SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 22780, 15 October 1937, Page 4

SWIMMING

NEWS AND NOTES

[By Hooker.]

FIXTURES. November 3.—Otago Centre’s opening carnival. November 6.—Secondary school, boys’ life saving and relay competitions, at Oamaru. November 15-20.—Otago Centre’s “ Learn to Swim ” Week. November 18.—Secondary school girls’ life saving and relay competitions, at Dunedin. November 24.—Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club’s carnival. November 27.—Taieri Amateur Swimming Club’s opening carnival, at Mosgiel. December 6-11.—National “ Learn to Swim” Week. December 8 and 11.—Otago senior, intermediate, and junior championship carnival. • December 15.—Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club’s carnival. December (date to be arranged).— Batt Cup Harbour Race, at Maoandrew Bay. January 8, 10, and 12.—New Zealand National Championships, at New Plymouth. January 15, 17. and 18.—New Zealand intermediate and junior championships, at Nelson. January 29.—Country clubs’ championship carnival, at Oamaru. SWIMMING PRESIDENT HONOURED MR W. A. JENKINS'S SERVICES When the honour of life membership of the Otago Centro of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association was, comerred on the prc-nuent qur vv. A. Jenkins) at the'annual meeting on Monday night he was only the second to be so recognised, tho other being Mr J. L. MTndoo, who preceded Mr Jenkins as president. Mr Jenkins has been associated with the sport in all its phases continuously for a period of more than 30 years, and during his term as president has shown himself to be an ideal man for tho position. Tactful and scrupulously fair-minded, be has been a most successful chairman, and the close touch he has always maintained with the clubs and swimmers has been for the good of the sport. The work he has done to foster interest in the country districts is well known, and during the years he has been president he has seen the centre attain the greatest successes in its history. Two tours by Australian teams have been sponsored by Otago since Mr Jenkins became president, and at the head of the centre during these visits his work earned warm appreciation from the visitors, the manager of the last Australian team (Mr Dudley Hellrarich) stating that he had never encountered a more capable president than Mr Jenkins either in Australia or New Zealand. He also bad ciuuge wnon the national championships were so success-, fully staged by the centre in 1936, and it was that year that Otago secured the distinction of winning the Yaldhurst Shield, the War Memorial Shield, and the water polo trophy, thus gaining the recognition of supremacy in senior, intermediate, and junior championship competition, and at water polo. Mr Jenkins has acted as manager of Otago teams at the New Zealand championships, and for many years has been the centre’s starter, a position in which he has few equals. Ho also did line work as handicapper for many years, and is a member of the centre’s panel of diving judges. Indeed, there are few positions that he nad net i'- .u, aan in his younger days he himself was a fine swimmer. It was a very fitting thing that the centre should have recognised Mr Jenkins’s services by life membership while he is still in office, and the award is a most popular one. Mr Jenkins has been prominently associated with football, first as a member of the Union Club and later of the Otago Referees’ Association, of which he was president for a term. He is a keen supporter of the Albion Cricket Club, but bis efforts to foster swimming have made his name Dominion-known, and he has frequently been an official at national championship meetings. PLENTY OF COMPETITION BUSY SEASON AHEAD With the New Zealand senior national championships set down for decision on January 8, 10, 12, and the intermediate and junior championships on January 16, 18, and 19, an early start has been made with activities locally, and there will be no lack of competition before the holidays. The centre very wisely decided not to hold a carnival on Labour Night because, with the introduction of the 40-hour week, so many people will be out of town, and the opening carnival is now set down for November 3. The Kiwi Club is. staging its first carnival on November 24, and already invitations have been extended to Canterbury and Southland swimmers to comnete. while on November 28 the newly-formed Taieri Club will stage its opening carnival, at which a big contingent of swimmers from the Dunedin clubs will take part. The now dub has a very fine pool and a keen band of officials, and it should be only a matter of time before it is one of the strongest within the Otago Centre. It has been found necessary this year to combine the Otago senior, intermediate, and junior championships, and with the material available at the present time there should be some great sport when the provincial titles are disputed on December 8 and 11. Tho Dunedin Club will stage its carnival on December 15, and at this fixture the 500yds flying squadron relay will he oiio of tho features.

The Batt Cup harbour swim is also to be held before Christmas at Macau-

drew Bay, so that competitors have every reason to get down to solid training from the word go. Otago will bo called on to defend the Yaldhurst Shields at New Plymouth and the War Memorial Shield at Nelson, and physical fitness is going to play its part in deciding who will represent the province. KIWI JOTTINCB There was a splendid attendance of members, their parents, and friends at the Kiwi Club’s parents’ night on Tuesday, and although the season is just under way, it was most pleasing to see such activity in the coaching of learners and junior and intermediate competitive swimmers. Demonstrations were staged and a series of junior handicaps were raced off. Tho club has some most promising junior boys, and there was a real surprise in the 33 l-3yds boys’ handicap, under 14, when C. Sell beat J. Houston, both being off the back mark These are two of the best juniors in the club, and they should have some great races_ before the season ends Sell has a,nice style and makes full use of his reach. He is a strong finisher and should do well over the longer distances.

