CHAMPIONSHIP SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 21319, 25 January 1933, Page 4

CHAMPIONSHIP SWIMMING

INTERMEDIATE AND JUNIORS AT INVERCARGILL PROSPECTS DISCUSSED { [From Our Special Reporter.] INVERCARGILL, January 24. The stage is all set for the New Zealand intermediate and junior swimming championships which commence here on Thursday afternoon, and practically all of the visiting swimmers have arrived, the town being alive with youngsters wearing multi-coloured ribbons and blazers. It is but three years since the intermediate and junior meeting was separated from the national championship fixture, but the increased interest in the intermediate and junior classes, and the growth in entries have proved that the step "’as a wise one. Already teams from. Auckland, Manawatu, and West Coast have arrived, and the Canterbury team arrived by car to-night, several of the boys in this party being under canvas during their stay in Invercargill. Members of the South Canterbury and Otago teams, and one from Hawke’s Bay, arrived by the through express to-night, and Wellington is also to be represented. . The enthusiastic reception accorded the Otago team when it trooped off the train is but an indication of tiie enthusiasm that is being evidenced here for a meeting which promises to provide the best swimming all round since the inception of the intermediate and junior classes. • It seems to be generally agreed that the contest for the War Memorial Shield, will be largely fought out by Auckland and Otago, who have been keen rivals, for many years past. Auckland and Otago tied for the trophy on one occasion, and Otago won in 1930 and 1931, Auckland beating Otago by half a point at Wellington last season. Only first placed swimmers arc awarded points for tiro shield, and as both Auckland and Otago have largo representation competition should be exceptionally keen. Southland is strongly, represented, and there, aro swimmers; from the other provinces who may score a win here or there, affecting either Auckland’s or Otago’s position as the case may be. The championships actually commence on Thursday afternoon, when heats will be swum, hut the 100yds intermediate boys’ championship, which is expected to" bo the classic race of the meeting, will not be swum until Friday. W. J. Jarvis, Otago intermediate 100yds and 220yds champion, is not competing in the 440yds intermediate boys’ championship on Thursday, but he has consented to take part in a special 50yds invitation scratch race in which he will be opposed by Eddie M'Convillc (Canterbury), whom he beat in the New Zealand record time of 25sec last Thursday, and also by P. H. M'Grath (Southland), The ex-New Zealand intermediate 100yds and 220yds champion. This race should serve Jarvis as an excellent tune-up for the hundred the following day. It is the intermediate bovs’ division that is attracting most interest, since several phenomenal young swimmers are rated in this class. During the last two years Walter .larvis (Otago) and Noel Crump (Auckland) have had some rare battles over 100yds. At Ashburton in 1931 Jarvis beat Crump by a touch in New Zealand junior boys’ record time. Last year, at Lower Hutt, Crump beat Jarvis by less than a yard in 60 4-ssec in the New Zealand intermediate boys’ championship. The two boys will clash again here, and with both boys doing 58sec or better a marvellous race is anticipated. Crump has done better than 68sec since arriving in Invercargill, and Jarvis is expected to do the same, so that it can be taken for. granted that whoever wins must go close to record time. Otago supporters pin their faith on Jarvis, and in addition to this pair there are other good hoys in the hundred, including W. Johnson (Auckland) and W. Morris (a Whaugarei swimmer who is representing Auckland). Although Johnson is only fifteen he is not far behind Crump, and at Auckland broke the Now Zealand ■ intermediate record for 220yds, when lie was second to Crump. Johnson did 2miu 28scc and Crump 2min 2Gsee, but it is reckoned that 2min JOsec will’win at Invercargill. Crump’s shares are most favoured for the furlong, hut Jarvis is certainly likely to get well under 2min 40sec, and should at least be found in a place. Crump dead-heated with C. Bullivant, of Wanganui, in the 440yds intermediate boys’ event last year, and is a likely winner again, although good reports precede E. Guilford (South Canterbury), whose times are certainly impressive. R. Watkins (Hawke’s Bay) was third in this race last year, and is said to he an improving swimmer, while Otago will be represented by Reg. Geddes and J. O’Driscoll. Gedclos may stand a chance of gaining a place, but he has not done the time of several others in the event. In the 100yds intermediate hoys’ breast stroke, however, it looks likely that Geddes will win this title for the third time, as no one else has got near to his recent Now Zealand record time of 75 3-ssec. It is probable, too, that C. Elliott will take second place for Otago. The intermediate boys’ dive has been won five years in succession by an Otago representative, and A. Williams looks good enough to carry on the scfuioncc. C. Eckliold (Otago) has not Williams’s finish, but he should he capable of gaining a place, though the Soutlilamlcrs (R. Brown and R, Wesney) may extend him. ,

in the intermediate girls’ division, Miss Edna Baincy (Auckland) has

registered the best times this season, having done G 7 l-ssec for 100yds and 2min 64sec for 220yds. This is her first intermediate year, however, and she will find the Manawatu star. Miss Patty Sporle, a swimmer who will take some beating over the 100yds particularly. Miss Sporle was a record-breaker as a junior, and she has the temperament for championship swimming. Miss J, Walls (West Coast) has done good time for 100yds. and Misses R. Low (Canterbury) and W. P. Newall (Otago) are also well-performed swimmers, but their times have not yet approached those of Misses Rainey and Sporle. who seem likely to fight out the issue in both the 100yds and 220yds. In the 75yds intermediate girls’ breast-stroke, however, Otago should be well to the fore, and the race is expected to lie between Miss R. Low (Canterbury) and Miss M. Pockson (Otago), with the latter hard to beat. The Auckland girl, Miss Ashby, may also be in the picture. The junior boys’ 100yds and 220yds free style events should produce great swimming, but in view of the great 200yds trial registered by Sid. Jarvis (Otago) just before his departure from Dunedin, Otago supporters are very hopeful of his retaining his titles, despite the strong opposition likely to come from M. Cleary and A. Pasco (Auckland). M. Hopping (AVellington), who was second to Sid. Jarvis in the New Zealand 100yds junior boys’ championship at Wellington last season, is also a competitor. Jarvis is also competing in the 75yds junior boys’ breast-stroke, in widen he was second last year, and it is expected that Southland and Otago will fight out the issue in this event. '

The junior girls division is comprised of new material, so that it is hard to predict freely regarding the likely prospects. Otago is represented in the free style events by Misses A. Gilles and R. Jarvis, and though the former’s time does not compare with that of Miss Pat. of Auckland, she is an improved swimmer, and should lower her Dunedin times. Miss Johnson may find opposition from Miss J. Robertson (West Coast). In the 50yds junior girls’ breaststroke, the title-holder. Miss C. Walters (Auckland), will meet with strong opposition from Miss O. Buckland (Otago), who is expected to go close to the record. The Southland Centre is controlling a New Zealand championship meeting for the first time, and judging from the preliminary arrangements the future promises to be a big success. The president of the Southland Centro is Mr A. Kingsland, a keen and capable official, and the secretary is Mr M. A. Hunt, himself a swimmer of more than ordinary ability a few years back., Messrs J. A. Wilson and E. Salisbury have charge of the programmes and advertising, and Mr L. Foster of the billeting, which has been no light task since forty swimmers have requested billets.

An extensive entertainment programme has been arranged, among the trips to be taken being a visit to the Underwood Factory at Wallacotowu, a social function on the Saturday night, and a picnic at Oreti Beach on Sunday, at which a demonstration will bo given by .the Oreti, St. Clair, and St. Kilda Life Saving Clubs.