SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 20995, 8 January 1932, Page 5

SWIMMING

NOTES AND HEWS

[By Hookm.]

FIXTURES. January 14.—Kiwi Club’s carnival. January 22 and 23.—New Zealand intermediate and junior championships, at Lower Hutt. January 30.—Kiwi Club’* harbour race. February 2.—Otago Centre’s fourth carnival. February 6.—Otago Centre’s Batt Cup harbour race. February 13, 16, 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 CLUB’S CARNIVAL. The splendid support that has been given by swimmers to recent carnivals has been more than repeated for the annual gala of the Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club at the Municipal Baths next Thursday night, and the standard Of swimming has been so high this season that some outstanding performances may be looked for. The meeting will mark the final appearance of the Otago team that will defend the War Memorial Shield at the New Zealand intermediate and junior championships at Lower Hutt on January 22 and 23, and as a special attraction the club has arranged for Reg. Geddes, the New Zealand intermediate 100yds breast stroke champion, to make an attempt on the intermediate boys’ New Zealand 100yds record of 77 4-ssec, which has stood for eight years, and is to the credit of that great breaststroke exponent, Clarrie Heard, who represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games in 1924. Geddes is a magnificent performer on the breast stroke, and at the recent Otago championship won the intermediate boys’ 100yds title on this style in 79 4-osec, only 2sec outside the record. It may be added that in registering such time Geddes accomplished what such talented swimmers as big Bill Cameron and Magee, of Auckland, were unable to do, and it will not surprise if he gets still closer to the record at next week’s carnival.

The entries are remarkably good, due no doubt to the fact that the programme is of a most diversified nature. The life-saving handicap, for instance, should be a good deal more interesting than usual, as it will prove a real test. The first swimmer has to cover a length of the baths clad in his costume, trousers. and shirt, then he undresses in the water, and is towed back on the second method by the second swimmer. The latter in turn becomes the patient, the first swimmer covering the last length by means of the fourth method. No fewer than seven pairs have entered for this event, including that redoubtable combination, the Durand brothers, W. Jarvis and Reg. Geddes, Stan, Pogg and J. Swan, J. L. M'lndoe and W. M'Allen, Val Newall and H. Isaacs, J. Faulks and I. Turnbull, a»d M. Taylor and 8. Macdonald.

The diving handicap should produce better competition than usual, as the competitors will be called upon to do a running header off either board and a voluntary in which points will be given for difficulty. The competitors include several champions and ex-cham-pions. Mick Walker, the Otago and New Zealand men’s champion, entered, but as he is working out of town may not find it possible to get in for the carnival. Roy, Calder, the ex-New Zealand champiorf, who has started training with a view to competing at the New Zealand championships, will be a competitor, and others who will be taking part include the Otago and New Zealand ladies’ champion (Miss Joyce Eggers), the ex-Otago champion (Miss 0. Crowley), R. W. M'Lay (twice winner of the New Zealand intermediate boys’ championship), P. E. Mathieson (Otago intermediate boys’ champion), R. O. Johnson, Miss 0. Ferguson, Miss T. Rix, and Miss J. Munro. A whole host of swimmers have come forward for the short dash, and some fast racing should be-witnessed, as the competitors will include Reg. Geddes, Ray Nuttall, Brian Kerr, S. M'Kenzie, B. Kerr, A. Thomas, J. 0. Byrnes, J. H. M'Gregor, M. Taylor I. Turnbull, W. M'Allen, A. Murdoch, P. E, Mathieson, and quite a few others. The dual relay should be an interesting event, as seven pairs have entered for this event, including Miss P. Taylor and D. Newall, Reg. Geddes and Mrs L. Galbraith, M. Taylor and Miss J. Taylor, J. Barry and Miss 0. Barry,