Ron Blanchett was also on the mark of honour, and is swimming well. He might get his elbows up a little higher with good results. lan Johnston is a good all-round performer, useful on the free style and back stroke and a promising diver. Harvey Newall is making splendid progress on the breast stroke, and should be ready to have a tilt at the junior title in December.

Edna Goldthofpe, the Otago junior girls’ back stroke champion, is training hard, and should not easily be beaten either at back stroke or free style this season in championship events. She is swimming in good form, but might raise her elbows a little. Noeline Peat, who was such a successful performer at the school sports last season, has been training a very short while, but she swam splendidly to take second place to Miss Goltdhorpe in the 33 l-3yds girls’ handicap, under 14.

Marjorie Goldthorpe is improving considerably on the breast stroke, and should be ready for interclub competition this season. She should endeavour to obtain a longer glide. Miss E. Joyce is a keen junior, and a girl who should be ready for competition this season is Betty Reid. The reward of consistent training came the way of Valerie Clarke, who won the 25yds handicap under 10 from th© 6sec mark, Dick Isaacs being second off the badk mark. Valerie is developing a proficient style.; Fred. Sharp won the 33 l-3yds boys under 12 handicap in good style, and is making good progress. He will have to settle down to solid training on the board,, for he has plenty of opposition in the club among the junior divers. Jim Purdio is one of the club’s best little exponents of breast stroke, and he should give a good account of himself at the forthcoming championships. Last season he filled third place to Ivan Wilson and Mac. Passmore.

Yvonne Wood scored a good win in the 33 l-3yds girls under 12, but must endeavour to overcome a tendency to roll She will overcome this fault if she makes her catch more in line with her ear.

Fred. Lee has settled down to bard work on the diving board, but he should try to get more height. David Caddie is a very keen junior, and is showing great improvement, but he should endeavour to keep Lis feet together. Valmai Payne gave a very good account of herself on Tuesday night in an exhibition of breast stroke. She should endeavour to shorten her pull, which will prevent her from jerking. She should concentrate on slow swimming for a while yet. There will be plenty of competition from the club in the Otago 220yds men’s breast stroke championship. Besides Reg. Geddes, Bill Carr, and Bill Dyson will be starters, and Carr and Dyson will also contest the life saving championship. Miss D. Stephen is doing plenty of training with a view to contesting the 75yds Otago intermediate girls’ breast stroke championship. Most improvement this week was shown by Raymond Wallace and Desmond Gibson. ■ The former promises to bo a good exponent of the crawl, but he must straighten his legs and get his elbows up higher. He is a real trier. After only a few lessons Desmond Gibson is showing plenty of confidence, and is beginning to show good flotation in the water.

Don Reid has several promising juniors in his charge, among them being Jack Holland, who has done very well considering the short time he has been swimming. S. Dagg is keen, but must keep his head up more. W. M'Dermott is concentrating on his legs, and doing better Vein. Agnew is on the boards again, and he and Peter Young should be a good pair to represent the club in the intermediate boys’ diving championship at present held by Agnew. The club is inviting Len. Newell, of Canterbury, to compete in a _ special 440yds invitation handicap at its carnival on November 24, and a Southland man and also a lady swimmer are to be invited to take part. With W. Johnson, D. H. Symes, J. D. O’Driscoll, and E. Toase invited to contest the quarter mile a great race should be seen. ZENITH NOTES Settling down to hard training has been the order at tho Zenith Club hour. Good attendances and keen spirits have created a busy air in coaching and swimming. The polo team is beginning to strike form, which augurs well for their showing in competition games. Ken Butler, new to swimming activities, is promising to be a fine free sMist, and proves himself very versatile. A probable entrant for the Otago junior and intermediate championships who is now able to train more seriously and who is really making a fine coach is Wynn Buckland. Jim Will, another likely entrant in the Otago junior and intermediate championshins, is taking his work more seriously. He is able to attend more regularly and should do well.

