SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 21078, 15 April 1932, Page 16

SWIMMING

NOTES AND NEWS [By Hookbe.] FIXTURES. April 15.—Primary schools’ championships conclude. April 17.—440yds ladies’ championJAp (St Clair hour). April 21 —22oyds ladies’ and 880yds men’s (Kiwi hour). April 23.—One-mile men’s championship (Dunedin hour). April 20.—Kiwi Club’s open night. April 29.—Boys’ High School carnival. May 7.—Otago Centre’s carnival. 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 till 9.45 p.m. CENTRE’S INTERPROVJNCIAL CARNIVAL. It was originally intended to hold the final carnival of the season at the Municipal Baths on Tuesday, May 3, but owing to the inability of the Southland swimmers to be represented on that date it has been decided to alter the date to Saturday, May 7, and a big contingent of Southland swimmers is expected to take part. I have received word from the Southland intermediate champion, P. H. Al'Grath (ex-New Zealand 100yds and 220yds intermediate boys’ champion) that a big crowd is likely to come up from Invercargill. J. Murdoch (the Southland diving champion), J. Mac Gibbon (Southland 100yds men’s champion), F. Springford, R. Brown, Miss Nancy Basstian, Miss Moira M'Grath, and P. H. M'Grath are regarded as certainties, and there are others who anticipate taking part. M'Grath anticipated that Southland will bo able to field a representative relay team and also a water polo team, and in view of this the centre has drawn up a most attractive programme which should draw a large crowd of spectators, especially as it will afford the only opportunity of seeing in action the Otago representative water polo team that was runner-up in the New Zealand championship. The Otago Centre is organising the carnival with the co-operation of the University Swimming Club, and the students are arranging several events for which entries (closing on April 30) will be taken by Mr S. Fogg, captain of the University Club. The university 133 l-3yds interfaculty relay championship for the Fogg Cup will be decided, and another novel event will be a six-a-sido relay championship between representatives of Selwyn College and Knox College. The other events open only to students will be a 66 2-3yds university handicap, and a 50yds university Lilies’ handicap. Prizes for these events are being given by the University Club. An exhibition of diving will be arranged, and it is hoped to include one or two Southland representatives in this display. . The other events will bo the interprovincial water polo match between Otago and Southland, a 50yds interclub ladies’ handicap, 100yds interclub handicap, and 33 l-3yds junior and intermediate boys and girls’ handicap. A novelty item will be a balloon race, which should cause much amusement. Competitors will be required to swim a length of the baths with a balloon, blow the balloon till it bursts, and swim hack to the other end. Entries for all events will close on Saturday, April 30, and as the swimmers will be keeping in training for-the various championship events coming off shortly there should be some fine swimming witnessed. DISTANCE CHAMPIONSHIP _ The Otago Centro is to be commended on its decision to swim off the remaining championship events, and for the first time for a number of years the one-mile championship is to be held. It has been allotted to the Dunedin Club, and will be swum on April 23. Indications point to quite a good entry for this event) and also for the 880yds championship (which carries with it the Roberts Cup), which is to be held at the Kiwi hour on April 21. Val Newall is a sure competitor in both events, and in view of his good performances in the distance events this season must be hard to beat. Other likely competitors are M. Taylor and D. Pickard (both of whom have been putting in some steady training), B. Kerr (who has proved his staying power on previous occasions), and J. O. Byrnes (who is best known as a sprinter, bub has shown himself to be a good all-round swimmer). S. M'Kenzie has not yet decided whether he will defend his 880yds title, but it is hoped that he will do so, and I understand there is sohio likelihood of Reg. Geddes being a starter in the half-mile. With such a field a good race is in prospect. The 220yds ladies’' championship will be held at the Kiwi hour on April 21, and the 440yds at the St. Clair hour on April 18. Miss Maxine Mathieson has not done a great deal of training since the New Zealand championships, but should be still good enough to win, though Miss Jean Taylor may be relied on to give a good account of herself, over the longer distance particularly, One or two others may come forward to make interesting the contest for the minor places. SECONDARY GIRLS’ RELAY. The success of the Technical team in the annual girls’ secondary schools’ relay was well deserved, and it is worthy of note that the swimming shield has been held by only two schools, Otago Girls’ High School and the Technical High School. Girls’ High School had a long run of successes from 1923 to 1930 (inclusive), and during the time was able to call upon some very fine swimmers, including Miss Kathleen Miller, who subsequently swam for Columba College, and also represented New Zealand at the Olympic Games in 1928. Making their first in the contest last season, the Technical representatives put up a very fine performance by winning the 133 l-3yds relay in the record time of Imin 33 3-5 sec. Of the team that participated last year, Misses Nancy Olds and Gwen Rix were again available, the former captaining the team that retained the trophy last week. The other members of the team were Misses A. Gillies and Z. Cochrane. Miss Gillies is an improving swimmer, and, though unable to hold Miss Winnie Newall over the first lap, did well to finish barely two yards back.