A. Thomas and Miss M. Pockson, and W. J. Jarvis and Miss G. Rix. . eats will also be required in the 100yds interclub breast-stroke handicap, and an amusing novelty should be the blindfold race. There will be at least two heats in the 33 l-3yds back-stroke handicap, the competitors including S. Fogg, A. Thomas, W. J. Jarvis, M. Taylor, P. E. Mathieson, R. Nuttall, R.* Walker, J. O’Driscoll, Miss 0. Buckland, W. W. Buck!and, J. Faulks, and J. Swan. Some twenty swimmers have come forward for the 60yds handicap under seventeen, including Reg. Geddes and W. J. Jarvis, who should both register fast times, while the 33 l-3yds handicap under fourteen and the 33 l-3yds ladies’ handicap have attracted good support. Two championship events have been included, these being the six-a-side relay championship for the Olds Challenge Shield and the 440yds men’s championship, which is at present held by Val Newall, who will be defending his title. The challengers include E. Turgis, M. Taylor, Brian Kerr, and Ray Nuttall. The club is trying an innovation so far as it is concerned by not starting the first event until 8 p'.m.

INTERMEDIATE AND JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS.

The first event of importance in the new year will be the national junior and intermediate championships, which are scheduled for decision at the Riddiford Baths, Lower Hutt, on thet 22nd and 23rd next. The meeting will be under the control of the Wellington Centre, and the various sub-commit-tees set up by that body are now busily engaged in making the necessary arrangements incidental to such an important gathering (says the ‘ Evening Post ’). Although the meeting will be confined to two days, it will be necessary to hold two carnivals on each day —afternoon and evening—in order that numerous heats and finals can be disposed of. Early reports from the several centres th: will be represented indicate that strong teams will be in evidence, composed of the best of talent. At the time of writing only one centre (Otago) has selected its team, but others will shortly follow suit, and by the time that entries close it will probably be found that a record entry will be received. The southerners have got together a solid set of young swimmers, several of whom are title-holders, and they look sura to be prominent in their respective engagements. One pleasing feature will be a team from Hawke’s Bay. Auckland, Canterbury, South Canterbury, and several others will all be worthily represented, and even this early it is safe to predict that a successful meeting seems assured.

DUNEDIN DASHES. Club activities had a speil over the holidays, but with both New Zealand championship meetings and other carnivals approaching there will be renewed activity when the club hour is resumed to-night. The more prominent members of the club have not let up in their training, an 1 the leading lights in the water polo teams have also had an occasional practice. Miss Maxine Mathieson has been doing plenty of distance swimimng, and may surprise some of the northern ladies over the longer distances in the national championships at Timaru. Unfortunately she has had her training interrupted by an attack of the mumps, which will keep her out of the Kiwi carnival. B. Kerr has had a spell for a couple of weeks, but is now buckling to serious training, with his eye on Timaru, while he will be also a starter in the 440yds free style event at the Kiwi Club’s carnival. This is the event in which Val Newall is expected to show to advantage, and on recent form it will not be surprising if he breaks 6min for the distance. Miss W. Newall has been training steadily since her selection as a member of the Otago team for the junior girls’ events at Wellington, and Miss G. Rix is another who has also been training assiduously of late. She is showf-g considerable improvement on the breast stroke. Sid Jarvis was out of town at a boys’ camp for a week, but managed to do some training there, and now that he has returned is also getting down to solid preparation. Walter Jarvis, the Otago intermediate boys’ 100yds champion, has been doing a fair amount of his training at St. Clair, and ho certainly has not looked back any since the provincial championship meeting. J. Barry lias made a wonderful improvement since the beginning of the present season, and his challenges to Sid Jarvis for the privilege of representing Otago at Wellington were swum this week. The lOOycte on Tuesday night provided one of the best races seen at the baths for a Jong time. The two lads were together practically all the way, but Jarvis spurted over the last ten yards, and won by barely a foot in the quite good time of 74 3-ssec. Barry had no reason to feel dissatisfied with his showing, as both boys swam very well indeed.

