SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 22193, 22 November 1935, Page 4

SWIMMING

NOTES AND NEWS [By Hooker.] FIXTURES. November 24.—St. Clair Life Saving Club’s Sagar Cup surf competition. December 4.—Dunedin Club’s carnival. December 7.—Toko. Club’s open carnival, Milton. December 11.—Otago intermediate and junior championships. January 8. —Toko. Club’s open carnival, Milton. January 14.—Kiwi Club’s carnival. January 18.—Kiwi and Zenith Clubs’ harbour races; Toko. Club’s open carnival, Milton. January 25.—Kaikorai Club’s annual carnival, Kaikorai Baths. January 28.—Otago senior championships. February I.—Otago country clubs’ championships, at Milton. February 2.—Batt Cup harbour swim, at Macandrew Bay. February 4.—Zenith Club's annual carnival. February 5. —Maori championships, at Rotorua. February B.—Cromwell Club’s annual carnival. February 9.—Dunedin Club’s harbour race. February 15, 17, 18, and 19.—New Zealand national championships, at Dunedin. February 20.—Visit of champions to Milton. February 22 and 23.—Now Zealand surf life-saving championships at Dunedin. Club hours: Mondays (8.45-9.45 p.m.), St.. Clair and St. Kikla; Tuesdays (6-7) and Thursdays (8.45-9.45), Kiwi; Wednesdays and Fridays (8.45 to 9.45), Dunedin; Saturday (8.459.45), Kaikorai; Tuesdays (8.45-9.45), centre’s polo hour. All club hours mentioned above are at the Municipal Baths. Zenith Club hours nightly at the Y.M.C.A. Baths, except Friday. WELL-KNOWN HARBOUR SWIMMER Visiting Dunedin during the week was Jack Young, winner of the Annette Kellerman Cup harbour race in 1934 at Christchurch, who intends making a bid for honours again in February.

Jack was originally a member of the Oamaru Club, and is now linked lip with the Elmwood Club in Christchurch. He is a great swimming enthusiast, and hopes to be in Dunedin for the Otago intermediate and junior championships on December 11. SYD. JARVIS DOWN TO SOLID WORK Syd. Jarvis, the New Zealand intermediate 100yds, 220yds. and 440yds free style champion, will have a very busy season. He will be defending his free style titles at the New Zealand intermediate and Junior championship meeting at Hamilton in January, and no doubt will again contest the diving event in which lie was second at Timaru last .January. Soon after his return from Hamilton he will almost certainly represent Otago at the senior national championships, and over 220yds and 440yds should be a very valuable second string for his brother, while Jack O’Driscoll, the national half-mile champion, may also be tackling these events. Walter Jarvis has Syd. concentrating ou his stroke just now, and improved performances may be put np by the triple title-holder at the Otago intermediate championships next month. Syd. has great staying power, determination, and fine racing judgment, and because of those qualities he should bo capable of giving a good account of himself over the 880yds distance. Since Davo Lindsay, former New Zealand champion from 220yds to one mile, is likely to be a competitor, the stronger the opposition that nan be provided the more interesting will bo the racing. SOUTH AUCKLAND PROSPECTS The New Zealand intermediate and junior swimming championships this season will be held in Hamilton, starting on January 27, and extending over three days. The senior championships will be held in Dunedin late in February. This will be the first time any New Zealand swimming championships have been decided in Hamilton, and the South Auckland Swimming Centre Is already patting in band arrangements to ensure an outstanding success. The centre has few potential champions, though a 10-yonr-old Maori girl, Nawi Kera, is expected to take some beating in several junior events. •Reports from Rotorua indicate that several Maori swimmers are likely to make the intermediate- championships very interesting, but their times have not yet been ascertained (writes ‘ Sporting Life's ’ Hamilton correspondent). .They are being coached by .1. R. .Perrin, the swimming tutor of Billy Whnreaitu. Whareaitu is likely to bo South Auckland’s only representative at Dunedin (unless a diving troupe is included), and with his enthusiasm, consistency, and overseas experience, ho has very good prospects of returning with one title.

