OTAGO SWIMMING CENTRE

Evening Star, Issue 20994, 7 January 1932, Page 13

OTAGO SWIMMING CENTRE

CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS SELECTED Last night’s meeting of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association was attended by the president (Mr J. L. M'lndoe) and Messrs E. G. James, D. Thomson, W. Williams, A. Findlay, A. Greig, B. Kerr, D. Bannatyne, W. H. Buckland, I. L. Turnbull, H. D. Gillies, J. Swan, and E. C. Isaacs (secretary). INTERMEDIATE AND JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. The Executive recommended that the Oatgo team for the New Zealand intermediate and junior championships at Lower Hutt should be comprised as follows:—lntermediate boys: Reg. Geddes (100yds, 220yds, 440yds, and 100yds breast-stroke), W. J. Jarvis (100yds and 220yds), P. E. Mathieson (intermediate diving); and Miss V. Newall (junior girls’ events). ' It was reported that S. Jarvis had been selected for the junior boys’ 100yds and 220yds events, but although he withstood a challenge from J. Barry over 100yds, Barry had won the 220yds challenge. The executive’s recommendations were adopted, and it was decided that as there was little to choose between the junior boys on the free style, and as only one could be sent, Jarvis and Barry should be further tried out oyer 75yds breast-stroke, to-night, the winner to represent Otago in all three junior boys’ events. Mr E. C. Isaacs was appointed manager, and Mrs A. Greig chaperon of the team, which will leave Dunedin on Wednesday, January 20, by the first express, returning on the following Tuesday afternoon. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM. The following were selected to represent Otago at the national championships at Timaru;— H. E. Walker, R. C. Calder, and R. W. M‘Lay (men’s diving); Miss Joye Eggers (ladies’ diving); Miss M. Mathieson (ladies’ free style and breaststroke events); B. Kerr (men’s _ backstroke) ; and V. Newall (men’s distance events). The selection of the water polo team was left in the hands of the Polo Committee, the team to be announced at an early date. It was resolved that members of the senior team be asked to meet the centre on Wednesday evening next at the Y.M.C.A. WATER POLO DRAW. The draw for the fourth round of water polo was approved as follows; — Kiwi A. v. Kiwi B (Kiwi Club hour, Tuesday, January 12); Dunedin A v. Dunedin B (Dunedin Club hour, Saturday, January 16); St. Clair A v. St. Clair B (St. Clair Club hour, Monday,' January 18). , The third round, it was reported, would commence to-night, and would be completed on Monday night. OVERSEAS FUND. The Chairman of the Wellington Centre intimated that his centre had decided to oppose any alteration to the existing law regarding registration fees. Ho said he understood there was a notice to alter another law which would enable the fees to be either credited to, the overseas fund or refunded to the cenhe, which would have the effect of abolishing.the overseas fund. He asked for Otago’s support.in its opposition to the amendments. The Chairman said that the centre should not come, to a decision hastily on so important a matter as the subject of the overseas fund. It had taken a long time to establish, and had been a big boon to swimmers when visits overseas were being arranged. Otago had been a participant in the benefits or the fund, as Miss Kathleen Miller had gone to the Olympic Games and R. C. Calder to, the Empire Games. It might be a short-sighted policy for the

contri; to instruct its delegate to vote tor a return of registration moneys to the centres. The time might come when Otago again had swimmers worthy of being sent overseas, and it ivould be a pity if the centre then found, through its own action, that there was not money enough to send them, A motion was carried that the Otago delegate on the council be instructed to oppose any motion that would mean the abolition of the overseas fund.

SEPARATION OF CHAMPIONSHIPS. The Secretary of the Auckland Centre wrote asking for support for a remit that the senior, intermediate, and junior championships be held together as previously. He considered it was essential to run the meetings in conjunction in order to draw up suitable programmes that would not overtax swimmers, most of whom competed in more than one event. The additional expense incurred in sending away two teams would make it prohibitive for centres to have representatives at both championships. The Secretary moved that the delegate to the conference be, instructod_ to support the present system of holding the two meetings separately, and also that application should be made to hold the New Zealand intermediate and junior championships at Dunedin next year.

Mr Thomson seconded the motion, and pointed out that the division of the championships made very little difference on the score of expense. Mr Buckland said that another aspect in favour of the two championship meetings was that centres would be favoured with a championship fixture every four or five years instead of at much greater intervals. The Chairman said he thought the motion should be supported. “Prejudices die hard, and I had doubts about the division of the championships working out,” said Mr M‘lndoe, “but it has been tried out, and I am satisfied it was a sound move.” He had attended the intermediate and junior championships at Ashburton, and there was not one thing in which exception could be taken. The competitors were just a happy family, there were no quarrels and no factions. The motion was carried. GENERAL. ' Arrangements were made for the Batt Cup harbour race on February 6, and it was resolved that swimmers be asked to provide their own dinghies. It was also decided that the use of grease by competitors be disallowed. The Chairman of the Wellington Centre wrote stating that, as the bathing facilities in Wellington were not in keeping with the city, it had been decided to hold the New Zealand junior and intermediate championships at the Riddiford Baths at Lower Hutt. With the object of impressing upon the members of the Wellington City Council the necessity of providing up-to-date tepid baths and show how they or their predecessors had neglected to provide suitable accommodation, he asked the Otago Centre to provide information of the various ’baths in the territory controlled by the centre.—The matter was left to Mr M‘lndoe to supply the necessary information. The New Zealand Council advised that the issue of a New Zealand blazer to Mr J. L. M'lndoe (president of the Otago Centre) had been authorised, this being in addition to those issued to title-holders.—lt was decided to place on record appreciation of the honour that had been conferred upon the centre’s president.' It was reported that the centre’s dance showed a profit of £8 3s, and appreciative reference was made by the chairman to the work of the Swimmers’ Dance Committee, which had charge of the function, special mention being made of the work of the secretary (Mr A. M. Rix) and of the treasurer (Mr W. H. Buckland) of this committee. SPECIAL CHALLENGE RACE S. JARVIS BEATEN IN FURLONG J. Barry was successful in his challenge over 220yds to S. Jarvis (the selected junior boy swimmer for the intermediate and junior championships at Wellington) at the Municipal Baths last night, aud as each boy has now won one race on the free style, it has been decided to settle the issue by a race over 75yds on the back stroke. Jarvis and_ Barry had another fine tussle last night, but the latter was superior on the ttfrns and finished very well to win by 3yds after the boys had been together most of the way. The time, 3min 4 3-ssec, represented a really good performance on the part of the winner.