SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 23147, 22 December 1938, Page 4

SWIMMING

Dyson's Latest Effort,

[By Hooker.]

FIXTURES. December 26.—Macandrew Bay regatta. ■ .January 15. Batt Cup harbour swim, Macandrew Bay. January 21.—Dunedin Club’s harbour swim. January 26 to 28.—New Zealand intermediate and junior championships, at Rotorua. February I.—Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club’s carnival. February 11.—Kiwi Club’s harbour swim ; country clubs’ championships, at Cromwell. February 14 to _ 18.—New Zealand national championships, at Invercargill. February 19.—Annette Kellerman Cup harbour swim, at Bluff. February 21 and 22.—Maori championships, at Dunedin. February 25.—T0k0. Club’s carnival, at Milton. March 13.—Otago University Club’s carnival. April 10.—New Zealand University championships, at Dunedin. DUAL MEET AT TiMARU DYSON’S FAST HUNDRED Highlights of the Kiwi Club’s visit to Timaru for the dual meet with the West End Club last Saturday were the fine performances of W. Dyson in breast stroke events and the surprisingly good form shown by a number of the younger Timaru competitors. The meeting was a highly successful one in every way, and the 22 swimmers and water polo players who journeyed to Timaru to take part will recall their visit as one of the pleasantest short tours undertaken during the last few seasons.

There is such good material in the South Canterbury that’officials there would be well advised to stage more of the longer races rather than concentrating so largely on events from 50yds downwards. Only by that way can real championship material be developed. Swimming should receive a stimulus as the result of the meet, which resulted in a good win for West End by 42 points to 38, sufficient indication of the talent on hand in Timaru,

The burden of organising the meeting and arranging the billets fell upon Mr Dan Shanahan, formerly well-known Kiwi and Otago swimmer, and he proved himself an excellent secretary as well as being one of the outstanding competitors at the meeting. There were several others who contributed largely to the success of the meeting, and among them were L. M'Cregor and A. Ball, and A. Ramsay, who did a lot to ensure that the visitors were well catered for on the social side.

Dyson’s effort in swimming 73 l-ssec in a heat of the 100yds breast stroke handicap was a remarkable one in cold, fresh water, since there is no official record of this time beinj* beaten in competition in the Dominion. Earlier in the evening the Otago champion won the 100yds scratch breast stroke in 77sec, which further enhances the value of his swim. It will be surprising if Dyson does not add the 100yds to Ins 220yds record before the season is oyer. His swimming created a very fine im-, pression in Timaru. Dyson was 18 years of age in July last. „ Dan Shanahan and the South Canterbury intermediate, Michael Shanahan, put up exoedent performances in the scratch event, especially as training in the open-air pool at Timaru has been possible only since November 10. Dan went away very fast, but found it harder work over the last lap, finishing a yard behind Dyson. Mick Shanahan had been knocking at the door of intermediate championship honours in New Zealand for a couple of seasons, and he must be rated as having excellent prospects this season. He is capable of improving two or three seconds on the 78sec he did on Saturday night, and it will take a good one to beat him. Colin Sell, the Otago junior champion, carried his club’s representation in the intermediate 50yds, and after getting away badly finished barely a touch behind J. Drummond, a promising West End intermediate. Sell must guard against swimming blindly, for had ho not hit the ropes twice on the upward journey he would have won. Sell is a good little sportsman, and, like Syd. Jarvis, thoroughly enjoys his swimming, taking part in all the events for which he is eligible.

J. Drummond, the winner of this race in 29sec, is the makings of a firstrate swimmer, but he would be well advised to tackle the distances if ho desires to go anywhere in championship competition.

Notes and Comments

The intermediate girls did not register any fast times, and the only representative from Kiwi in this event was Miss H. Donaldson, an ex-West End swimmer, who finished third. The winner, Miss O. Wilson, has quite good relaxation, but should endeavour to straighten her arms and get her elbows up higher in recovery. In the ladies’ event. Kiwi made a clean sweep, and Miss Islay Purdie showed the most impressive form she has done this season, apart altogether from her times. Twice she returned 31 sec for 50yds and another time 30sec, all good performances in cold water. Miss Purdie is shoeing- something like the relaxation of a couple of years ago. and with the work she is doing should be in good form for the national meeting at Invercargill. Miss Agnes Brown also swam a good 50yds for second place, and Miss Elma Abernethy was only half a yard back. Miss Brown’s style is always a delight to watch, and once she develops a little more staying power, will figure still more prominently in the lames’ division.

