SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 20989, 31 December 1931, Page 5

SWIMMING

NOTES AND NEWS [By Hookir.] FIXTURES. January 14.—Kiwi Club’s carnival. January 22 and 23.—New Zealand intermediate and junior championships, at Lower Hutt. January 30.—Kiwi Club’s harbour race. February 2.—Otago Centre’s fourth carnival. February 6.—Otago Centre’s Batt Cup harbour race. February 13, 15, 16, and 17.—New Zealand national championships, at Timaru. . Club Hours.—Monday: St. Clair Life Saving Club and St. Kilda Life Saving Club; Tuesdays and Thursdays, Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club; Fridays and Saturdays, Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club. Club hours are at the Municipal Baths from 8.45 to 9.45 p.m. KIWI JOTTINGS. Over the holidays things have been fairly quiet at the club hours, and no club hour will be held to-night (Now Year’s Eve). However, a start will be made with the activities of the new year on Tuesday next, and the club hour will be carried on next Thursday in spite of the water polo match between Kiwi B and Dunedin A. The chib’s A team meets St. Clair A on Monday, January 11, at the St. Clair Club’s hour. M. Taylor lias returned to town and will strengthen the club’s team in th§ six-a-side relay championship for the Olds Challenge Shield at the carnival on January 14. Taylor has also entered for the 4,4oyds men’s championship, and as he has plenty of staying power should perform better over this distance than in the shorter events. The six-a-side team just about will pick itself, though there should be keen competition for the last place in the team, which will lie between P. E. Mathieson and R. L. Cotton probably, both of whom have been swimming well lately, though Mathieson is probably the most improved swimmer in the club just now. The other members of the relay tean will probably be Reg. Geddes, M. Taylor, A. Thomas, D. Watson, and W. Hamilton. Bill Hamilton showed much of his old dash on his last appearance, and it is a pity he is unable to get into town more frequently for training. It is to be hoped ho can attend the representative polo practices which commence next Wednesday, for he is a more than useful man at this branch of the sport. Reg. Geddes has been training assiduously of late, both on the free stylo and breast stroke, and he should be in even better form for the New Zealand intermediate championships than ho was when the provincial titles were decided. He is swimming more freely on the crawl, and is moving brilliantly,on the breast. He intends making an attempt to lower Clarrie Heard’s eight-year-old 100yds intermediate boys breast stroke record of 77 4-ssec, and as lie was only 2sec outside at the recent championship meeting his prospects look hopeful. Miss Nancy Olds unfortunately was not available for selection to represent Otago in the New Zealand junior girls breast stroke championship, as she will bo away from town for the whole of the school vacation. P. E. Mathieson is one of the busiest members of the club at the present time, and his keenness might well be emulated by other members. Ho is training well ion the diving boards, and is also putting in some time on the back stroke, as he will lie a competitor in the Otago intermediate boys back stroke championship the week after next. He is showing out well at this style of swimming, and should go a good race. The Club Committee has made an effort to improve the coaching and instruction facilities at the club hours, owing to the largo number of new members who have joined up since “Learn to Swim Week,’’ and alter the holidays more senior swimmers will be brought in to assist, in this work by reducing the size of the classes. It is hoped to make a start with club races for new members as well >'l s . the open events in the various divisions, soon after the club’s carnival. The club’s harbour race is to be held over the one mile course on Saturday, January 30, and it is possible that Reg. Geddes will be numbered among tho competitors on this occasion. Other likely starters include A. Thomas, 1. E. Mathieson, M. Taylor, Miss J. Taylor, and Miss P. Taylor, to mention a few, and it is on the cards that Harold Clark, a former winner of the Rntt Cup Harbour Race, will also be a contender for the Fogg Cup. • Hunter won the race last year, but it is not known whether he will be competing this season as bo lias not been able to do much training on account of liis studies. A. Thomas won fastest time honours last season, and will probablv again be bard to beat. J. IL M‘Gregor was one of the most promising of the club’s younger swimmers a year or two ago, and it is pleasing to know that he intends shortly to return to competitive swimming. He will bo a competitor at the kiwi Club’s carnival on January 14. Mrs L. Galbraith has been training steadilv since the Otago championships, and is showing till further improvement. She is expected to swim well at the chib’s carnival. Miss Olga Barry is another who has been swimming well since the championship meeting.