Miss Olds gave Technical a substantial lead, and it may bo said after that she is now beginning to show signs of her old form, though she might still endeavour to relax more. Miss Cochrane went quite a good length, and Miss Rix capped things off by swimming a speedy last length. Miss Rix has improved over the shorter distances, and now that she is getting more power into her pull, should bo making things interesting in the intermediate division next season. Technical’s inning time this year cut 3 l-ssec off the existing record.

Although Girls’ High School was not able to call upon the number of experienced swimmers that the winning team could, its representatives swam well for second place, and the Otago intermediate diving champion, Miss Olga Ferguson, showed her versatility by swimming a good length. Columba College filled third place, and after being placed in the lead by Miss Newall St. Dominic’s dropped back and finished fourth. The interest taken in this fixture and in the life saving competition, that is held in conjunction, indicates what might be expected if similar competitions could ho arranged among the boys’ secondary schools, but efforts to institute them have so far been unavailing.

ARCHERFIELD IVINS LIFE SAVING

The standard attained by the respective teams that competed for the life saving shield was a high one indeed, and although the writer was not present when the land drill was decided (no notification being given), the water work was sufficient to show that the various teams had been put through a very thorough preparation. No fewer than five schools participated, and the standard demanded of the teams in the water work was_ a high one. Rescues had to be carried out by tho first, third, and fourth methods, and the three methods of release also had to be effected. In addition, the competitors had to dive for an object from the surface of the water. ' •

Points were allotted for time, and also for method in tho water work, and in view of the very fine display of water work given by members of the Girls’ High School team it was surprising that only two points separated this team from the next highest in the waterwork, Archerficld College. Insufficient points seem to have been allowed for differences in times or there may not have been a great deal of discrimination in regard to method, but in tho writer’s opinion the Girls’ High School undoubtedly gave the most finished display of water _ work, this team and St. Dominic’s being the only ones who invariably landed their patients. Girls’ High School dropped points in the land drill, however, and tnis is where Archcrfield, giving a fine display, made up the leeway, winning tho shield with a total of 73J _ points compared with 71J scored by Girls’ High School. St. Domihic’s was third, with 70J, Columba next with 70, and St. Hilda’s totalled 68 points. No one will question the competence of the judges in this competition, as both have had a very long nnd varied experience in life saving .activities, but the writer would suggest that in future the Otago Head Centre should lay down some uniform system of points’ allocation so that there may be no call for comment It does seem that more importance should be attached to the waterwork than appears to be the case at present, and also that more consideration should he given to differences in times. No one, _ however, will begrudge Archcrfield its win. This school has a very fine record in life saving competition, and it is worthy of mention that the only schools that have held the Life Saving Shield have been Archerfield and Columba College. CARNIVAL IN CHRISTCHURCH. The sensation of the evening at a carnival in Christchurch last week was tho great swim of D. H. Symes in the 100yds scratch event for the Duncan Alemonal Shield (says the 'Sun’). Winning by a clear yard from A. T. F. Stokes in 0.57 4-5, he cut a second off E. Al'Convillo’s Canterbury record for the distance. Symes has improved out of sight this season, and from tho way he is going now he might show' G. Bndson, the Now Zealand champion, the way home over this distance at the next national championships. Symes was by no means the only one to crack a record. Aliss Shona Campbell, in ’the women’s 100yds scratch event, which she won in 1.11 2-5, lowered her own Canterbury record by 1 l-ssec; and C. Cliff, in the men’s 440, cut 4sec off E. Al'Conville’s intermediate boys’ Canterbury record, winning easily in 5.57. E. M'Conville won the men’s 50yds in 0.25 4-5, which equals his own Canterbury and New Zealand record.

