SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 21007, 22 January 1932, Page 5

SWIMMING

1 NOTES AND NEWS

[By Hooker.]

FIXTURES. 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 Centres Batt Cup harbour race. February 18, 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 Amatetir Swimming Club; Fridays and, Saturdays, Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club. Club hours are at the Municipal Baths from 8.45 to 9.45 p.m. SOME BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES. Not for years has keenness and form been so well maintained by swimmers as has been the case this season, and with five carnivals already decided swimmers are now reaching the top of their form. The .Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club, with exceptionally large entries, had the benefit of the solid training that has been indulged in, especially by the contenders for championship honours, and the club’s annua! carnival on Thursday night of last week proved one of the most successful fixtures held here for some years. Despite unfavourable weather there was a large attendance of the public, and the club should be in the happy position of showing a profit on the meeting—quite a good, feat these days. With many fine performances being registered, there was none to surpass the remarkable effort of Reg.'Geddes in his attempt on the New Zealand intermediate boys’ 100yds breast-stroke record of 77 4-ssec which previously stood to the credit of Clame Heard, of Christchurch. Heard registered his time in 1923, and the following season represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games. Various prominent members have attacked Heard’s figures without success, but when Geddes recorded 79 4-ssec at the Otago championships last month it was thought with a little more training lie would go close to the Olympic swimmer’s time. Unpaced, the Kiwi champion swam brilliantly last week, and it says something for the interest taken in the event that the crowd was on its feet with enthusiasm as he flashed over the last 25yds, it being realised that he was going to get under or be near ijhe record. When the time (76 2-ssec) was announced there was a great demonstration, and Geddes has added another to his many laurels. He is still the holder of the junior boys’ breaststroke record, and it is a noteworthy fact that he has never been beaten in an Otago or New Zealand breast-stroke championship event, having three New Zealand junior titles to his credit and being the present holder of .the New Zealand intermediate breast-stroke championship. ' While Geddes performed so well on the breast-stroke, W. J. Jarvis was giving the crowd something to talk about about by the times ho was recording in the free-style races. Although now in intermediate ranks, Jarvis is barely fifteen years of age, and there is no telling to what heights he will yet attain. In winning a heat of the 50yds handicap under 17, Jarvis, swimming with a beautifully clean stroke, touched first in the fast time of 27 2-ssec, leaving the length behind in 16 ,l-ssec —the fastest time recorded by a local swimmer for many a long day, if not actually the best on record. In a heat of the 33 l-3yds handicap he also clocked in at 16 3-ssec, and it can be taken for granted that he will be fit to swim the race of his life over 100yds at Wellington to-day and to-night. ' While Geddes and Jarvis may have overshadowed the other competitors last week, there were many interesting races, and had Val Newall been extended, he would have registered considerably better time than 6min 13sec for the 440yds men’s championship. Otago has not many seniors of championship calibre, but the standard is improving, and Newalll is one of those assisting in that improvement. The ex-Wanganui boy is now holder of both the furlong and quarter-mile titles, and as he has the free, easy stroke that is well adapted for distance swimming, he is expected to swim well in the forthcoming Batt Cup race. Ted Turgis wen quite a fair race for second place, leading M. Taylor in by 3yds. The latter deserved his placing, as there is no swimmer who trains more conscientiously or one who shows more sportsmanship. Brian Kerr took the opportunity of doing a work-out for the New Zealand backstroke championship, and swam practically all the way on the backstroke, maintaining a very even clip and finishing well. Dunedin Club is achieving the same success in relays this season as fell to the lot of Kiwi last season, 'and added the six-a-side relay championship to the four-a-side won last month. Last week marked the first occasion that Dunedin has won the Olds Challenge Shield, and the win was an impressive one, the time of Imin 50 3-ssec lowering the previous Otago record by 1 2-ssec. Byrnes and Jarvis swam particularly fast lengths, and Reg. Geddes cut his wav through a clinking last length for Kiwi, which occupied second placp. It is some time since such an even standard has been witnessed in a diving handicap, and the most gratify-

ing feature was the much-improved form shown by the scratch mau ; Roy Calder, who finished just outside a place. He was securing a much better bight than at the Otago championships, and dived with much of his old boldness and grace. There is every indication that he will he right back to his best form for the New Zealand championships. The Otago and New Zealand champion, Mick Walker, was not a competitor, and so far no word has been received as to whether he will be available for the meeting at Timaru. He is at present working in the country. The winner was R. O. Johnson, the most improved diver in Otago. Wellknown as a New Zealand representative athlete, he has made great progress in his diving under the coaching of Calder, and now ranks among the province’s best. ‘ , Alf Eckhold and A. Williams filled second and third, places respectively, and both dived well. The latter is only fifteen years of age, and should be a worthy' successor to Peter Mathieson, the present intermediate boys’ champion, when the latter emerges into the senior division.

