SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 20373, 3 January 1930, Page 5

SWIMMING

NOTES AND NEWS [By Hooker } Club hours'.—-Monday, St. Clair Life Saving Club; Tuesday, Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club; Friday, Dunedin Amateur! Swimming Club. Club hour* are at the Municipal Tepid Baths from 8.45 to 9,45 p.hi. FIXTURES. January B.—Three championship events, Municipal Baths. - January 11.—Batt Cup harbour race. January 14.—Kiwi Club’s carnival. January 23-30.—New Zealand swimming and diving championships at Greymouth. BATT CUP RACE. The third annual harbour race for the Batt Cup will be swum under the auspices of the Otago Centre on Saturday, January 11, the race being timed to start at 2.30. Entries for the fixture close to-mor-row, and present indications are that a tine field will participate. The winner of the cup last year was H. Clark, of the Kiwi Club. Competition will be keen, however, especially as there is a likelihood of the swimmer registering fastest time being sent to Greymouth to compete in the Annette Kellorman Cup, which will b© swum on Lake Brunner. The Batt Cup race will start from the Cove, the course being a little over two. miles. As special trophies are being supplied by the various clubs taking part to their own representatives, added interest will bo aroused among swimmers, and the task of handicapper, in sorting out his field is not likely to he an easy one, especially as so many of' the promising swimmers failed to complete the distance in tho Kiwi Club’s harbour race. DUNEDIN NOTES. Tho Dunedin Club’s hour was exceedingly well attended on Friday last' in spite of the Christmas holidays. Tho championship competitors are working overtime to get in all the practice and training possible.- It is with much regret that “Tommy” Pullar’s accident is learnt of. It has made it necessary for him to stay in hospital over tho Christmas and New Year holidays. It is to be hoped that his injuries will in no way hinder his swimming, as ho promises to be a very good swimmer. Miss V. Campbell has had to return to her home town, Tirtmru. Whilst she was here she proved a very consistent swimmer. Miss V. Edser has also left this province for Hawke’s Bay, and it is unlikely that she will return. Among, the lady swimmers Miss M. Jepson and Mrs V. Jenkins have been training, no doubt in view of the championship events and the Kiwi Club’s carnival. Miss H. Lane has also found time to visit the club again. Miss M. Mathieson (rfcccnfc record breaker) has been spending time in the water on the Ocean Beach, which will* no doubt * prove useful to her at Greymouth. , . Several junior girl swimmers show great promise. ' „ R. C. Calder and H. E. Walker are still practising solidly, and without a doubt should bo in top form for the New Zealand championships. The junior swimmer, Walter Jarvis, has also been out at the Beach. The club captains have been drawing up a few of the more important, rules to be observed in water polo, and,these will ho placed in a conspicuous place m a day m" two.

NEGOTIATING FOR AUSTRALIANS. During the past' week negotiations have been in progress in regard to an appearance of the Australian champion swimmers, Noel Ryan and Owen Griffiths in Dunedin this month. After competing in Wellington, the Australians will probably ■ come south to visit Mount Cook and the Southern Lakes, and efforts have been made to get them to appear at Timaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill The only date suitable for an appearance here would bo January 14, and tho Kiwi Swimming Club is quite prepared to stage an appearance at its carnival if the amount of the guarantee is fixed at a maximum ot £lO instead of at that amount as a. minimum, the Council s terms being half tho gross proceeds with a- minimum of £lO. It would be hard to make, a club carnival yield the return expected' on that basis, but swimmers will hope that tho visit will eventuate , . At the time of writing, advice had not been received as to whether or not it. was possible to arrange for an appearance here. ■ CALDER’S CLAIMS. Says a writer in the. Auckland “Herald”:—“From Dunedin comes word that the Otago Centre is asking the New Zealand Council to send R. Calder, the Otago and New Zealand diving champion, over to compete against Australia’s best, included among whom is the 1024 Olympic champion, Dick'Eve, who was recently reinstated to amateur ranks after having been a professional for about four years. Calder has been national champion for the past four years, but .even considering this, if his display at any of tho meetings at which ho has been successful can be taken as a criterion, ee > hardly bo classed as a diver abbve the ordinary. After all, diving is only a minor issue of the sport, and little ivould be gained if the council took the quite unlikely course of granting the Otago request. There are a number of swimmers who are more deserving of the trip than Calder, notably Bridaon, Stokes, Lindsay (free style), Moorhonsa (backstroke), and Sylow or Smith (breaststroke).”

The Auckland writer can have but little knowledge of what are the essentials making for a good diver if he would class Calder as merely an ordinary diver after some of the fine displays he has given in championship competition. Dunedin is admittedly the home of diving in New-Zealand— Otago’s record indicates that —and some of the best judges of. this branch

of the sport and the coaches who have brought out the promising _ material here are firm in. tho opinion that has been expressed more than once by til is writer, that Calder is the best diver New Zealand has ; ct produced, lie has been the pioneer in regard to many dives not previously executed by I ew Zealand divers, he has that finish and wonderful command of balance in tho air that none of the others, have ever possessed. -Can the Auckland writer point to a diver in the last decade whoso flight could be compared to that of Calder at his best ?