WELLINGTON OFFICIALS The annual meeting of the Wellington Centre was marked by a show of considerable enthusiasm, and there will be a general wish that the northern province will be represented at the New Zealand championships in Dunedin especially in the water polo which Wellington won in 1929. The new chairman of the centre is Mr D. S. N. M'Cartney who has held office previously and who is well known to many Otago officials who have visited I national championship meetings. He has been associated with the sport for many years, and in his younger days competed in breast stroke events at the New Zealand championships, while he also represented Hawke’s Bay at water polo. There will be general approval of the Wellington Centre’s decision to nominate Mr N. N. Oldershaw for the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association’s annual blazer, for he has done a great deal for swimming both in Nelson and Wellington. Mr Oldershaw has been secretary of the Wellington Centre for five years, and held office at the time the New Zealand intermediate and junior meeting was held at the Riddiford Baths, Lower Hutt, in 1932. He made a thorough success of that job, and proved very popular with visiting swimmers and officials. He is also secretary of the Hutt Club which numbers in its ranks some of Wellington’s best performers including Miss Peggy Price, the New Zealand ladies’ diving champion, who will probably be seen in action in Dunedin in February. For years he was also a leading member or the Nelson Centre. DUNEDIN DASHES The club’s junior divers are getting into form for .'the championships next month. The junior girls are Miss Leo Cornish and Miss Hazel Cleary. These two young divers execute the compulsory dives quite well. Miss Cornish will have to keep her legs straight when doing a half-screw, and not break her tuck in the back somersault if these dives are her voluntaries. Miss Cleary needs a little finish in her hack dive by pointing her toes and aim for more height when doing the Pike dive. The junior hoys will be represented by Doug. Lecikie and Bruce Ingram. Under, the coaching of Mr W. H. Matthews these boys have improved greatly and with three weeks to go should be • able to knuckle down to their voluntaries and give a good showing. The intermediate boys’ dive will see the holder of the title, O. Eckhold, and S. W. Jarvis and N. Williams, his club mate, in good form. Miss G-. Rix is diving very well at present, and will be defending her Otago title this season. R. O. Johnson, Otago men’s champion, is getting into form, and will also defend his title in two months’ time.' Entries for the carnival close next Wednesday, and the voluntary clives must be in the day before the carnival. The following are required to attend next Wednesday for a trial for the 500yds flying squadron team; —S. Jarvis," J. D. O.’Driscoll, J. Barry, E. B. Toase, B. Kerr, K. Leckie, N. Williams, C. Elliott, J. Clulee, and ( any others who wish to qualify. Polo practices have started, and will continue every Wednesday night. Those members wishing to take part are requested to attend every Wednesday for practice. ' New members recently joined are Allen Wood, Walter Taifc, Des. and Leu. Simpson, Ron Ritchie, and Misses D. Parsons and M. Ritchie. 1 IN HARD TRAINING

After three weeks’ training as a naval reservist on “ H.M.S. Dunedin, Peter Mathieson, the New Zealand 150yds back stroke champion, is back in Dunedin, and training solidly with a vie\v to being in top form by the time the | New Zealand chamI pionships are de- | cided here in Feb- "■ ruary. Peter holds all the New Zealand back stroke records except that for the 100 metres, and he should add to his list this season. His supporters will not be surprised if he improves upon his New Zealand record of Irain 45 4-ssec for 130yds back stroke during the present season. ZENITH ACTIVITIES The past week has, perhaps, been the busiest experienced by the club since the beginning of the season, and every night the attendance at the learners’ session has varied between 40 and 50. It is all fairly hard work for the youngsters in this session, but they all appear to enjoy it, and so efficient is Mr Buckland’s organisation that everyone receives his or her proper share of tuition. That the majority of them, even the very small ones, are benefiting from the coach’s efforts is indicated by the fact that during the past fortnight quite a number of them have gamed sufficient confidence to kick across a width without the aid of tubes, while others arc almost ready to move up among the improvers. Sydney Cooper, Norma Scott, and the youngest of the three Dowlancls are a trio who have made remarkable progress, aiid all three can now manage a length—no mean achievement after only a couple of months’ tuition. What is more satisfactory still is the fact that they are all developing an easy, relaxed style, with the future prospect of a satisfactory glide. Don M'Leau is also coming along nicely, and has commenced arm work. J. Paterson is at present concentrating on his breathing. He is one of those conscientious workers who insist on understanding thoroughly every step in his instruction before lie wifi

leave it to go on to something else, and that this method of doing things is having beneficial results is shown by the rapid progress he has been making during the past few weeks. He should be fit to go up a grade before long, and it would not be surprising, Inter in the season, if he were fit to compete in shorter handicap events. There has been an encouraging reshuffle among the improvers, a good many of whom can now account themselves as reasonably proficient, although, of course, they have a long ■way to go before they can be put on to speed work. Tom Ellis, Jim Wills, Alan Deuchrnss, Harold M'Combe have all moved up a grade, and should be able, later on, to have a tilt in competition. M'Combe is gradually overcoming a habit of dragging his left leg, and is building up a nice, even kiefle. Ellis shows promise of being a speedy and stylish freestyler, but he requires to pay close attention to what is told him with regard to his starting dive. ’ The new, full-sized pingpong table, in full glory of its green stain and white edging, has been set up in the clubroom, and is proving a popular acquisition among the seniors and nonswimmers. It is proposed to turn the other table over entirely to the younger members. A junior to the senior tournament is shortly to be held, and arrangements are already in hand to draw up a programme that will not interfere with the coaching sessions. The new chib captain, 1. Guthrie, has taken over his duties, and is throwing himself into his work with an enthusiasm that is helpful to the club and the members in general. KIWI JOTTIMGS Members are now down to solid work for the Otago intermediate and junior championships, and, though the club’s best juniors are a little inexperienced for championship competition, there should be strong representation in the intermediate division, especially among the girls. In her last year in intermediate competition, Miss Alice Gillies is swimming better than she has ever done before. As a junior she won the Otago junior girls’ 50yds and 100yds free stylo championships, and was second in the 50yds breast stroke championship. She represented Otago in the New Zealand