The , ‘ Sun ’ adds: “After D. H. Symes’s great swim at the Canterbury Swimming Centre’s carnival last evening, when he won the 100yds scratch event in 57 4-ssec, beating IS. M'Conville’s Canterbury record by a second, the Elmwood man must be given more than am outside chance of beating Gordon Bridson over this distance at the national championships next year. At Timaru this year Bridson won the 100yds in 58sec. Granted that he was not fully extended and that the Timaru water was exceptionally slow, the fact remains that if Symes continues to improve as he has done this season Bridson will find it very hard to pace it with him next season. Symes is of very powerful build, and gets a tremendous pidl with his arm stroke. He beat Alec Stokes by a , clear yard last evening. Stokes is no sluggard over 100yds, but Symes made the pace too hot altogether for him.” SPLASHES. There will be disappointment in Dunedin that the state of the finances of the New Zealand Swimming Council precludes the possibility of Roy Calder being nominated for the New Zealand Olympic team. An appeal for funds at the present time could scarcely bo entertained without assistance from the council, and once again this directs attention to the fact that the campaign for raising funds for the despatch of teams overseas is always left until the last minute. Every effort will be made to have Otago represented in the New Zealand water polo championship at Napier next year, and, judging from the continued improvement of our polo players, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Otago will annex the championship next year. Mr J. L. MTndoe has wisely suggested the early selection of the possibles and probables, and if the team trains as intensively as it did this season it should again give a good account of itself. A suggestion that is likely to receive support is that a series of polo matches should bo staged at the baths one night next season and a charge made for admission just as to Rugby matches. At the Southland swimming championships last week P. H, M'Grath won the 100yds intermediate boys’ championship in Clsec from F. Springford. and Miss N.' Basstian won the 100yds ladies’ championship in 76sec. There was one entry only for the men’s diving, won by J. Murdoch, and one for the girls' dive, won by Miss L. Murdoch; and a cor-

respondent writing from Invercargill states that the standard was not a very high one in cither case. J. Mac Gibbon won the 100yds men’s championship in 66 2-ssec.

The new system of judging that was introduced for the diving at the Canterbury Swimming Centre’s carnival was such a success that it made one wonder why it was not introduced long ago; it has certainly como to stay (says the ’ Sun ’). After each dive the three judges each held up a card showing the number of points they had allotted lor it; tho average of the three dives was taken, and in the voluntary dives this was immediately multiplied by the computers by the degree of difficulty. Thus the placings could be announced as soon as the event was over, with none of the laborious calculation that is necessary under the old system. In future the spectators will be able to follow the dives with much more interest than in tho past. [This is probably the first time this system has been used since tho passing of the international rules.] Tho annual swimming sports of the Boys’ High School arc now to ho held on Friday, April 29, and the senior championship should bo marked by outstanding performances with W. J. Jarvis among the competitors. _ Other entrants for the senior championship arc likely to include A. Murdoch, P. M. Harkess, and C. Elliott. Tho primary schools’ championship meeting will conclude to-night, and m addition to the competitive events there will be a special attempt on the New Zealand 50yds record of 25 4-ssec, under official conditions, by W. J. Jarvis. Displays of swimming will be given by Reg. Geddes and Miss Maxine Alathieson. The writer has had a letter fronv. Air C. Kirkley expressing his thanks to ■ all those who so kindly helped to make tho trip of his sou, C. Kirkley, to Dunedin such a success. Young Kirkley made splendid progress on the diving hoards under the care of champion Roy Calder, and Air Kirkley, sen., desiring to express his appreciation in a tangible way, has offered the Otago Swimming Centro a trophy to be allotted to the Otago diving championship and to be known as tho Kirkley trophy. Air Kirkley’s generous action will be much appreciated here. ( The Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club s annual social is to be held at the Motor Club’s rooms on Thursday, April 2S, and tho prizes won during tho season will he presented at this function. Ju addition to the usual social gathering it is intended to wind up with a dance, and an additional attraction will be a ping pong tournament. Members of the club and of sister clubs are all being invited to bo present. Tho record of Aliss Jean Taylor, ladies’ captain of the Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club, is a very fine one this season. She has won handicap races at several of tho carnivals this season; she annexed the Eogg Cup for winning tho Kiwi Club’s harbour race, and with this goes a special order. She carried off the Batt Cup for finishing first in the Otago Centre’s harbour race, and to commemorate her dual win the Kiwi Club is presenting her with a special cup. She also won tho cup that goes to tho winner of the Kiwi Club’s ladies’ championship, and a medal for tho club swimmer taking part in the most events for which she was eligible. Surely a fine record! The Kiwi Club’s open night will be held on Tuesday, April 26, at tho baths—two nights before the annual social —and a programme of novelties is to bo arranged. _ , Diving should attain still further popularity in Dunedin as a result of the installation of a new board, conforming to the international regulations, at the Alnnicipal Baths. Another popular innovation is the opening of the late afternoon session for mixed bathing, a session that has proved popular in other centres.

Air T. Thompson, the Otago Centre’s delegate on tho New Zealand Council, is at present on a visit to Dunedin. “ Tommy ” was third in the last national diving championship, and gave a very good account of himself. If he is here for the carnival on Alay 7 he will probably take part in the exhibition of diving that is to ho arranged. Noel Crump added another record to his list this week when he beat C. Bullivant in the re-swim of the'44oyds intermediate boys’ championship at Auckland. These boys dead-heated at Lower Hutt in January. R. Frankham, who lowered the 50yds New Zealand record to 25 2-ssec, is a versatile performer, and at the New Zealand intermediate and junior meeting at Ashburton last year was second to R. W. Al'Loy in the intermediate hoys’ diving championship.