SWIMMING

Evening Star, Issue 24016, 15 October 1941, Page 12

SWIMMING

NOTES AND COMMENT SEASON’S ACTIVITIES ARRANGED [By Hooker.l Weil-deserved Tributes. The Otago Swimming Centre paid many well-deserved tributes to Mr W. A. Jenkins at its ann.ual meeting this week, Mr Jenkins, who has been president for the last 10. years, has relinquished office, but fortunately ho agreed to accept the position of hon. treasurer, and ho is still the centre’s starter. During his long term he has proved himself an ideal chairman, and has been described on many occasions as one of the best sports body chairmen in Otago. He did much to foster a lively in the country, and the country ’club representatives expressed their appreciation on Monday night, when Mr Jenkins was presented by the centre members with a handsome chiming clock. In all branches of the centre's activities lie maintained a close personal touch, and as a starter is recognised as one of the best in New Zealand. He has been a member of the Otago Centre’s ptiuel of diving judges from its inception, nud on many occasions has been referee at New Zealand championship meetings. The Otago Centro felt, when the retirement of Mr F. G. Dunn as president of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association this year was announced, that Mr Jenkins would make an admirable successor, and, accordingly, at the annual meeting of the council at the end of the present month he is to be nominated for the vacancy. It will be the hope of those who realise what a vast amount Mr Jenkins has done for swimming in particular and sport in general that he will be appointed to the high office. The flourishing condition of the Otago Provincial Council of Sport, of which he is the president, is a further tribute to his leadership.

St. Clair Club Opening. The St. Clair, Surf Life' Saving Gluhois holding its -official opening on Sunday, November 2, at 2.15 p.rn., at St. Clair. Anyone who intends taking up surf life saving is requested to come along. The club’s first competition of the season will probably he the Sagar Cup for four-man teams, and members should make use of the club hour at the Municipal Baths on Monday night for their swimming training.

Country Clubs’ Difficulties. R. G. Colton, who was one of the mainstays of the Lawrence Club, is in the Air Force, and in conversation with Mr J. Colgan, secretary of the Lawrence Club, during the week the writer was informed that Lawrence was now practically denuded of senior competitors, hut that it was hoped during the season to hold a carnival as usual. Most of_ the country clubs have been very hard hit by the war, hut the Otago Centre, at its meeting this week, announced its policy of providing the full privileges of affiliation even though the clubs, through force of circumstances, were unable to pay their fees.