Three promising young Kiwi swimmers filled the places in the final of the 33 l-3yds handicap under 14, and the winner, W. M'Cusker, is a lad who has come on well during the present season Off Bsec, he won in 25 2-ssec,' which made the task of the hack-markers, S. Jarvis and J, Barry, beyond them. W. W. Buckland, who filled second place off the 6sec mark, is a youngster of whom a good deal more is going to be heard. He swims with a nice, clean stroke, _ and has a good leg action, though inclined to become flurried at the end of a hard race. Miss I Linkston, who was third, is a swimmer who will meet with a lot of success if,she sticks to her training. . After performing well in the diving handicap, Alf Eckhold came out to win the final of the 33 l-3yds handicap in 20 l-ssec, swimming a useful length. Dunedin occupied all the places in this event, H. Adams being second and W. J. Jarvis, who was conceding the winner ssec, third. The placed men ■finished almost in line, a tribute to the good handicapping of Mr W, A. Jenkins. Adams is a new swimmer who is shaping well, and he also finished third in the 50yds handicap under 17, behind J. Gardiner and E. Tease, The winner, Gardiner, is a first-sea-son member of the Kiwi Club, and a product of the Kiwi Club. He is attentive to training, and under the watchful eye of Mi W. H. Buckland, his stroke is being developed along the right liqes, He is one of the youngsters who must be in line for tbe Kiwi Club’s improvement medal. A feature of the 50yds handicap under 17, was the race between J. Barry and S. Jarvis, tbe province’s outstanding juniors. The former reversed the placings of the Otago chamnionships and finished a shade ahead of jus Dunedin club-mate in bis .heat.

Peter Mathieson, the Otago intermediate backstroke champion, is coming along well on this style of swimming, and his win in the 33 l-3yds backstroke handicap was the result of a good swim. In his heat he returned 23 3-ssec, being three-fifths of a second slower in the final. J. O’Driscoll is another improved performer, and swam into second place, while Ray Nuttall occupied third place in his first serious attempt at backstroke. Miss Maxine Mathieson was a nonstarter in the ladies’ dash, but the consistent Miss J. Taylor went a solid race to head Miss G. Rix, who was conceding the winner 3sec. Little Miss Rix appeared in practically every race on the programme, and was going as well at the finish as at the start. It will not be for want of trying if she does not win the New Zealand junior girls’ breaststroke championship. Some very good performances were put up in the 100yds interclub breaststroke handicap, and the winner, F. Pearson, who is a newcomer to competitive swimming, showed surprisingly good form, and won the final in 83 2-ssec, which has not been bettered very often in local 1 competition. Pearson uses a fine sweeping stroke and gets a great glide, and if he can stay the distance should offer opposition to C. Durand in the 220yds men’s breaststroke championship on February 2. J. O’Driscoll filled second place after winning his heat in 89 4-ssec. He is just out of junior ranks, and is a most versatile swimmer, showing a lot of promise on free style, backstroke, and breaststroke.

A coming champion on the breaststroke is little Miss Olive Buckland, who is only eleven years of age, but swam into third place in the 100yds breaststroke handicap. She was in re l ceipt of 22sec handicap, but was up against senior swimmers, and it was only in the last few' yards that she began to fade. She has a very smooth, rhythmical stroke, and next year should be in line for New Zealand junior honours. In the dual relay handicap some keen racing was witnessed, the winning pair being A. Murdoch and Miss M. Bewley, both of whom have shown improved form this season. Miss Bewley is taking her swimming seriously, and should make a good showing in the Kiwi Club’s ladies’ championship. M. Taylor and Miss J. Taylor swam well for second place, especially considering that the former had swum in the 440yds championship (third), 33 l-3yds handicap (second in his heat and unplaced in the final), six-a-side relay championship for the Kiwi Club, second in his heat of the 33 l-3yds backstroke handicap, and unplaced in the final, first in his heat of the dual relay and second in the final. Indeed, a strenuous evening’s swimming even for a swimmer as fit as “Morrie” Taylor.

