SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 21641, 9 February 1934, Page 6

SWIMMING

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[By Hookeb.]

The Otago Championships. A striking indication of the improvement in Otago swimming was afforded by the performances at the Otago senior championship carnival on Tuesday night and in the events that were swum off last week. Many of those who have been putting up fast times in the intermediate and junior divisions have now graduated into senior rank, and their influence was felt at this year’s carnival, times being recorded that would have been reckoned impossible of accomplishment not so long ago. AV. J. Jarvis showed in winning the 100yds in the Otago record time of 57 4-ssec that his form at the intermediate meeting was no real criterion of what ho is capable of this season. He showed improvement on the turns, and swam with a well-relaxed arm action and more powerful drive than he has shown previously this season. He was swimming with such ease and dash that Otago supporters are hopeful of Lis chances in the national hundred, despite the times that Noel Crump has been registering in the faster Auckland water. Crump’s phenomena] swimming makes him an opponent to be reckoned with, but Jarvis must now stand as a contender for national honours. It has been only recently that the St. Clair man has devoted any attention to _ back stroke swimming, and after so solid a hundred he did well to take second place in the 150yds back stroke. His style stamped him as a performer of promise, and though tired towards the finish he has it in him to achieve further honours at back stroke. His versatility was further indicated by his win with H. Devlin in the 100yds life-saving championship. While the 100yds was. reckoned the big attraction of the evening, the great performance put up by S. AV. Jarvis in the 220yds Otago championship should not he overlooked. The Dunedin lad still has two years ahead of him in the intermediate division, his participation in.a centre senior championship having no effect upon his status.He is, of course, unable to compete in a national championship without losing his intermediate status, and for that reason could not be selected for Christchurch. For a boy who will not be 15 till June to return the Otago record time of 2min 32 2-sscc is nothing short of phenomenal, and it is doubtful if there are many boys of bis age in the world who are capable of improving upon this effort. Besides being the possessor of so proficient a style, J arvis has always shown excellent racing judgment, which was again revealed on Tuesday night. " His excellent turns stood to him, and his easy win suggests that it will not be long before ho gets under the 2.30 mark. The Zenith man, G. Field, was one of the disappointments of the meeting, and swam less impressively than he has done on previous occasions, the fast pace set in both the 100yds and 220yds being too much for him on the night. Although not the possessor of a graceful style, Field is a very strong swimmer j but it may be that he has been sacrificing style too much for power. Nevertheless, he is capable of better than he showed on_ Tuesday night, and will not disgrace himself in the best of company.

Sharing the spotlight with the Jarvis brothers in the senior championship has been J. D. O’Driscoll (Dunedin) ~ and his record of three senior titles and two Seconds is one to be proud of for a swimmer just on the verge, of senior status.' After winning the 440yds last week he carried off the half-mile in the Otago record time of 12min 19sec, and then won the milo in 24min 25 l-ssec, also an Otago record- In both these races lie swam with excellent judgment. While he has great possibilities as a distance swimmer, his seconds in the hundred and 220yds events stamp him as no mean performer in the shorter events, and he has a very bright career ahead of him. The ladies’ events were not notable for fast times, but promise was shown by several of the competitors. _ Miss Gwen Rix’s grit and determination played no small part in her victory in thd 100 yards, and she also took the honours in the 440 yards event in her first appearance over this distance. The Dunedin representative is a great little_ trier, and next year should be showing improved times in the intermediate division.

Miss Nancy Olds, the Kiwi Club’s ladies’ champion, won two_ titles and unset calculations by taking second place in the ladies’ hundred. AATth a little more attention' to form she would have to be reckoned with on the crawl. It was a pity she had no opposition in the 220 yards ladies’ breast stroke, since she showed promising style, and with a little more pull will return improved times. She, too, has another year in the intermediate class, and next season should make her presence felt, especially in the breast stroke, Mrs R. Galbraith showed lack of form, fading badly over the last lap of the 100 yards, in which she could do not better than third. She was not showing anything like her free stylo of a season or two back.