DUNEDIN DASHES. Although attendances have slackened off over the holidays, the championship contenders and water polo players have stuck to their training, and none has been training more consistently than W, J. Jarvis, who must he regarded as a formidable contender for the New Zealand intermediate boys’ 100yds championship at Lower Hutt on January 22. Jarvis has also been doing a fair amount of work on the backstroke, at which he will be hard to beat on January 11 in the intermediate boys’ 100yds championship of Otago. His brother, Sid. Jarvis, has been doing longer distance work during th© last jveek os jtwo, feut Jae is not £p hold

Ifis place in the Otago team for Wellington without challenge, as another junior member of the club in J. Barry has entered a challenge to Jarvis over 100yds and 220yds, and one of the races will probably be decided to-uight and the other on Saturday. Brian Kerr is buckling down to it solidly on the back-stroke, and it will be surprising if the Otago champion does not further improve upon his recent record time before the season closes, ' Mick Walker has been doing some solid work-outs on the diving boards during the last week or two, and Roy Calder has also resumed liis training. It is possible that a special challenge diving event will be included on the programme of the centre carnival on February 2, in- which the competitors would probably include. Mick .Walker (Otago champion), Calder, and M‘Lay. Otago is extremely fortunate in having divers of the calibre of these three men, any one of whom would grace a New Zealand title, and with the additional training he will have had by then it will not surprise to find Calder returning to his best form. Miss Maxine Mathieson is another who is training steadily, and is moving along very easily just now. Before the championships at Timaru, the Otago ladies’ 220yds championship will be decided, and as this is her favourite distance, Miss Mathieson should register even more impressive time than she did over 100yds. By her fine performance in winning the Batt Cup Harbour Race on two occasions, Miss Mathieson has proved herself an outstanding distance swimmer, and it will be hoped air opportunity is afforded her of at least a time trial over 440yds before the Otago team is finally selected for Timaru. J. O’Driscoll is one fo the most improved swimmers in the province, and a versatile performer at that. He will be a competitor in the intermediate boys’ back stroke championship at the St. Clair Club Lour on January 11, and should not disgrace himself by any means. Val Newall has not let up in training since the Otago championships, and if an ideal captain for the Otago water polo team is wanted he seems to be the man. Newall has a keen sense of anticipation, throws the ball very strongly and well, and moves fast into position. He has a good idea of the game, and is one of the most popular swimmers here. Newall is the present Otago titleholder over 440yds, and in the championship over this distance at the Kiwi Club’s carnival on January 12 be is expected to be the hardest man to beat. Over these longer distances times have not been very impressive in the past when viewed from New Zealand standard, but it is reasonable to expect that 6miu will be broken on this occasion. A swimmer who will be trying bis baud over the longer distance for the first time is R. Nnttall, who was run-ner-up in the 100yds championship last season. If Nuttall swims the race with judgment he should be fairly well placed at the finish. Brian Kerr lias entered for this event also, and will probably make it serve as a good back stroke work-out. RECORD TO RYAN. For the second time this season Empire champion Noel Ryan has clipped Andrew Charlton’s 220yds best by an Australian swimmer record of 2min 22 4-ssec (says the Sydney ‘Referee’). Ryan at Manly on Sunday won his club’s 220yds championship from Hans Robertson and 18-year-old S. Herford in the great time of 2min 21 2-ssec, shaving Charlton’s record by 1 2-ssec. Ryan’s th'-e equals that of Bruce Hodgson put up at Bondi two weeks ago, but it must be regarded as a better and more authentic feat, as. it was performed in a championship with little in the way of pace after the 110yds mark. Ryan was pulling up after passing 110yds in 64 3-ssec. It was an astonishingly fine swim when it is known that'Noel competed in the open surf race at North Steyne on" Saturday in mountainous seas and spent Sunday morning in the breakers at Manly.