Miss Abernethy has been devoting herself to back stroke, but with the ability she displays on the crawl, intends devoting more time to this branch of swimming. Arthur Thomas swam a good race to win the men’s 50yds in 29sec, but the Kiwi skipper was pushed all the way by his erstwhile' elubmate, D. Shanahan. The latter swam a very fast lap in the 200yds six-a-side relay, clinching the issue for a well-balanced team. As Kiwi had only one team in this event, finishing second, and West End fielded two more teams, their first,and third placings decided the fate of the “ Bone of Contention,” which is to be competed for twice annually. The water polo counted for fewer points than the relay, and here Kiwi won comfortably enough, though several quite likely .players appeared in the West End team. TEAM FOR ROTORUA INTERMEDIATE AND JUNIORS A moderately sized but select team has been chosen to represent Otago at the New Zealand intermediate and junior championship meeting at Rotorua on January 25, 26, and 28, and those chosen have all shown form good edough to suggest that they will be well in the running. On performances at the Otago cham pionships. Miss Christine Garvin and Colin Sell must be looked upon as particularly bright prospects. The former is the present New Zealand intermediate girls’ 100yds champion, and when she won the Otago title was only one second outside the New Zealand record. This was in a swim-over, but earlier in the season in a handicap event she returned 64sec for the 100. time better than either the senior or intermediate girls’ record. Swimmingover in the 220yds intermediate girl>’ title event, Miss Garvin put up a new Dominion mark of 2min 47 4-ssec, a second faster than Kathleen Grey’s intermediate record. It will take an„outstanding champion to keep Miss Gar vin away from both free style titles. Colin Sell, the junior free style hope, is only 13 years of age, and is one of the best prospects the province has had in years. His times of 62 3-ssec for ’”ds, 2min 48 3-ssec for '22oyds free style, and 60sec for 75yds back stroke at the Otago title, meeting were all exceptionally good, and both free style performances were well ahead of last year’s winning times. Sell has a good temperament for championship racing and should acquit himself very creditablv indeed.

Miss Mary Stewart, the New Zealand junior girls’ breast stroke _ and diving champion, moves up a division, and _ha< been selected for the 75yds_ intermediate girls’ breast stroke championship. Her 65 3-ssec at the Otago championships was one-fifth of a second faster than last year’s winning time at Nelson, and she should improve further. . Miss Noeline Peat, who was third in the New Zealand junior .girls’ breast stroke last season, should have no.difficulty in doing the 41sec that has been set as a condition of her selection. With very short preparation because of illness, she did 42 3-ssec in one heat of the 50yds breast stroke at the Otago championships, and by the time her trial takes place it will not be surprising if she goes close to the New Zealand record of 40sec, established last season by Mary Stewart. Miss Peat is a fine breast stroke swimmer, and a potential New Zealand champion. . Throe divers complete the team. They are Miss Rita Smith, present holder, who will defend her New Zealand intermediate girls’ title, M_iss _ Mavis Strong, the Otago junior girls champion. and Jim Purdie, the Otago junior boys’ champion. Purdie is a promising diver, indeed, and has made progress even since the Otago championships, while in her first season of competition Miss Strong has given a very good account of herself. All three will he strong contenders for v ti ties. and Pnrdie will also compete in the 75yds junior bovs’ breast stroke championship. He should be capable of improving on his Otago championship time, and should acquit himself well. ■ The team will be in the able hands of Mr Doug. Thomson, who has been appointed manager, and who acted in this capacity at Hamilton in 1936. Accompanying the team as chaperon will be Mrs J. M'Taggart. who has filled a similar position with each intermediate and junior team that gone away 1 since 1934.

"LEARN TO SWIM" CAMPAIGNS Excellent results were achieved at Lawrence by the Otago Centre’s educational officer (Mr D. -C. Bannatyne) during the recent " Learn to Swim campaign, and during that week Mr 'Bannatyne coached 174 pupils from Lawrence and surrounding schools, apart from a fair percentage of adults. Various styles of swimming and diving were taught, as well as the methods of life saving. At the conclusion of the effort, some 40 junior and 25 senior pupils gave a demonstration o£ the remarkable progress made during the week.