The absence of Reg. Geddes, owing to indisposition, deprived the 220 yards men’s breast stroke championship of interest, but the race between C. Elliott and C. Durand was quite one of the best of the night. Elliott (Dunedin) swam impressively to win in 3min 20 3-osec, and with the added power he has acquired is' a first-class exponent of the style. This was his first competitive appearance over the distance, and he stood out as one of the most improved swimmers at tho meeting. The _ 150 yards men’s backstroke championship was won well by P. E. Mathieson, the Kiwi representative setting a new provincial record of limn 52sec, good enough to win a national title in most years. Mathieson is very fit and possessed of great dash, but at the close of this race it was noticeable that he did not preserve his form to any degree. AVith more attention to style he would be capable _of getting new New Zealand record time, especially if he can maintain his present rate of improvement. His advance on free style has been equally noticeable, and his second in the mile last week was a fine effort. He set out to win in the only way ho could—by making a hot pace from the start. In the last few laps, however, he could not maintain it, and finished about Byds behind O’Driseoll.

The absence of Roy Calder from championship diving competition was regretted by all, but if the competitors

in the men’s dive did not reach Ins flawless standard at least they performed very creditably, and R. O. Johnson thoroughly deserved his championship, which followed a similar success in the polo vault at the athletic championships on Saturday. Johnson dived with greater consistency than hjs opponent, showed more control of his body in the air, and obtained a good flight. His difficult voluntaries, performed well, made him a comfortable winner. Arthur AVilliams dived below form, and it was no wonder since he twisted his back in training when trying to avoid a swimmer under the boards a day or so before the meeting. He did not get bis usual height from the boards, and in one or two dives lost points through bending the knees as he was about to enter the water. He did not show the confidence of his opponent, but is capable of better performances without a doubt. The ladies’ diving championship was a very close contest between the exNew Zealand champions, Miss Joy Eggers and Mrs E. C. Isaacs, and tho issue was in doubt all the way. The former scored on her voluntaries, and brought the Zenith Club its first championsliip success. Considering the short preparation she had undergone, Miss Eggers dived extremely well, and though she lacked the polish of Mrs Isaacs in the coinpulsories, made up for this by her performance in the voluntary numbers. Her Tsander with a half screw was well attempted, and though the Tsander might have been more marked this dive was sufficient to regain for her the title she lost to Miss Foote last season. AA’inncr of the national title ton years ago, Mrs Isaacs made a surprising come-back effort, and the Kiwi competitor’s neatness and finish in the compulsories were particularly noticeable. Of her voluntaries her one and a half somersaults from the low hoard was her best effort, but she failed to get height with her pike dive with a half screw, and this led to her defeat. A feature of the handicap events was the success of the Zenith Club’s swimmers, who won all but the relay, which went to Dunedin. AV. Stewart, improving intermediate, took the 50yds open and 50 junior and intermediate. Miss K. Cleary won the ladies’ 33 l-3yds, and a promising newcomer from Timava, S. Rutherford, won the 33 l-3yds second class handicap in 18 2-ssec. Zenith Notes.

The club’s carnival has given a fillip to training, and there have been good musters at the Y.M.C.A. pool every evening, Many of the members have been busy preparing for the club championships, which commenced on Monday night One race in each division will he run off nightly until February 15, when the whole series will have been decided.