intermediate and. junior championships at Invercargill in 1933, and was placed third in the 100yds, and also reached the final of the 50yds. She has Ifeen placed in Otago intermediate and senior ladies’ championships, and has held the Kiwi Club’s junior girls’ and ladies’ championship cups. The improvement in her stroke is due to the attention she has paid to her training. Her arm stroke is smoother and more relaxed than it has been, but her kick still needs more power and relaxation. A fault she should guard against is the clenching of her hand after it has left the catch position. Her back stroke is very powerful, but the entry of her hands needs to be altered.

Miss Islay Piirdio is one of the best sprinters Otago has seen in this division for some time, and she should do well in championship swimming. She is very fit, and swims easily on the water, gliding over rather than in it. She needs at present to pay attention to her arm stroke.

Miss Greta Harris is another comparatively new swimmer, who shows great promise on back stroke and free style. If she were more consistent m her training she would improve very quickly. She is inclined to slide her arm badly as she turns her head to breathe, but she is gradually overcoming this habit.' Miss Elina Abernethy is showing good form in interclub competition just now, and this intermcdiaTo is another sprinter who shows great promise. She has a very powerful kick, and with training should improve her arm stroke. She is very keen, and should be to the fore throughout the season. Competing in the intermediate breast stroke championship, Miss Winnie Dunn shows every sign of putting up good time next month. She is in good form, but needs to pay more attention to her timing and arm stroke. Sho has returned fast times over the 100yds distance, and should have no trouble in maintaining these over the shorter distance.

Moving up from junior ranks, Miss C. Knowles is now showing the improvement expected of her. At the present time she is swimming well, and should give a good account of herself in the intermediate championships. The ‘ Star ’-Police carnival, organised bv the club last week was a great success, and the demonstrations staged by club members were much appreciated. ft is intended to put on a similar carnival in a month or two. Mr Don. Watson is doing good work with the club’s polo players, and an interesting lecture was given last week. There should be keen competition for places in the A team, while there should be no lack.of players for the B team. Although he has not been swimming very long, little V. Kckhoff shows natural ability on the diving boards, and he has been taken in hand bv the club captain, P. F. Mathieson. He docs a fair back somersault, and also a ono-and-a-half in tlie rough, good eliorts for such a little fellow.

The handicap cup series, both junior and intermediate, were commenced last night, and will be, continued each Thursday night at the commencement of the hour.