THIS WEEK’S CHAMPIONSHIP

PROSPECTS

By the time these notes appear in print the New Zealand intermediate and junior championships will have been opened at the Riddiford Baths, Lower Hutt, and though all the entries were .not known here at the time of writing there is no doubt that a very high standard of performance may be looked for, and it will not surprise if in the 100,yds, for instance, as fast time is recorded as by the seniors at Timaru. Reg. Geddes, Walter Jarvis, Noel Crump, and Pat M'Grath—what _ a galaxy of talent in one race in the intermediate boys’ division, and there are others. Sorting out the winner of

this event is no easy task, as all the swimmers mentioned have been registering good times in their own centres ; but conditions vary, and the issue is indeed open. Crump’s 58 4-ssec at the Auckland championships was only twofiths outside the New Zealand record by W. Cameron, and Walter Jarvis beat Crump in the junior 100yds at Ashburton last year. There was little between Geddes and Jarvis over either 100yds or 220yds at the Otago championships—a race went to each—and last year M'Grath beat Geddes in both 100yds and 220yds intermediate boys’ championships, which the Southland boy won. So one can see the possibilities in this event.

Crump’s 2min 34 2-ssec at Auckland is an intermediate boys’ record, but the Auckland water is a long way faster than that of Dunedin, and it will not surprise to find both Geddes and M'Grath extending the Aucklander over this distance. Geddes will also contest the 440yds championship, in which he was third last year. The Otago boy has a heavy programme ahead of him, but lie is fit, and if he stands up to the demands that arc made of him he should make Majc Redman move fast; while Bullivant, of Wanganui, is another whose name has been mentioned as a possibility in this event. On times there is no one to touch Geddes, the present titleholder, in the intermediate boys’ breaststroke" event, even allowing for his strenuous programme. G. Low, of Canterbury, looks to have a mortgage on the intermediate boys’ back stroke championship, which will be contested for the first time, but there is likely to be competition for the minor places with M'Grath, of Southland, and P. E. Mathieson and W., J. Jarvis (Otago) helping to make things, interesting. If it interferes with his free style races Jarvis is unlikely to swim in the back stroke event. Mathieson is sure to be very hard to beat in the intermediate boys’ diving championship, which has been won by an Otago representative on the last four occasions.

In the intermediate girls’ class Otago is not represented, and competition will lie probably between Miss N. Ludlow, of Auckland, who beat Miss M. Leyden (who represented the northern • province last year) recently, and Miss Shona Campbell, present holder of the 100yds title in this division.' Miss Campbell, it has been reported, has not been swimming up to her best form, and, on the other hand, Miss Ludlow registered good times at the Auckland championships. Competition may be lacking in this class, but fast time is likely (o be recorded in the breast stroke event, in which the titleholder is Miss D. Dowman, who broke the record at Ashburton last year. Miss Dowman was beaten at the Auckland championships last week by Miss J. Webster in the record time of 61 ■l-Ssec —1 l-ssec better than the existing mark—and it does not seem likely that outside of Auckland there is anyone to lower Miss Webster’s colours.

The junior girls’ division was a strong one last year, and most of those who took part will again be competing at Lower Hutt. They will probably include Misses llhoda Low (Canterbury), Patty Sporle (Manawatu), Edna Rainey (who broke a couple of New Zealand records at the recent Auckland championships), and Otago will be represented by Miss Winnie Newall in free style and breast stroke events and by Miss Gwen Rix in the breast stroke. This is an aggregation of talent that is likely to set record marks in both 50yds and 100yds, and here again the winner is by no means certain. Miss Rainey won at Greymouth two years ago, but did not reproduce her best form at Ashburton last year, Miss Newall ousting her out of a place in one event. (Miss Sporle is the present New Zealand titleholder, and as all the girls named have been doing fast times at the provincial meetings there should be some great tussles. Miss Rix is likely to keep the opposition busy in the breast stroke event, and hers would be a most popular win. The junior boys are largely an unknown quantity, and in this division Otago shoukLbe-well represented by J. Barry and S. Jarvis, either being a likely point-getter. Otago has had the War Memorial Shield twice now, and only firsts count for points. Canterbury, Otago, and Auckland all look to be well in the picture this year, and the next two days should see some thrilling disputes before the destination of the shield for another year is decided. LIFE SAVING AT ST. CLAIR. The life saving competition between the two St. Clair teams and the Sumner life saving team at St. Clair last Sunday afternoon was witnessed by many thousands of enthusiastic spectators, and should give this branch of aquatic activity in the province a big boost. The St. Clair teams, under the instructorship of H. D. Gillies, have made marked progress this season, and the display of the No. 1 team against an experienced combination like Sumner shows what can be achieved by practice and keenness. The conditions for the contest could have scarcely been worse than they were. Heavy seas and a strong sweep towards the baths made the work of bringing the subject to the shore a real trial, and it was little wonder that St. Clair No. 2 team failed in the most important of the tests. The patient reached the buoy after a desperate struggle, but the beltman did not reach the subject, and patient, support, and beltman swam back. The team has no reason to be disheartened, for even the most experienced of life savers would have had difficulty in dealing with the bad current on Sunday. Sumner’s work generally was proficient and neat, but the beltman experienced the same difficulty as all the others, and the support towed the patient to him. The heavy seas that arose separated all three, and as the patient had to swim the team, of course, lost heavily. However, generally the visitors were a shade ahead of St. Clair, and won the competition by an 8-point margin. The exhibition given by the St. Clair No. I team augurs well for the future. The team has made great advances under the instructorship of H. D. Gillies, and as it is largely composed of young swimmers should develop into a strong combination. It was fortunate in having an experienced support such as Stan. Fogg on Sunday, for he had to tow the subject a long way before the beltman, .). L. M'lmloe, who had been swept towards the baths by