Points for the trophy have been scored as follows:—AV. AV. Buckland 25, AV. Stewart 17, G. Thomson, Miss D. Turnbull, and Miss M. Cleary 12, Miss Joan Thomson 10, Miss O. Buckland 9. M. Buckland 7. Miss A. Turnbull 5, Miss L. 'Harris 3, Miss M. Stewart 2, Miss B. Collier 1. , Zenith’s prospects in interchib competition next season look very bright in view of the material the club has to draw on, especially in the junior and intermediate classes. D. AVilcox is expected to be a tough proposition in the intermediate class. He trains well, and improves his style with every swim. 11. Stewart is another swimmer with promise of fast times next season. He is in the junior division, and if he buckles to regular training should make a good impression in this class. Similar remarks may be applied to A. Hayward. Misses Reeves and M‘Lean are being rewarded for their enthusiasm by the improvement in their speed and style. Zenith’s first annual picnic will be held on Sunday, March 4, at AVarrington, and a cordial welcome will he given to any members of sister clubs who may come, Dunedin Doings. The club’s annual picnic is being held at Brighton on Sunday, February 25, the party being conveyed by buses leaving at 10 a.m. Club championship races and visitors’ and novelty races will be held. Twenty-two entries have been received : for to-morrow’s club harbour swim for the James Cup, an interesting contest being anticipated. At the last committee meeting, Clive Elliott was elected deputy-captain of the club, and Miss L. Gordon deputy ladies’ captain. Mr R. C. Stackhouse was elected delegate to the Otago Centre in place of Mr T. AA 7 . Thomson, who recently left Dunedin. The club extends its congratulations to J. Byrnes, D. Newall, J. D. O’Driseoll, and P. AA T . Harkess, who havebeen selected to represent Otago at water polo at the national championships next week. J. Barry has resumed training, and should soon be back to form. K. Leckie is another member who has been laid aside through illness, but it should not be long before he resumes club activities. The team for the flying squadron relay at the club’s carnival will bo S. Jarvis, J, D. O’Driscoll, E. Toase, J. Byrnes, and B. Kerr. The club’s most promising junior girl. Miss R. Jarvis, lias left Dunedin to attend the AA r aitaki Girls’ High School, and should take honours there_ as she is the present provincial junior cliampib.i. Kiwi Notes. AVitli carnivals and water polo matches there have been quite a few breaks in the club hours lately, but normal routine has now been resumed, and following the return of the Kiwi representatives from the national championships the club championships will be commenced. In the meantime the handicap cup series are being resumed, so that during the next month or two there should be plenty of activity at the club hours. Members were pleased to see little Ted Jenvey back at the club hour after a long absence through a broken leg. He is a keen little swimmer, and should soon be showing improvement. Miss Joan Jenvey is making good progress, and Miss Jean Jenvey promises to develop into a good little diver before long. Miss Doherty is an intermediate who shows some promise as a diver, and with her keenness should do well on the boards.

The club’s team for the flying squadron relay at the Dunedin carnival will be: —Reg Geddes, A. Thomas. P, E. Mathieson, O. Holland, and M. Taylor. Members sympathise with Reg. Geddes in not being able to swim at tho championships on Tuesday night, and he was also missed from tho club’s A team, which drew with St. Clair A at water polo last Saturday night,.