The new Saturday night 6-7 hour was instituted last week, .and was well attended, and there was another good crowd present on Tuesday night. No fewer than 21 members have put their names down for water polo practice, and with the competition there will be for places in the two teams an improved standard should. result before very long. The club’s annual carnival is to be held on January 14 and the harbour race on January 18, and it is'also intended to stage a special "intermediate and junior carnival in March, it being . considered by then that many of the promising young swimmers will have progressed sufficiently to make an entry into competition. Owing to illness Miss Agnes Brown has not been able to attend the club hour lately. Members wish her a speedy recovery. D. is a keen junior who is practising hard to improve his kick. He should develop into a good exponent of the crawl. Olynton Lawrence is one of the most conscientious swimmers in the club, and should bo a candidate for a place j in the club’s four-a-side team. Owen Holland is showing great keen- ; ness for water popo this season, and " should be an asset to the club teams. Bob Hector, who has given good service to the club over a long period of years, is doing a lot of valuable coaching this season, and is already beginning; to get results. Mr G. H. Peat is another who puts in a lot of time assisting the younger members. The dub captain, Peter Mathieson, is doing line Work in the organisation of tho'water polo, while he and his deputy, A. Thomas, along with the ladies' captain. Miss M. Boulton, have charge of the organisation of the 'big series of handicap races to bo held during the next month or two. Miss Frances Johnscn is a new intermediate girl who shows promise. - With attention to her stroke she should soon be ready for competition. KAIKORAI COMMENTS The outdoor swimming season is much later tliis year on account of adverse weather conditions. In the near future, however, the club’s third active season at the Kaikorai Baths should commence jn earnest with improved facilities and an increased membership. The working bee which was formed last Saturday afternoon made a, good job of the work accomplished. The task was made lighter by the afternoon tea generously provided l by Mrs M. Horton. The club has a good batch of youngsters who are not only keen members, but also regular attenders at every session. Those deserving of mention are M. Monaghan, J. Flett, B. Fea, A. M'Leod, D. Brown, and R. Fea. Two new junior boys, C. Barr and L. Butterfield, will bo swimming in club events before very long. The first of the junior championship events will commence on January 11 and will be continued on subsequent dates. The junior handicap events will take place directly after the championship events have been decided, which will' probably he in February. Instead of only one cup for the girls and boys’ junior championships, there will be a cup for each, section this season. Miss E. M'Shane is a recent acquisition to the club. She shows promise, and if she perseveres should keep the opposition busy. Another new member. Miss J. Hughes, will make competition in- the club’s intermediate section more interesting. Her sister, Miss M. Hughes, also shows promise. The senior men’s ranks have steadily increased, the latest recruit being D. M'Lauchlin, who is in charge of E. Moore. The senior men’s championship programme for the coming season is as follows: —100yds, 220yds, and 440,yds free style, 100yds and 220yds breast stroke, and ISOyds back stroke. The dive is to be a separate event this season. The first of these events will commence with the 100yds free style on December 7. The 100yds breast stroke will be held on the following Saturday. OUT OF ACTION Two of the best divers in the Dominion will be out of commission when the New Zealand National Championships are decided at Dupedin in February. They are Bill Hassan, winner of the New Zealand men’s title on the, last two occasions, and Artie Wesney, run-ner-up on the last three occasions. Wesney has been out of action as the result of two serious operations, while an Auckland writer states definitely that Hassan will not be available as he is now a professional instructor at the Mount Eden Baths, SPLASHES Leu Moorhonsc, winner of the New Zealand men’s ISOyds back stroke championship on many occasions and a former Olympic representative, has returned to Christchurch after a visit to the south, and will bo seen in action very soon. There is some likelihood of bis making a return to championship competition, and though lie may not be able to touch tba record time set by Peter Mathieson last year he should add interest to the back stroke event if he elects to compote. Alex Stokes, the former national champion, has stated definitely that he will not be a competitor at the New Zealand national championships. He is training hard in Christchurch, but only for the siirf championships which are to be held at Dunedin on February 22 and 23.

The Balclutha Club was to have held its opening carnival on November 30, but it has been postponed until'December 7. when it is hoped that a number of Otago swimmers will lake part.

Tlie Toko. Club lias also, had to postpone its opening day, but already its energetic secretary, Mr N. C. Marriott, has distributed the programmes lor the country clubs’ championship meeting to be held at Milton on February F ai d this fixture should mark a new phase

in the development-of country clubs’ swimming in Otago. The New Zealand Council has received advice from the Minister of Internal Affairs that from a, fund at his disposal it has been possible to devote £IOO to the' educational work of the association. , ■ ■

At this early stage of the season it is yet too soon to suggest the strength of Wanganui’s representation at the New Zealand senior championships, to be decided at Dunedin in the middle of February. However, it is fairly certain that the centre will be represented a t - the senior championships, and the junior and intermediate championships at Hamilton should also find a fairly large team of Wanganui swimmers in action (says a Wanganui writer). The hon. secretary of the Taumarunui Swimming Association has written expressing dissatisfaction with the alteration in boundaries, placing the King Country within the Taranaki Centre. It has asked that a centre be formed for the King Country. The council resolved that the letter be received, and that the secretary make further inquiries.

Indications point to very large entries being received for the Dunedin Club’s carnival on December 4, and the secretary of the club (Mr P. W. Harkess) predicts a most successful meeting. There are several special attractions on the programme for, this meeting, including the 500yds flying squadron relay championship of Otago, the Kiwi ADunedin A water polo match, six-a-side interclub relay handicap, a 100yds short limit handicap. (lOsec limit), and a 220yds handicap. The policy of blubs putting on longer distance events is meeting with the support of the competitors, and is appreciated .by the public. The Otago Centre’s sub-com-.mittees for the New Zealand championships are hard at work, and special mention should be made of the practical work already done by Mr J. M‘Taggart, convener of the Property Committee, which is one of the most important of all. Mr M'Taggart has gone thoroughly into the question of accommodation at the baths, facilities for competitors .and officials, and arrangements in this direction are now well in hand.

The Dunedin Oiub’s next euchre party is to be held at the Baths tomorrow night. These functions have proved, very successful, and those responsible for them are to be congratulated on the enjoyable entertainment that is provided. Mr J. Hislop, the Hawke’s Bay delegate on the New Zealand Swimming Council, is returning to Hawke’s Bay, and at the last meeting of the council it was resolved to place on record an expression of its appreciation of Mr, Tlislop’s services to swimming over many years, and of bis services as a member of the council.