No date has yet been definitely fixed for the club’s harbour swim, but, in conversation with the writer during the week, the secretary of the club (Mr Brian Kerr) stated that consideration was to be given to the suggestion that had been made that the race should be held on February 20, the date of the Ravensbourne regatta. OLYMPIC DIVING EVENTS. Dudley Hellmrich, hon. secretary of the N.S.W.A.S.A., who acted as a judge at last season’s national diving championship for women at Brisbane, is certain that on their displays in the event Misses Lurline Hook (N.S.W.), winner, and Greta Mott (Vic.), runnerup, would render a splendid account of themselves at Los Angeles, especially as both girls have since improved considerably on last season’s form (says the Sydney ‘Referee’). In order to thoroughly test out Australian divers, Mr Hellmrich suggests that the dives for the national diving championships for men and women be the same as those to be performed in the Olympic tests. Here is the full Olympic diving programme for men and women; — Men’s Springboard Diving (3 metres). —(1) Running pike or Jack knife; (2) hack somersault; (3) running Molberg (with tuck); (4) back front somersault (with pike) : (5) standing half twist. Also five voluntary dives.

Women’s Springboard Diving (3 metres).—(l) Running pike; (2) back somersault; (3) running half twist. Also five voluntary dives. Men’s Fixed Platform Diving.—(l) Running plain dive (10 metres) ; (2) double back somersault (with tuck, 5 metres); (3) standing Isander (5 metres) ; (4) back front somersault, with pike (10 metres). Also four voluntary dives. Women’s Fixed Platform Diving.— (1) Running plain dive (5 metres); (2) standing plain dive (10 metres); (3) running plain dive (10 metres); (4) back front dive with pike (5 metres). No voluntary dives are quoted.

ST. OLAIR JOTTINGS. The St. Clair Club activities have not been suspended over the holidays, but the unseasonable weather over the week-end made beach activities out of the question. The club’s instructor (H. D. Gillies) has been holidaying in Wellington, but from now on prospective members of the team for the New Zealand surf championships at Christchurch will be buckling to serious training, as well as those who will be taking part in the Sugar Cup competition, in which it is anticipated five or six teams will be fielded this year. The date for this contest is February 7. So far as the swimming side of the club’s work is concerned, there has been a revival of interest during the past few weeks, and at the Kiwi Club’s carnival next Thursday night St. Clair will be well represented. A team has been entered in the six-a-side championship, and Ted Turgis will be the club’s hope in the 440yds men’s championship. I. Turnbull is a handy man over a length, and W. M'Allen, T. Rodgerson, and V. Aldous should not disgrace themselves in the short handicaps. The club is well off for breast-stroke swimmers, numbering in its ranks such performers as Bert Isaacs, Charlie Durand, J. Durand, and Jack Swan, most of whom may be found contesting the 220yds Otago men’s breast-stroke championship later in the season. KIWI DOINGS. Following the slack period over the holidays, club activities were resumed at the club hour on Tuesday night, and most of the competitive swimmers were busy with their training for forthcoming carnivals. In addition, the club instructors put in a good deal of time with the new members, several of whom joined up just before the holidays. The A team members have not been practising at water polo as they should have been doing, but M. Taylor, A. Murdoch, Reg. Geddes, A. Thomas, and W. Mason are club members who have been tossing the ball about fairly freely. Murdoch is also swimming well just now, and is one of the club’s most pro-, raising performers. The relay for the club’s carnival has not been definitely fixed, but it will probably comprise M. Taylor, Reg. Geddes, A. Thomas, D. Watson, W. Hamilton, and P. E Mathieson. Reg. Geddes is in a long way better form at present than he was at the Otago championships, and the final stages of his preparation for the Wellington meeting are being supervised by the club’s coach, Mr W. H. Buckland. Like several other members of the Otago intermediate and junior team, he has been doing part of his training at the St. Clair Baths, and he is moving along very nicely at present. Morrie Taylor has been devoting most of his time to practice with the polo ball, and his handling has improved considerably in the last few weeks. He is one of the fittest members in the club, and if on a reasonable mark should stand a good chance in the club’s harbour race, which is to be decided over a mile course on Saturday, January 30, Fastest time in this race last year was put up by Arthus Thomas, who has resumed training after the holidays. He is likely to have opposition for time honours this season not only from Taylor, but from Reg. Geddes, who is a possible starter. Miss Pat Taylor has been putting in a fair amount of time on tbe breaststroke, and is a likely starter in the Otago 100yds ladies’ breast-stroke championship, which has yet to be decided. A regular attender of late has been Miss M. Bewley, who is showing much more confidence on the diving boards and should make a very good showing in the Ogato intermediate girls’ diving championship. She is game, and will find that proficiency in the more difficult dives will come only with practice. Three juniors who are shaping well are Miss W. Buckland and W, W. Buckland and Roy Geddes. The former has not yet tried herself out on the breast-stroke over the longer distances, but at the club’s carnival will be a starter in the 100yds interclub breast-stroke event. Miss Zoe Wilson is another junior from whom good things are expected, She is certainly sure to be a contender for one of the club’s improvement medals. Several new lady members are showing good progress among them being Miss Collett. Of the newer juniors J. Gardiner and W. M'Cusker are a pair who will bear watching. Peter Mathieson should not want anything on the score of fitness vhen he competes in the New Zealand intermediate boys’ diving championship at Wellington. He has been training bard on the boards under his father’s watchful eye, and also has been doing a fair amount of swimming, especially on the back-stroke. SPLASHES. Dick Eve, Manly’s 1924 Olympic and English, plain diving title-winner, who has announced his intention of applying for reinstatement as an amateur, demonstrated at Manly on Sunday that he has lost little of his former skill and nerve when he gave a brilliant display for the edification of the visiting South African cricketers (says the Sydney ‘Referee’). Jean Cocks and Bonnie Mealing did not compete in club events, but at Coogee Aquarium, Sydney Club stars Ena Stockley, the ox-New Zealand representative, swam 50yds in 29 l-ssec, and national 100yds champion Molly Mitchell 29 2-ssec (stated a Sydney writer recently). The youthful Petterson, of Sweden, who surprised by earning fourth place in the 100-metie free style swimming championship of Europe at Paris,

