SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 22816, 26 November 1937, Page 5

SWIMMING

NEWS AND NOTES [By Hooker.] FIXTURES. December 4.—Taiori Amateur Swimming Club’s opening carnival, at Mosgiel. _ December 8 and 11.—Otago senior, intermediate, and junior championship carnival. „ __ , December 12.—Batt Cup Harbour Race, at Macandrew Bay. December 15.—Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club’s carnival. 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 '22. —Country clubs championship carnival, at Oamaru. January 22 and 24.—New Zealand surf life-saving championships, at New Brighton. February 5 to 12.—Empire Games, at Sydney.

GIRLS' LIFE SAVING

HIGH SCHOOL TEAM'S SUCCESS It was most disappointing that only two teams should have contested the secondary schoolgirls’ life-saving competition this season, and the absence of Archerfield, once such a prominent competitor, was' particularly regretted, especially as that school was not even represented in the relay. The ! life-saving was confined to Girls High School and Technical High School, but fortunately the standard of work did not suffer in any way, both teams giving most impressive displays. There was very little to choose between two first-grade teams in the land drill, and though’ the method of work was in contrast to a certain extent both teams were equally effective. _ High School was a shade the snappier in the drill, Technical a little the smoother. • High School’s slight lead in the land tests was offset by Technical gaining a shade more points for the method of its rescues and releases, which werevery well performed by both teams. Thus, the deciding factor, as usual, lay in the time tests, and here High School had the advantage, winning in three out of the four methods. A very small margin separated the teams at the finish, High School retaining the shield. Special praise should be given to the instructors of the two teams, Miss Johnson (Girls’ High School) and Miss Miller (Technical High School). Both devoted a good deal of time to the preparation of their teams, and the results were evident in the fine showings made. The relay over 133 l-3yds was won comfortably by. a well-balanced Higb School team which established a new record for the race, Technical being second, and High School B third. The winning relay team was captained by bliss Joan Thomson, the former Otago junior girls’ champion and present holder of the Girls’ Higb School championship. Miss Thomson has not had opportunities fori much training lately,. but she swam a particularly good first lap for High School, showing that she has not lost any of her pace over the dash, at any, rate. Another particularly good lap was Miss. Christine Garvin’s last length for Technical.

HANAH'S INCREASED SPEED

An authoritative writer in the Auckland ‘ Herald ’ states that by covering 100 yards in 54 l-ssec. at the opening carnival of the season in Auckland, Peter Hunan afforded ,fairly reliable grounds for the belief'that within a couple of months he will be capable of doing as fast as 53sec. It was recalled that his speed increased steadily dining- last season, and, as he is '22 years of age and entering his third season of firstclass city competition, he cannot yet have reached tne limit of his ability. Pressure will constantly be applied to Hanan by R. B. Frankham and _N. Crump. Frankham was close behind in■ practically every finish last season, aitd should be again this season. Both, he and Noel Crump swam faster than 56sec in the handicap event, in which Erankham’s New Zealand record was eclipsed unofficially by two-fifths of a second by Hanan, with whom they, were on scratch. .Interest in the final was enlivened by a thrilling tussle between Hanan and Frankham. They were on equal terms until within 20 yards of the finish, when Hanan drew ahead and proved superior by about half a:yard. General surprise must have been caused .by. Crump’s display. It is gratifying (the Auckland writer concludes) to rate him once more as a leading aspirant for championships. He should be most conspicuous over 440 yards.