the current, reached him. Taken all through, the team performed well, and the large crowd was very well pleased with the displays that were given. SPLASHES. So far as The men’s sprint contest is concerned, followers of the sport are wondering if R. Frankham, who covered the distance in exceptionally ’ fast time at the Mount Eden Baths a few weeks ago, is' capable of defeating the New Zealand champion, G. Bridson, who has never beaten Frankham’s time in fresh water, and such speedy sprinters as R. Thomas, A. Raper,, J. Enwright, W. Smith, and R. Porteous (says the Auckland ‘ Herald,’ in reviewing the prospects for tho provincial championships). The medal presented to the Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club by Mr D. Thomson is to be awarded for competition among swimmers who have learnt this year. There will be three distances —a width, two widths, and 25yds. The races will be swum off l on February 26, March 4, and March 11, and the series of races for Mr J, H. Jarvis’s medal will take place on February 26, February 27, and, March 4. His medal is for competition'on the same lines, for boys and girls (learners), under * twelve, there being three races over 2oyds. The W. F. James Cup competition will be held on February 26 and 27 and March 4, and the J. J. Clark Cup contests on the same dates. Entries for the centre’s carnival on February 2 close on Friday next, and for the Batt Cup they will close the following day. Dunedin A scored a convincing win in its water polo match against its B team by twelve goals to one, and‘while Val Newall was in great form and shot seven goals, one of the most dashing A players was \V. J. Jarvis. R. J. Fleming missed narrowly on several occasions, while for the B team J. O’Driscoll, who is a most improved player, was often prominent. I was handed a clipping by a swimming enthusiast last week, its date being January 2, 1905. It contains results of the New Zealand championships at Wanganui, and as showing the diffei«nce in times compared with those of to-day it is interesting. J. M. Hamilton, of Christchurch, won the 100yds from C. D. Campbell (Wanganui), and D. Nevin ’ (Wellington) in 67sec; the 440yds from E. T. Heggiun, in 6rain 59sec; and the mile on his own in the then record time of 30min 37sec. “ Boy ” Charlton has satisfied the critics that he could come back, and his brilliant victory over Noel Ryan in the New South Wales 880yds championship in lOmin 22sec was one-fifth of a second faster than the world’s record swim of Johnny Weismuller at Honolulu in 1927. Andrew Charlton looks like once again winning an Olympic title for Australia.

The next event of importance so far as the Kiwi Cluh is concerned is its annual harbour race over a mile triangular course on January 30, and entries for this event close on Monday next. On February 6 the club picnic is being held at Purakanui, and a start is shortly to be made with the various club championships. The junior boys’ and girls’ championships, the intermediate handicap, and the new members’ events will be swum early next month, and the club championship, ladies’ championship, and diving championship will be decided shortly after the national championships at Timaru. Recently Nancy Croft, a fourteen-year-old Sandgate girl, registered 68 l-ssec for 100yds, and will probably win several titles. This time compares favourably with those of Sydney girls (says a Queensland writer). It is a matter for regret that there is a paucity of back-stroke swimmers pn Canterbury, but L. J. Moorhouse, of the United Club, showed at the interclub carnival on Wednesday evening that he has lost none of his old dash (says the ‘Sun’). Swimming unopposed in the Canterbury 150yds backstroke championship, he was timed to do Imiu 53sec —four seconds outside his own New Zealand record of 1.49 —thus winning the title for the sixth time. Moorhouse has been national champion for five years, and was a dominion representative at the Olympic Gaines in 1928. A promising youngster in this style of swimming is G. Low, of the Christchurch Boys’ High School, who has had his stroke developed by Moorhouse for the last two seasons. He is also a member of the United Club, and won the intermediate boys’ 100yds backstroke championship of canterbury this week by halt a length, being clocked ■-in at Imin 10 4-ssec.