. Allan Campbell is an improving junior, and is developing a nice free style- . Youthful Miss Mavis Bodie, who shapes well, should soon be doing a length. The Social Committee is opening its activities by presenting a social evening on October 30, and it is hoped that there will be a good attendance of all members in the new and commodious club room. 11 LEARN TO SWIM " WEEK It was felt by the Otago Centre and also by delegates at the country clubs conference that December 6-11, the dates chosen by the National Committee of Swimming and Life Saving for the national “ learn-to-swim ” week, was not altogether suitable on_ account of the school examinations being held at that time, and the fact that the Otago senior, intermediate, and junior championships would have to be held during that period. It has been decided to co-operate in every way with the national body, but it has been found necessary to alter the dates for the campaign in Dunedin to November 16-20, and already clubs are being circularised asking them to submit names of their members who are willing to act as coaches. In the Tight of experience of previous years, a big effort will be tnade to systematise the method of coaching. SPLASHES The last meeting of the New Zealand Council considered a letter from the Southland Centre concerning a time elapsed application for a record by Miss Colleen Gerrard. The record was made on February 24, 1937, but the application form was overlooked and was not received by the council till September, 1937. It was resolved that the council had no power to consider the application, but the secretary was directed to forward a letter stating that the performance qualified for a record, and that a record would have been granted but for the technical disqualification The splendid balance sheet presented at the annual meeting of the Otago Centre on Monday night reflected great credit upon Mr P. E. L. Forrester, who was re-elected to the position of treasurer. Delegate from the Roxburgh Club, Mr Forrester has done a lot to encourage the sport in the country districts, and as a former president of the Otago Schools’ Sports Association he is also able to maintain a close contact between the centre and the schools. A keen and capable official, Mr Forrester has worked very hard in the interests of the centre during the last year, and members were not slow to express appreciation of his work at Monday’s meeting. Miss Islay Purdie, the New Zealand 220yds ladies’ recordholder, is leaving nothing to chance in her preparation for the Empire Games, and on present form she should soon be reproducing her best performances. She should be in great fettle if she is called upon to‘withstand a challenge over HOyda. A visitor to Dunedin is Geoff Chambers; the former Kiwi swimmer and ex-New Zealand junior boys’ breast stroke champion, whose junior record still stands. Geoff is now stationed in Wellington, and is a member of the Hataitai Club. Water polo entries will close on Monday, and while Kiwi, Dunedin, and St. Clair are likely to be the only teams contesting the A grade, the B grade competition should be productive of some close contests, as the competing teams are likely to be Dunedin, Kiwi, St. Kilda, St. Clair, Kaikorai, and Zenith. The draw will be made next week by the Water Polo Match Committee. Interesting evidence of the tremendous importance attained by competitive swimming in Europe is afforded by the magnitude of the controversy launched over the legality of the butterfly stroke used by the Russian swimmer, Boitchcnko (or Boitsanko), who swam 100 metres in Imin 7 9-1 6s pc in Belgium lately. The leading Continental newspapers have given columns of space to the question, seeking the views of numbers of officials, coaches, and contestants who have seen the Soviet champion in action. From the mass of contradictory opinion it is impossible to form any valid conclusion, though quite a few express the belief that Boitehenko has developed a leg action similar to the forbidden fishtail kick. Be it as it may, Mr L. de B. Handley, the New York coach, in his latest bulletin, says that the Russian’s feat will not be recognised as a world’s record for the Soviet has no affiliation with the International Swimming Federation. One of the youngest men yet to be elected a vice-president of the Otago Centro, Mr Brian Kerr is well deserving of the honour, for be has given great service to his province as a swimmer, at water polo, and on the executive side. The only other new name among the vice-presidents is that of Mr Don Watson, who came back to the centre last season after an absence of some years. He was one of the of the Kiwi Club, and a fine swimmer and water polo player. He is a member of the Polo Match Committee. Despite the dislocation caused by the infantile paralysis epidemic last season, the school children’s awards showed only a.slight drop, and the issue of 732 awards during a year in jvhich four months were lost through the outbreak must be looked upon as very satisfactory indeed. Mr D. C. Bannatyne has been the centre’s educational officer for many years, and many tributes to his work were paid at the annual meeting of the Otago Centre on Monday night. He also devotes much time to water polo, and this year is chairman of the Water Polo Selection Committee, the other members of which are Messrs Don Watson and M. Taylor. In response to a request from the Southland Centre, the New Zealand Council decided to set a standard of Imin 25seo for 110yds ladies’ back stroke, to entitle a candidate to consideration for nomination for the Empire Games. It was rather disquieting at the Otago Centre meeting on Monday evening to learn that although the centre’s finances were now in a healthy. condition, this had not been brought about by the efforts of the swimmers, but largely through the hard work of centre members themselves. It was even stated that many swimmers showed total lack of effort when the centre sponsored appeals fo'r funds for. the despatch of

teams and the carrying on of the sport in general. This is not as it should be,, for the centre members are mainly men whose days of competition have passed, and who ere mak’ng sacrifies of m-’-'li of their time for the good of the sport. A street day appeal is to be be't ! n January, and it behoves the active swimmers themselves to assist in everyway possible and to show that they appreciate the efforts that aje being made on tbeir behalf.