ST. CLAIR NEWS. More, enthusiasm is being shown by members of the St. Clair Life Saving Club this season than for years past, and the possibility of a team being despatched to the Now Zealand surf championships at Christchurch in February is acting as an added incentive. Splendid work has been done by the club’s instructor, H. D. Gillies, iu bringing the club’s teams on, and a word of praise should also be bestowed on the capable secretary (I. L. Turnbull) on the keenness he is infusing into members.

Even if the club does not make a particularly bold showing in the New Zealand championships, the experience should be of immense benefit to the younger members, and the visit of the Sumner Life Saving Club in January should be a good preparation for the major event. ■ At the last meeting ot the New Zealand Swimming Council permission was given to the Sumner members to accept expenses for the trip to Dunedin.

S. M'Kenzie lias intimated that he will not be competing in any of the remaining championship events, but he may have a tilt at some of the handicaps at the Kiwi Club’s carnival. \V. M'Allen and T. Rodgerson will be competing in the short handicaps at the forthcoming carnival, and as both are improving swimmers they should give a good account of themselves. V. Aldous is another keen member who is showing considerable aptitude for water polo. The centre president (Mr J. L. M‘lndoe) dearly loves a game of pojo, and has been a fairly regular attendee at the club hours for practice, .lack Swan is probably the most versatile player in the club. He has given many fine displays in goal, but the needs of his club have made it necessary for him to play in various other positions this season, and he is equally at home in any of them. Activities on the beach have been well maintained over the holidays, and the Sagar Cup competition, which will probably be held on Sunday, February 7, should be one of the best contested since its inception. Added interest will be given probably by the appearance of a team from the jOreti gurf and Life Ciufe*

