BUSY PERIOD AHEAD

Evening Star, Issue 22471, 16 October 1936, Page 4

BUSY PERIOD AHEAD

TOUR BY AUSTRALIAN TEAM The Otago Centre’s annual meeting on Monday night was a most enthusiastic one, and arrangements were completed for what promises to be a very busy season, most pleasing being the definite clinching of the tour of the Australian swimmers during November and December. The support : accorded the tour has been most gratifying, and appearances are definitely being made at Oamarn, Dunedin (2), Invercargill, -Milton, Balclutha, Alexandra, Ternuka, Ashburton, Westport, Christchurch, Nelson, and Wellington, with the possibility also of an appearance at Blenheim. Most of the guarantees are now in hand, and Air Dudley Hellmrich, who is to act as manager and coach of the visiting team, has been advised that accommodation is being booked by the Wanganella, leaving on November 14. W. Fleming, the Queenslander, is not only one of Australia’s finest free style swimmers, but is also a fine back stroke exponent, and bis races hero with Walter Jarvis and Peter Mathieson, to mention but two, should be worth going a long way to-see. A. O’Connor (New South Wales) is a brilliant diver, and the fact that he has victories to his credit over Harry Tickle is sufficient recommendation. The season will be given a good start with a big carnival on Labour Night, at which the big attraction will bo the special appearance of L. Newell, of Canterbury, who holds the New Zealand 440yds, half-mile, and mile titles, while A. T. F. Stokes, former New Zealand mile and 220yds champion, has also promised to come from Christchurch to compete at this carnival. The event that will create most interest will be the 440yds invitation handicap, and besides Stokes and Newell invitations to compete are being extended to D. H. Symes (New Zealand 220yds champion and former national 440yds champion), J. D. O’Driscoll (who pushed Newell so close in the national quarter-mile in February—bo has not yet made a start, and is a doubtful entrant, however). P. E. Mathieson, E. Toase, and Neil Williams. Most of these competitors! will also he seen in the 300yds handicap, and .Mathieson will bo among the starters in tbo 66 2-3yds hack stroke handicap. The programme is an attractive one, and already large entries have been received. Entries close next Wednesday. “ Learn to Swim Week ” will bo held from November 9 to November 14, butowing to the first appearance of the Australians being made at a carnival on November 24 no carnival will bo hold this year in connection with “ Learn to Swim Week ’’ activities. The appearance, of the Australians will probably coincide with the visit to Dunedin of H.M.S. Achilles, so that a really bumper night should bo arranged on that occasion. The Otago intermediate and junior championships will bo held on December 9, and the .senior mooting on January 26. the Batt Cup harbour race being arranged for January 24. On Boxing Day swimmers will bo catered for by the Macandrcw Bay regatta. and there will also bo a selected team going to Mocraki for the centennial carnival there which is being arranged by the Otago Centre. DUNEDIN NOTES With the club hours in full swing and increasing attendances, most of the members are now getting down to solid training. Doreen Baliantyno is showing improvement on the breast stroke, and now that she lias mastered the starting dive will be hard to boat in junior events. Joan Dougherty is also improving, and lias the makings of a lino little breast' stroke swimmer. Wallace and Malcolm I'l‘Gregor are very keen young members, and nonkl practice the leg kick more. They are very “ game.” Bruce APGregor has the makings of a champion and should win some races tin's season in the intermediate class. Sylvia M‘Kay is a, regular attemler at the club hours, and she should ;/wo

make an endeavour to attend the early morning .session. Miss (Iwcn Kix, the ladies’ deputycaptain, is now hard at work coaching some of the juniors in diving. Both Hazel Cleary and Loo Cornish are doing solid work on the hoards under the watchful eye of the ladies’ national champion. Bruce Ingram, the national junior boys’ diving champion, is now in the intermediate class. He has settled down to training, and should give a good account of himself in Iho intermediate hoys’ diving championship. Alan APTaggart has commenced solid training, and should he one of the club’s best distance .swimmers. He is keen and lias any amount of natnr.il ability. Brian Kerr, the popular mu' capf-vn and the equally popular -puty, Ted Toase, are both training, and also spend a good deal of time coaching other club members. Miss Maxine Mathieson, _ the ladies’ club captain, is very busy with mom hers who attend the early morning session at the baths, prominent among them being Misses Pat Duncan. Jocelyn Harris '.Moira Caddie, Hazel Cleary, and Alice Hill. Alan APTaggart. Cyril Ferguson, and Brnce and Jack Ingram are'also regular attenders. The next euchre party has been postponed from Saturday night until October 24. LIVE SPORTING BODY “ A real live sporting body,” was how Air J. L. APlndoo (the patron) described the Otago Centre at the annual meeting on Alonday night, and he was earnest in his opinion that the steady growth and development of the sport" in Otago was due to the enthusiasm and hard work of tho men comprising that body. Tho centre is fortunate in being able to call upon tho of so many experienced men, and with the new blood that has been introduced a very successful year seems in prospect. It was assured that Air W. A. Jenkins would be re-elected to the position of president, an office he has filled with great distinction and conspicuous ability during the last few years. He was at the head of affairs when the national championships were staged here, and in their successful carrying out he played no small part. Air Jenkins is also the centre’s starter, and this position ho has also held for many years. He relinquished the duties of handicapper, and these will now bo carried on by Air D. Pickard, who made a success of tho assistant handicapper’s job last season. Last year’s vice-presidents have all been re-elected, with the addition of Air J. APTaggart, whose sound administrative ability and practical work at tho head of the Property Committee thoroughly entitled him to the honour. Air APTaggart is one of the soundest swimming officials in Otago and a man with a good knowledge of the sport, as well as experience in many other brandies of sport. Air Brian Kerr’s retirement as treasurer will bo regretted, for he devoted a lot of time and work to that office, but the centre is very fortunate in being able to avail itself of the services of Air F. E, L. Forrester, who is so well known in connection with the activities of tho Schools’ Sports Association, Air Forrester has been a good committee member, and with an arduous year ahead of the centre its finances could not ho entrusted to better hands. Mr D. C. Bannatyno is again educational officer, and many tributes were paid concerning his work last season.