This was a well-contested and enjoyable game, and there is no doubt that several of the club’s players have benefitted from the tips they received from Mr lan MacKillop during his visit to Dunedin. . , Miss Pat Taylor is getting hack to her old form, and a second came her way in the ladies’ 50yds at Port Chalmers. A. J. Leeden is easily the most improved senior in the club, and, where a few weeks ago ho was doing 22scc for a length, he did 18 3-ssec in one of the heats of the 88 l-3yds second class handicap on Tuesday night, and lllscc for 50yds. Ho realises the value of acquiring a smooth clean stroke, and has been working hard in this direction. Miss A. Gillies deserves .credit for entering for the 440yds ladies’ championship of Otago, and. although only a season out of junior ranks finished the distance for second place about a length behind the winner. There is no more conscientious swimmer in the club, and with 'the coaching she receives from Miss M. Boulton she should develop into a good distance swimmer later on. She was well to the fore in handicap events on Tuesday, although she had a heavy night’s swimming. Jack Benfield showed that he can still carve out a fast length by the relay on Tuesday night, and was a member of the team that swam into second place. If he had the time for regular training ho would do well in the handicaps. Morri'i Taylor has been training hard lately, and', besides captaining the Otago’ water polo team, will compete in handicap events at the national championships. The Otago Team. Otago will be represented by a larger team at the national championships at Christchurch than has probably ever been the case at a senior meeting before, the championship competitors numbering nine, while a water polo team is being despatched, and the province will also be represented in the flying squadron by W. J. Jarvis, J. D. O’Driscoll, Reg. Geddes, G. Field and ■I. 0. Byrnes, a team which should be well in the running for a place. The polo side may not win the championship, but it is capable of extending strong opposition. W. J. Jarvis, J. D. o’Driscoll, and P. E. Mathieson are young swimmers who should all perform well, and if in form after his lay-off Reg. Geddes will not be far out in the 'breast stroke. R. 0. Johnson should do better in the men’s diving than was the case last season, and in the ladies’ diving Miss Eggers and Mrs Isaacs should do well. Miss Maxine Mathieson should benefit from her spell, and may gain a place in the ladies’ 220yds breast stroke, and if she elects to swim in the Annette Kellermau Cup race, which she won last year, should again be prominent. Although he did not perform up to expectations on Tuesday night, G. Field is capable of a much better performance at Christchurch. . The appointment of Mr W. A. Jenkins as manage; of the party is a very popular one, and a better choice could not have been made than the worthy president of the centre. Associated with him as delegate at the annual conference will be Mr W. H. Matthews one of the soundest men connected with swimming in Otago, and one with wide experience in. the world of sport. Port Chalmers Regatta. Swimming has come to be an important part of" regatta programmes, and at Port Chalmers some good competition was provided last Saturday. C. M'Gregor, the Otago junior champion, who has been a most consistent place-getter this season; won both the 60yds junior and intermediate handicap and the 100yds interclub, and there is no doubt that the experience he gained at Palmerston North has beuefitted him. Another much improved swimmer is Neil Williams, who was second in .the 100yds and third in the 50yds. He, too, has met with considerable success this season. G. Field and E. Toase both swam well in the 50yds event from backmarks, and C. K. Jenkins again indicated his possibilities by winning the final of this event. He has a promising style, and only needs to concentrate on it to win a lot of races.

Miss Olga Ferguson was one of the most successful competitors at the meeting, winning the backstroke and the diving handicaps. Like Miss Gwen Rix, she is a very versatile performer. Splashes. The Dunedin Club’s carnival is invariably one of the best fixtures of the year, and in view of the largo entries that have been received for next Tuesday’s meeting this should prove to be no exception. There are several special attractions, including a match between the Otago representative water polo team for Christchurch and The Rest, who should field a strong side. The flying squadron 500yds relay championship should be a spectacular event, and an exhibition of fancy diving will be given by C. Kekhold, A. Williams, and R. 0. Johnston. A well varied list of handicap events has been arranged, including a six-a-side relay. The congratulations of swimmers will be extended to W. N. Wood, of the St. Clair Life Saving Club, on accomplishing the swim to White Island last Friday afternoon. Conditions favoured the attempt, otherwise it is safe to say that such an experienced and capable swimmer as Wood would not have made the swim with only a canoe to accompany him. However, the precaution was taken of carrying a life belt in the canoe. Wood maintained a steady pace all the way, and finished strongly. It is stated that the distance is abont one and a-ejuarter miles, but only experienced swimmers should be encouraged to take part in such an attempt, and then only if reasonable preparations are made. Wood will be a competition in the Batt Cup harbour race, and should certainly have to be reckoned with.

The Otago team will take part in a carnival at Ashburton on the return journey from Christchurch on February 22, and special invitation 50yds and 100yds scratch races have been arranged. It was noticeable during the progress of the diving championships on Tuesday night that there was a good deal of difference in the scale of awarding points adopted by some of the judges. For instance, in the men’s event one judge gave 8 points for a dive, which received only 4 points from another judge. It is true that the highest and lowest points are disregarded, and tiro averages of the others taken, but it does-seem that there should be some more uniform system of marking, and an occasional conference of the local judges might be held,.