More than one New Zealand swimming enthusiast who has visited Australia is convinced t that Calder would more than hold his own against the best that Australia could pit against him. This view is borne out by the showing of Barry Young, a well-per-formed Australian diver, 'against Calder .at th,e New Zealand champioliships a year of two ago. .Young was not in . the. same class as Calder. When, the Auckland scribe calls diving “a minor issue of the sport” he is on debatable ground. Otago has been long famed for its divers, and the writer has no hesitation in asserting that the diving events are undoubtedly the most, popular on carnival programmes staged here. And if more of the centres were to encourage diving they would find public support increasing. , Calder recently appeared _in a_ local gazette shown at the Empire Picture Theatre, and a widely travelled sportsman and one who is competent to speak on the subject,, expressed the view to the writer that Calder was capable of competing in any company. . Last year .Miss L. Hood, former New Zealand lady diving champion, was sent on tour through New Zealand, a similar invitation being extended to Calder, who was unable to accept. In the event of the Australian trip not being arranged, Calder at least should be sent through tho dominion, for there is no doubt that he can do much in the way of instructing promising divers and popularising tho sport throughout the dominion. Something would be gained by despatching Calder to Australia tor he is Just tho type of man who is able to hand his experience on, as he has shown'in developing so many promising divers in his own club. With about three weeks’ training he brought Miss D. Foote up to such a standard a couple of years ago that she was able to gain second place in the New Zealand ladies’ diving championship. He would bo bound to come into contact with experienced coaches on tho other side, and if Calder could not add, to his sound knowledge no one could. He has claims for the issue of an invitation to Australia, and in the event of the New Zealand Council not showing the enthusiasm for tho proposal that is warranted the Otago Centro would be well advised to go ahead on its own. The writer is confident that funds would be forthcoming to send Calder across for he is one of the most popular performers that has ever graced a Dunedin swimming- pool, ami incidentally one who has always been only too keen to assist in giving exhibitions at any carnival which asks for his services. • FURTHER CHAMPIONSHIPS. Swimmers are reminded that entries for the Kiwi Club’s carnival close next week,, and that next Wednesday night at the baths tho 100yds ladies; 880yds men’s, and 150yds junior hoys’ championships will! be decided. The 150yds men’s back stroke and six-a-sido relay championships will be decided at the Kiwi Club’s carnival. N. H. Bailey is in hard training for the Batt Cup race, and should ,be in good fettle for the 880yds on the Wednesday. A fine race between Bailey, Gillies, Turgis, Fleming, and Clark seems certain, and if M'Leau could only strike form he would lend further interest to the event. i

The junior boys’ event will be fought out by Reg. Geddes and, W. Jarvis, who have been training together during tho past week or two. Fast time may be looked for in this event, but the ladies’ 100yds does not seem likely to draw a very large field, Miss M. Jepsou being an almost certain winner and possibly the only starter. _ Should she register sufficiently good time she will have to be considered for a place in the Otago tea in. INVITATION TO BRIDSON. Tho nows that the New South Wales Swimming Association lias decided to ask tho Australian Union to invite Bridson to swim against Ryan in the State championships next month was not unexpected (says the Auckland •Herald’). For some time past the olicials there have bebn negotiating for visits from world’s champions, such as Albert Zorilla and Clarence Crabbc, but their efforts have booh of no avail. New Zealand had been omitted from the quest for overseas talent, presumably because our swimmers had not been thought fast enough to provide strong opposition. Since Bridson scored oyer Ryan enthusiasts in ■ Australia miist have realised that the standard hero is equal to, if not higher than, their own, so that in all probability tho invitation will be extended. Briefson, howeveiv may not feel inclined to accept ail invitation if one is forthcoining. By' making the trip he would not bo able to swim in the dominion championships, which are to be held at about the same time as the New South Wales meeting. As D. «l*. Lindsay, tho ex-champion, is doubtful as to whether he can go to Greymoutb, Bridson would be Auckland’s mainstay in tho competition for the Yaldhurst Shield, which will be lost if the centre is unrepresented 1 in tho distance events. ACTIVITY AHEAD. The New Year is likely to be an active one in Otago swimming, as there seems every likelihood that the Australian lady champions will be competing hero in February at a carnival to be staged by the Otago Centre. The Kiwi Club’s carnival, always a most enjoyable fixture, is set down for January 14, entries closing next week. The St. Clair Life Saving Club's carnival will probably be staged in ffebruarv and the suggestion has been made to” the writer that the Otago Centro should consider the advisability ot staging a swimming programme in the harbour basin, it would be a decided noveltv, and if permission could be obtained” to make.a charge within, an en-,

closed area the writer believes such a venture fcould be made a profitable thing. It is certainly worthy or consideration.