Batt Cup Harbour Swim. ' The date for the Batt Cup two-raile harbour swim has not vet been fixed, but this season the race will be held at' Waverley. The change of venue may lead to an increased entry. Conditions last year provided one of the most arduous tests in the history of the race, and only one starter completed the course. This was J. O. Byrnes, who has won the race on four occasions and has twice achieved the double of fastest time and first place. Byrnes has also performed with distinction in the Dunedin Chib’s harbour race on many occasions. Centre’s New President. The newly-clocted president of the Otago Swimming Centro, Mr Sam Brown, has been ail unobtrusive worker for the sport for many y-ears, and he has had a long, experience of executive Work in various, sporting bodies in Otago. For many years he was president of the Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club, and to-day* he is one of its patrons. He was deputy-chairman of the centre for several years, and has always been a most active worker. Eecognised as one of the leading timekeepers m the Dominion, he was convener of timekeepeers at the New Zealand national championships at Invercargill in 1939, and he has been both swimming judge and timekeeper at many provincial championship meetings. He has always taken a keen interest in fostering the sport among tho younger members and in , the country districts, so that the policy so ably laid down by his predecessor in this direction is sure to be followed. Mr Brown is a member of the Otago branch of the Eoyal Life Saving Society, and he is a life member of the Otago Boxing Association and of the Otago Wrestling Association. Ho has been a timekeeper for boxing, wrestling, amateur athletic, cycling, and swimming organisations for many y-ears, and there are few phases of sporting activity with which ho has not been associated. Mr Brown served in the last war, and his appointment as president of the centre is a very popular one. The position of deputy-chairman will be filled now by Mr E. H. James, a former president, who has been associated with the Otago Centre since its inception and has also been president of the Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club. Mr James is an able administrator, and with such, capable men as these at tho head of affairs tho centre should enjoy- another highly successful season. Southern Swimmers’ Successes. Otago and Southland swimmers were well to the fore in the N.Z.E.F. swimming championships hold in the Middle East recently. Lance-corporal Colin Kidd, who gained second place in the 100yds breast stroke and 220yds free style heats, is a former- Otago champion swimmer and water polo representative player. He was a member of the Murihiku Club in Invercargill and later joined the Kiwi Club in Dunedin, being a member of the committee of the latter chib and one of its coaches. He was also a member of the Kiwi team which won the A grade water polo chamionship, and bo represented Otago when it won the New Zealaud water polo championship at Wellington. He was also a member of the Otago B' team which competed at Invercargill in 1939. Two or three y-ears ago he competed in practically every free style event on the Otago championship programme, he has held titles over tho longer distances, and has good performances to his credit in the Kiwi Club’s harbour race, Batt Cup harbour swim, and iu the Annette Kellerman Cup race, in which ho finished third in Wellington last year. Two well-known Sontlilanders to register wins were Private Colin Martin and Sergeant Waldon Johnston. The latter is one of the best,-known swimmers in the Dominion. Originally a member of the Waitomata Club, he represented Auckland as an intermediate and senior, being a lino long-distance performer. He later joined I lie Kiwi Club in Dunedin, but did not do any championship swimming here. Going to Invercargill, he Jinked up with (he Mui£ hiku Chib, and represented .Southland at Hie national championships in 1939. Ho holds the Southland records for 220vds (2min 31. l-ssee) and 440yds (smin 36-ec). Johnston won heat ami final of (he 220yds free style in the. N.Z.E.F. meeting in 2min 54sec. Martin, who has represenled Southland at the national championships, and is also the provincial record-holder for 400 metres back stroke, won the 100yds back stroke in 76sec after clocking 74sec in his heat, both good performances in comparison with the times registered in other events. Another man who raced prominently was Corporal A. ’l’. Bolam, who is a former Canterbury representative swimmer, water polo player, and surf life saver. When the Now Zealand intermediate and junior swimming championships were held at Nelson in 1938 he was secretary of that centre. Bolam qualified for the final of the 100yds free style, and was second in the diving championship to Bdr. Dyer, who will bo remembered as a former Sydney diver and member of the New South Wales diving troupe. Many Carnivals Arranged. The Kiwi Club carnival on November 6 will be the first iulerolub affair of the season,

and, as the racing; will be over popular distances, the meeting should be an excellent pipe-opener for more important fixtures ahead. The Otago ladies’, intermediate, and junior championships will be held on December 9 and 11, and the centre is to consider the addition of special war-time championships to cater especially for those swim-mers-wlio have just emerged from the intermediate boys’ class and would otherwise be afforded no opportunity of competing in championship events until after the war. It may not be possible to include a full list of events among the war-time championships, but if the anticipated support for them is forthcoming they should prove a worth-while addition to the championship programme. 'The Balclutha Club, regarded as one of the strongest country clubs iu the Dominion, enjoyed another successful season last year, which concluded with a membership of 186, a line result under present conditions, and already it is making arraiigemenls for its first carnival, which is to be held on December 13. The Toko. Chib will hold its annual carnival on February 14, and at the request of the country club delegates the Otago Cent re has agreed to again stage the country clubs championship meeting in Dunedin on February 21. Fast season’s carnival produced a high standard of performance among the country swimmers, several records being broken. A number of country swimmers have already represented Otago in the last few years, and the Balclutha representative, Phyllis Middleditch, won a New Zealand title two years ago. A week after the country chibs meeting in Dunedin ihe Balclulha Club will stage its second carnival, and the highlight of the season so far as Dunedin is concerned will be the interprovincial meeting between Otago and Soul bland for the Sports Trust Shield, which is at present held by Southland. Since Otago and Southland practically dominated the last championship meeting at New Plymouth, and many of the same swimmers will he available, tbe intcrprovincial meet should take on the appearance of a minor championship fixture. Other carnivals will no doubt be arranged in the next, few weeks, and judications point lo activity being considerable, even though the ranks of the men swimmers have boon so greatly depleted.