SOUTHLAND DOINGS. The try-out of nominees from the various Southland . clubs for representative honours at the forthcoming intermediate and junior championships was held at the baths on Monday evening (says the ‘Southland News’). In' the junior girls’ race Miss B. Dennis registered 90sec for the 100yds, and Miss M. M'Gratli 95sec for the same distance. These times are not up to championship standard, but both girls should improve. In the intermediate boys’ 100yds race P. H. M'Gratli covered the distance in 62sec, and was taking it easily at the finish. F.Springford’s time was 69sec, but he could clip several seconds off this if ha did not lose so much time at the turns.P. Shave was third. . His time of 75 2-ssec must be considered very good considering that he is just over fourteen. & SPLASHES. Advice lias been received bv tho Otago. Swimming Centre that au intermediate swimmer who takes part in tha New Zealand water polo championship forfeits his right to race thereafter as an intermediate. This rule will thus debar Reg. Geddes and Walter Jarvis, both candidates for inclusion in tha Otago water polo team from consideration in the selection. Entries for the Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club’s carnival on Thursday, January 14, will close next week. This fixture promises to be one of the most interesting staged here for a very long time past, as the swimmers from all three clubs have come forward for every event in fine style, and such large entries invariably ensure keen racing and exciting competition. The programme is a varied one, including short dashes and longer distance events, free style, breast stroke, back stroke, life saving, diving, and novelty events,-and the six-a-side relay championship of Otago should provide another thrilling race, as teams have been entered from St. Clair, Kiwi; and Dunedin, Clubs, Dunedin having entered two teams. In the 440yds men’s championship entries have afreadv been received from Val Newall. Te'd Turgis, Morrie Taylor, Brian Kerr, and Ray Nuttall: and tha ladies’ dash has also drawn large entries.- The 100yds breast-stroke handicap has also drawn such large entries as to necessitate heats, and some fifteen competitors have already coma forward for the diving handicap. The dual relay is another novel event, and; one that should cause a good deal of amusement is the blindfold race. This meeting should be one of the most attractive of the season. There are some broad-minded people in Sydney, for in a recent swimming exchange, issued by the “ Speedo ”• authorities, news is conveyed of the fact that water polo at the Coogeo Aquarium is attracting good patronage on Sunday nights. . ... Andrew i iC Boy * ) Charlton as making good in his come-back effort, and the ex-Olympic champion will compete at the Australian National Games on. February 3,. 5, and; 6, after which he will visit Queensland to swim there. More support than, usual is promised for the 220yds men’s breast-stroke championship of Otago, which will _ probably be decided at the centre s fourth carnival on February 2. Among the likelv competitors are O. Durand, J., Durand, H. Isaacs, F. Pearson, and H. Clark, and the competition should be closer than usual, especially for the in At° r £ C refeiit European championships the 100 metres back-stroke ladiesevent was won by Mane Braun (Holland) the Olympic champion, m 82 4-ssec. Bonnie Mcahng, the Australian phenomenon, is the holder ot the world’s'record at 80 3-ssec. The Otago Swimming Centre has been informed by the New Zealand Council that the inclusion of an intermediate o-ii-ls’ diving championship was recommended bv the last conference ot centres but in view of the present hopeless state of the council s finances it was decided that it was impossible at the present time to incur further liability on medals. . - The New Zealand Council is prepared to supply school children’s swmunmg certificates to centres who apply for them, although the educational grant has been stopped. Otago has now made application so that educational ii ork will be carried on m 1932. Mr W. H. Buckland, the Otago Centre s educational officer, has done valuable work during the past year, and already has issued over 430 certificates. The N.Z.A.S.A. is prepared to issue blazers to swimmers and divers who have won New .Zealand titles at various times, and it is interesting to note also that a recent meeting ot the council the issue of blazers was authorised to Messrs J. L. M'lndoe (Dunedin), A Muller (Wanganui), and C. E. Barnard (Dargaville), and also to the president and secretary of the New Zealand Association. This action is bem£ taken, no doubt, because of the valuable work on behalf of swimming that has been rendered by these gentlemen. It was also resolved that in the absence of any, other qualification no application would be considered from a centre secretary, unless he had served as secretary ot the centre for five years. In regard to members of the council, it was resolved that the period of service must be ten years. In addition to the name of those who have served for ten years being referred to the committee, that or Mrs Brown, of Christchurch, was also recommended. Mrs Brown is one or the most popular women that has ever teen associated with swimming in New Zealand, and has frequently acted as chaperon of teams, at the New. Zealand championships. Her services to the sport have been rendered in other directions, too, and she is well deserving of the honour that is about to be paid he ]s p Lindsay’s time of llmin sseo for the SSOvds at Christchurch on December 16 ‘last has been passed as a New Zealand record. A good first season effort was put up by C. Claridge recently (reports “Header,” in the ‘Evening Post’). Competing in the Mantnui Club’s 50yds, he continued on to the 100yds mark, cutting out the distance in 61 4-ssec, the first half taking 26sec. He should be able to fracture the minute later on' in the season. The fastest 50yds was covered bv J. Blakeley, who started in the Wellington Club’s race. His time was 25scc, and he appears to be swimming in improved style this season. The first representative water polo practice will be held at tho_ baths next Wednesday night from 6 to 7. New South Wales swimmers of both sexes last week enhanced their claims K,- selection in the Australian Olympus team bv registering excellent performances (says, the Sydney ‘ Referee ’).- Outstanding was the 100yds breaststroke swim of lniin 19 3-osec by Clara' Dennis, the fifteen-year-old national champion and record-holder at Coogee. It was an amazing feat, the speediest ever put up anywhere for the distance in a pool of similar length, and at least equal comparatively to the 100 metres (109yds 13in), world’s record credited to the German girl, Lotte Muehe, of 86 3-10 sec, established over twenty-five metres laps in 1928.