AUSTRALIANS AT WELLINGTON. The first carnival staged by the \\ cllington Centre for the appearances or the two noted Australian swuuuieis, Noel Ryan and Owen Griffiths, ana which was held on Saturday afternoon last, did not draw the attendance expected (savs the ‘ Evening Post ). This to bo regretted,, as the visitors were seen in a favourable Jignt and greatly impressed with their swimming. Conditions were ideal lor the afternoon’s sport, the light southerly having no effect on the water, which, however, was slow. As was expected, Cameron proved the master of Gnmtlis in the 100yds scratch race, but norther showed their true form. The tune 6/ l-Sscc, indicates this, 'although it is possible that Cameron could.have reduced it had lie been hard pressed. Griffiths was disappointed with his own effort, which.,did not measure up to his races*in. other towns. From an even sta.-t the three , competitors raced level for twenty, yards, whop Cameron began to show out, and. as. they reached the turn ho had gained a lead of four feet. Coming back on the .final stietcii tho champion clapped on the face ana soon- increased his advantage, eventually winning comfortably by four yards from the Australian, who was a fraction in front of Bjakcley. Cameron appeared to tire over the last portion ot the journey, but was never mdanger of. being, beaten. Griffiths did not seem to move freely over the first lap, but came back fairly strongly. Blakeley swam a, good race, and was by no m lt* wa*s'nr*tho 220yds that Griffiths was seen at his best. .Miss K. Miller, 11. Burns, and J. Blakeley were all m reoeip 1 ’. of starts from Griffiths, and at the 1 100yds Miss Miller was Icadmg from Burns by four yards with- Bhikeley three yards ahead of Griffiths, who had covered the two laps in falseo. Over the next - stretch the visitor put in some telling work, gaining rapidly, on the. field. He caught Miss Miller at the turn. Racing back to the 200yds mark, Griffiths was swimming -jwwevfully, and had increased Ins «ad to cmht yards from Blakeley, who displaced MisS Miller for second place, with Burns just behind. The leader never slackened up, finishing, to the roj/o with great, dash. Tin? timfe 'v» s 2min *23 l-ssec. Inch is 4-osec .below Bridson’s New Zealand record, iherc is no doubt as to Griffiths’s class over this distance, and lie impressed onlookers by tho manner m which he accomplished his task..,. He will probably not be beaten at his pet distance during the tour. ,

dropping OUT of competition.

Oil glancing over the names of those chosen for the Nc\v South Wales Amateur Swimming ( Association’s diving troupe after trials in the Clifton Garden Baths, it will ho noticed that that of the State and Australian champion, Clive Barrass, is missing. The Spit Club star was one of the selectors ot the troupe, but is dropping out , ot all competition, events this season. 1 Business will have him tied down lor the next couple of months to such an extent that he will be unable to devote the time to the sport that he would have wished; but in any case a rest is deemed advisable, as he experienced trouble with his ears fronr.diving last season (says the ‘Referee’). His retirement, fortunately, is only temporary, for, to use his own words, he hopes “to .have another crack next year.” Barrass is a great worker in the interests of diving, and to-morrow night at the council meeting he will table a .motion that the spectacular swallow dive bo included in the State championship carnival. It, is almost a foregone conclusion that the motion will go through. Apart from making the diving title more spectacular, it will

more than probably rescue the event from waning popularity with exponents of the art themselves. Of recent years the entry for the high diving championship * has been dangerously low, illustrative of which is the tact tha,, for tho past three seasons only three have contested the event each time. Also by introducing a couple of swallow dives at the expense of fancy ones, the diving programme will conform more with Olympic conditions, at the same time making it easier for. contestants. There were three swallowdives from various heights, and under different conditions each tune, included in the high-diving programme of eight events at the last .Olympic, Games, and when it is considered that all eight dives in the State carnival have, been fancy ones* ail different* ifc will'bo seen that actually oiir divers have been put to a harder test than those competing for the world’s championship.

SPLASHES. The first international speed- swimming contest between England and Scotland at Paisley recently was woil by England with a total of 19 points to 17. N. B. Brooks, the Oldham policeman, who holds the IQJyds swimming championship of England, .won the 100yds free-style race in 55 4-ssee, lowering the Scottish record by 3-oseo. There were five races for men and five for women—looyds- Iree. style, 400yds free style, 200yds breast stroke, and 150yds back stroke, besides a 400yds, medley race for teams—on the programme. England won the men s team race by 2yds,, but Scotland won the women’s tehm race by" a touch.. The water at the tepid baths is stdl far from clear. The weather has probably affected the attendance- at the baths, hut there is little doubt, too, that the state of the wkter has played its part. More than one regular patron of the pool in the past has expressed to the writer very strong views oh the present state of the water, and it cannot be gainsaid that it is still far from what it'should be. . . Although tV«. weather lately has been anything but favourable," the writer understands that, given good weather, quite fair support is accorded the Kaikorai Baths, especially on a Sunday afternoon. It would bo for the good of swimming in Dunedin if a club could bo re-formed in Kaikorai. with headquarters at:the baths there. ■ ■