister competed in the open dive, showed promise, though neither of them has a. very good flight.

Miss Fay Basstian won the breaststroke event, and I understand that she has been credited with 21 3-ssec for the length. They both show signs of very efficient coaching, their armstrokes in particular being very good. What is most important, they possess one of the essentials of a good swimmer, the secret of relaxation, and both are good finishers. These girls are, of course, not eligible for the intermediate division for a year or two yet, and, with special preparation, there is no reason why they should ngt represent Southland—once the centre becomes established—at the New Zealand championships with considerable credit.

Considering that she had done very little swimming during tho past year or so, Miss V. Scotton, formerly of Otago and ox-New Zealand intermediate girls’ 75yds breast-stroke champion, did very well to finish third, close up, in the 66 2-3yds ladies’ breast-stroke handicap. She was off two seconds.

K. Broad, who was off five seconds, was the winner of the 66 2-3yds interclnb handicap. .Second place went to the virtual scratch man, S. M'Keu.de, and J. L. M'lndoe (9sec), the judges being unable to separate them. M'Kcnzic is an improving swimmer, and is finding now that the time he put into developing his stroke along the right lines has been well repaid. J. 15. Simpson was on the same mark ns M'Kenzie, but swam disappointingly, his stroke going to pieces' in the closing stages when lie was reducing badly.

Miss Daphne Murdoch gave ;i very pleasing display in winning flic ('pen plain dive, the Dunedin girl being at an advantage over the ether Duneliu coincptitors, however, ns she had had time to get used to the board. She dived as well as she has done this season, obtaining a, better flight than on recent occasions, while she did not flick the water with her toes as she does sometimes. If she will take her diving seriously next season Miss Murdoch would probably do very well in this branch of the sport. L. Stubbs was second in the open dive, but had to dive off twice with R. Green, a schoolboy who is likely to do well on the boa rds.

George Staples, of the Dunedin Club, failed to strike form in the open dive, .being all at sea on tho strange boards. He went over in one dive, and bent badly at the knees in the other.

The winning team in the relay was Fix-pupils A, Dunedin finishing second. Both teams were off 12sec, but the Invercargill club had the better balanced team and a good sprinter in A. Ivingsland as its last mag. Neither of the St. Clair teams was placed, the A team being weakened by the defection of Stan Fogg, whoso place was taken by J. Crowley. One of the best swims of the evening was that of Jim Doake, one time well-known Otago swimmer, who carried off the 50yds Invercargill chain-, pionship in JO 1-osec. Doake got a bad start, but gained 2yds with his pushoff at the turn, winning very nicely. Doake has been swimming a long time now, but is still a very useful man over the short distances. Jack M‘lndoe gave an exhibition in the long plunge, performing quite well by doing 5411 iOin, though he has done nearly Jft better. Jack was very disappointed with the showing made by the St. Clair polo team, and it is no wonder, for the players were most unimpressive as a whole, playing well below form. The Invercargill team won by 2 goals to I, both goals for the winners being shot by Hoy Calder, wlio, with M'Kenzie and Walker, strengthened the home side. Considering its lack of combination and practice, the Invercargill team did vedy well, and with regular practice there is no reason why a very good team should not be fielded in the south. Jim Doake played a groat game for Invercargill, in tins match, his spoiling tactics saying his side time and again. Budd in goal, too, was a tower of strength to his side. He was the starter at the carnival, and won great praise from the visiting swimmers for Ins splendid despatches. He is fit to officiate.at carnivals anywhere in New Zealand, and it is interesting to recall the fact that, besides being a good swimmer, he was sit one time a South Island Rugby representative player. The throwing of the St. Clair team lacked direction, and was the weakest 1 have seen by this side this season. Time and again the bail went just over the goals, the St. Clair team deserving to lose by reason of its poor shooting. The side contained five players who have represented Otago, J. Lewis and J. Crowley being included for the first time. The latter is a good spoiler, but a poor thrower. The Dunedin swimmers were entertained at a social and a picnic at Orcti Reach on the Sunday. Those who made the trip are hoping it will not be Jong before they have the opportunity of again competing in Invercargill. AMONG THE CLUBS. The clubs arc still carrying on their club hours, and although serious swimming lor tiio season’is practically over the attendances are still very fair. The Shaw Cup competition was concluded at the St. Clair Club’s hour lav* Monday night, three races being decided. The times in all cases were slow. Neither C. B. Lewis nor J. B. Simpson competed in any* of the, events. The 150yds backstroke race was expected to be a gift for J. Faulks in the absence of Simpson, but though he led for three lengths he was beaten in an exciting finish by S. M’Kenzie, who touched with a yard to spare in 2imn J7sec. MTvcnzie also won the KJUyds, but the time was very slow—Tosco. Ho was never extended, which accounted for the fact, perhaps, that he was seconds beyond his best time. Faulks won the' KJOyds breaststroke race very poor time, the final result or me cup competition leaving M'Kenzie the winner with 21 points to his credit. Simpson (who .did not compete in the last three races) and Faulks each scored 9 points, and J. Crowley 8. The Kiwi Club has still a fair attendance at the club hour on Tuesday nights, although all the championship races have now been decided. The winners of the various championships were as follow: —Senior men’s, N. H. Bailey; senior ladies’. Misses M. and I). Morgan (dead heat); junior boys’, J. H. Sf.‘Gregor (R. Gecides did not compete); junior girls’, Miss M. J3ew-