In commenting on the form of some of the promising swimmers in the district, Mr Bannatyne said that there were to be found the makings of some very accomplished swimmers,, and ho instanced the fast, easy style Of Robin Cotton, and the powerful breast stroke of George Christie. He was also delighted with the unusual determination shown by little Shirley M'Neill. Unable to swim at all on the Monday* she swam the width on the Friday. Mr Bannatyne said that the week had been most successful in every respect, in conditions, numbers, and the enthusiasm displayed, and he expressed appreciation of the 1 assistance given-by Mr M. Carruthers during the campaign. The week conducted by the Balclutha Club was an exceedingly successful one, the instruction being carried, out by Messrs J. Swan and H. Devlin, and the enthusiasm and efficient organisation of the Balclntha Club stamps it as one of the bet of all the country clubs. SCHOOL'S SWIMMING TESTS By systematic instruction excellent results have been obtained by the swimming classes of St. Philomena’s College this year, although it is possible to allow only half an hour for the purpose each week. Tests were held on December 9, these being:—•_(!), Dive in, front glide, coming to surface, and placing hands on top of head, tread water, turn round, face other end, and swim to that end; (2) dive in, surface, breath, turn front-somersault, surface again, another breath, submerge, swim under water to edge; (3) dive in, upright, motionless float t (4) dive in and swim to the other end. The possible number of points was 60, and Zita Venning obtained 41, Janie Wallace 40. Joan Murphy, Margaret Delargy, Kathleen Crowe, and Pat Finlan 39. and Noeline Plank 37. The others who competed were B. Webb, K. O’Connell, P. Blackmore, P. Gibb, M. Nash. k ■' NEWS FROM CANADA George Burleigh, who won an Empire Games title at London in 1934 and was also a member of the Canadian team at Sydney this year, has written to “ Hooker,” stating that he is yery keen to obtain a position in New Zealand, and would be prepared to come'to tbs Dominion. Burleigh was-one of the most popular members of the Canadian team, a fine swimmer, and a .good coach, and at the present time he is coach of the West Ericl Y.M.C.A. m Toronto. There he has several large groups, ranking from learners to senior swimmers. _

Speaking of some of Canada’s 1 Empire Games reps., he says that _ Bobbie Hooper has retired from swimming. Bob Pirie (who won the 110yds and 440yds at the Empire Games and was second in the 1,650yd5) -*iid not swim all summer. Gordon Kerf-, thehack stroke swimmer, has moved to the Dnited States. Gordon Devlin and Dot Hobson won all the major races this year. The winter Season was about to start when George wrote on November 9, but it seemed' like being a dead season to him. SPLASHES The New Zealand 440yds, half-mile* and mile cham’pjnn, . Len Newall, is making steady progress after a recent operation, and; is doing light training in Christchurch, but it will be January before he gets going properly. Ales. Stokes, who won the national 220yds and mile titles in 1929, is still going strong in Canterbury, and in a 25yds pool recently covered 220yds in 2min 32sec. Alex. first sprang into prominence when the national championships were held at Dunedin in 1928, when he trailed Dave Lindsay into second place in almost every event on the programme. Alex, is a fine swimmer, but devotes more time nowadays to surf work, being-a member of the New Zealand team that visited Australia in February. As the Otago delegate on the New Zealand Swimming Council, he is recognised as one of the keenest and most alert of the younger brigade at present with the administration ef swimming in New Zealand. ' ■ , Syd. Jarvis, the former Otago and New Zealand junior and intermediate free urtyle swimmer, who has been in England for some considerable time, returned to New Zealand by the Rangitane, but it is his intention to cross the Tasman shortly to join the Australian Air Force. i A Christchurch correspondent says that swimming is making good headway in Canterbury, and the efforts of the secretary of the centre (Miss Doreen Brown) to improve the standard ars bearing good results. During the visit to Timaru of a team of Kiwi swimmers last week-end, they were pleased to meet Mr S. B. Reid, father of the well-known Otago swimmer, Don Reid. Mr Reid, sen., is • popular South Canterbury official, being president of the Temuka Club and local officer of the.centre.

Among the competitors at the West Knd Club’s carnival on Saturday night was G. Field, the former Zenith swimmer, who represented Otago at_the New Zealand Championships in Christchurch in 1934. Field swam well in the 60 2-3yds men’s handicap, and in his heat clocked 41eec.

Local swimmers are provided with an attractive programme at the Macandrew Bay regatta on Monday, and. indications are that competition will be keener than for some years past. It would be difficult to imagine a more popular recommendation than that which was made by the Otago Swimming Centre on Monday night that the New Zealand Swimming Council should award_ its honorary blazer to Mr Alex. Greig, the 75-year-old Kiwi coach. Mr Greig has long been a vice-president of the centre. He has done excellent work in the coaching of swimmers, irrespective o( club, specialising on breast stroke, in which his successes with his pupils have won him Dominion-wide acclaim. He is also convener of the Otago Centre’s timekeepers, of which he has been one for very many years. Swimming has been his hobby for mahy years, and the high standard of breast stroke in Otago is due in no small measure to his efforts. The present men’s and ladies’ recordho!ders._ Bill Dyson and Winnie Dunn respectively, have both been coached by Mr Greig. The Otago Centre has done well to honour such a fine old sportsman.