sprinted the century in 1.0 2-5 at a recent meet in a 50-metre bath at Stockholm, or within one-fifth of a second of the time which won the United States national title for Manuella Kalilis at Honolulu last July, Petterson has done so well and improved so- rapidly that Swedish sports critics now hail him a worthy successor to the famed Arne Borg, likely to outdo the latter’s striking achievements before he reaches the limit of liis speed. On Monday night, at the Municipal Baths, the St. Clair Club hour will hold more than usual interest for swimmers, as the intermediate boys’ Otago 100yds back stroke championship is to be decided, the likely competitors including W. J. Jarvis, P. E. Mathieson, and J. O’Driscoll. The third round of the water polo competition will also be completed with the match between Kiwi A and St. Clair A. Dunedin B and St. Clair B are to meet to-morrow night at tho Dunedin club hour, and Dunedin A was to play Kiwi B last night; The fourth round will be commenced next week, the A teams of the throe clubs meeting their respective B teams. There is a good swimming bath at Alexandra, and all that is wanted to give the club there a good boost is a visit from a team of Dunedin swimmers and divers. With a view to bringing about the affiliation of the Alexandra Club with the Otago Centre, Roy Calder is making an effort to get together a team of swimmers and divers to make the trip to Alexandra for a carnival there on Saturday afternoon, January 16. Those who have been suggested as being likely to make the trip are R. C. Calder and R. O. Johnson (clivers), and Reg. Geddes, W. J. Jarvis, S. M'Kenzie, and Y. Newall (swimmers). Following the Kiwi carnival next Thursday night, the Otago Centre will hold a gala night on February 2, at which several championship events, not yet allocated, will be decided. The programme for this meeting will be arranged next week.