ley; senior dive, W. Boyd; junior dive, R. Geddes. A meeting of the committee is to be held next week to arrange for the presentation of the various trophies and also for the purpose of deciding the winners of the prizes for the most improved bov and girl in the club. Tho Dunedin Club has also concluded its cup races, the winners of the W. F. James Cup (junior) being B. Kerr and A. Rennie, with 6 points each. Points were scored by R. M‘Lay (5), S. Jarvis (5), W. Jarvis (5), H. Janies (3), L. Goughian (3), Miss Maxine Mathieson (2), and Miss Daphne Murdoch (1). The J. J. Clark Cup (senior) was closely contested by Roy Calder and J. Fleming, the fields for these races being small. Fleming beat Roy Calder, tho holder, by 2 points. The chib hour is still being fairly well patronised, especially by the juniors, who show commendable keenness. It is on the cards that one or two more races may yet be staged this season, SPLASHES. Otago swimming will suffer a big loss by Wyn Boyd’s departure for Wanganui. Tho Kiwi Club captain has been a groat worker for his club and the sport in general, ami he will be sadly missed in bis own club, which has lost its ladies’ captain (Miss Kathleen Miller) and its men’s captain during tho ono season. Boyd is one of tho finest all-round swimmers in Otago, and some years ago won both the New Zealand junior and intermediate boys’ breast-stroke championships. He is the present Otago back-stroke champion, and was third in the last New Zealand championship. He is a first-class water polo player, Otago’s fastest swimmer over _a length—he cuts 33 l-3yds out m 17sec—and a first-class diver. In addition, ho is a very popular .sportsman, and his removal to Wanganui should mean an acquisition to swimming in Jiis homo town.

Another loss to Otago swimming is J. B. Simpson’s departure for Christchurch. Simpson is also a fine water polo player, and a very speedy man over a length, being littlo behind Boyd over this distance. His departure will leave a gap in the St. Clair Club which will bo all tho more 1 elt in view of tho fact that Cos. Lewis will find difficulty in taking part in carnivals next .season, ns ho will be out of town a good deal. Miss Stockley achieved the outstanding feat by swimming 160 metres in the striking time of 71 4-ssec, a performance which places her in the front rank of the world’s lady swimmers (says the Auckland ‘ Herald ’ of a recent carnival). Her time lowered by 2 2-ssec Miss Paulino Hoeft’s record of 74 l-ssee, established in 1923, and is also I -f-ssoc faster than the Australian record of 73 3-ssec. Some idea of the merit of -Miss Stockley’s performance can bo gained by comparing her time with the best of overseas champions. While it is 1 4-osee slower than the world’s record of 70sec, established in a 25yds pool in 1926 by Miss Ethel Lackie. of Chicago, who is now a professional swimmer, it is only 4-sscc outside tho Olympic record of 71 see established at last year’s Olympic Games by Miss A. Osipowich, of America. The’respective tiiues of the ladies who were second and third to the winners were;'—7l 2-oseo (Miss E. Garratti. America), 73 3-osec (Miss J. Cooper, England). By reducing her 100yds record of 65 3-ssec to 65sec Miss Stockley put up another fine performance which is notable, inasmuch, that since she established her old time in 1925 she had not come within less than a second of her new record. It is slower than the times of the American and English champions, but is one second faster than the Australian record.

One of the most promising youngsters I .saw in action during last week’s carnival at .Invercargill was P. M’Grath, who secured second place iu the lOUyds championship under seventeen. He ; s a junior swimmer, and I believe has carved out lOUyds in something like 78soe. He has a very nice, easy arm stroke with a rhythmical leg action, and in a year or two should be registering good time over 100yds. The introduction of life saving to Southland is due to Mr E. S. Williams, superintendent of the Invercargill baths, and lie lias good reason to I eel satisfied with the progress made by liis Oreti team. It gave a display at the carnival at which the Dunedin team competed, and the life saving members of the visiting party wore unanimous in their opinion that the Invercargill life savers had given a very line display, especially when the smalj amount of time they had spent in file saving was considered. The team as a whole presented a, very smart apycaranee, being a credit to its instructor.

N. K. Sylow failed to improve on his own New Zealand record of 3.4 2-5 for the 220yds breast-stroke in a recent Auckland carnival (says the Auckland ‘Herald’). He set a good [nice at the start, but tired toward the end, and returned 3.5 3-5. He did not appear to be swimming as well as usual, while his shoulders were not quite square. Had his time been faster than the record some doubt would have existed as to whether his style, which had hitherto been perfect, would have fallen in with all requirements. Information given by Mr J. L. MMncloo, president of tho Otago Swimming Centre, at a Meeting of Invercargill club representatives hist week should do much to assist in the formation of the Southland Swimming Centre, and it is expected that by the time next swimming season comes around Southland will be an affiliated centre. A suggestion worth keeping in mind is that regular interchanges of visits should be made by Otago and Southland swimmers.

This is the last appearance of swimming notes in the ‘ Star ’ for the season, but anything of interest during the off season will be chronicled in the ‘Sports Special,’ in which a review ol tho swimming season will also appear. Tho writer lias been fortunate in obtaining for publication in the ‘ Sports Special ’ an article on American and New Zealand swimming methods by E H. Olds, coacli of the San Diego Athletic Club, California.