SWIMMING

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 February 1929, Page 8

SWIMMING

WESTLAND’S GOOD FORTUNE. Mr. H. Rattray, the Westland Swimming Centro delegate who attended the annual meeting of the New Zealand Centre in Wellington last week, ih to be congratulated upon having successfully piloted the claims of Greymouth as the venue of the N.Z. Championships next year. Mr. H. Bowman, the Westland Centre’s resident delegate m Wellington, is equally deserving of the thanks of Coasters in having secured what will undoubtedly be a big fillip to interest in the natatorial sport throughout this district. Wanganui was a starter in the stakes for the championships, but was not in the running with either Timaru or Greymouth, as it was tacitly understood that the next championships would be allocated to the South Island. However, Messrs Rattray and Bowman saw Greymouth’s claims first home by a comfortable margin, and now local swimming sportsmen will need to work so that arrangements will all fit in smoothly .for the great event here next summer. In fact a meeting to consider preliminary arrangements will take place at ah early date. LEADING LADY SWIMMERS. Miss Ena Stockley, of Auckland, made no race of the 100 yards ladies backstroke championship in 'Wellington. She was in a class by herself and beat Miss Kathleen Miller and Miss Lib’ Coppiestone, the Cook Strait aspirant, by half a lap. She also retained the title in the 100 yards ladies’ championship, although she was pushed bv Miss Miller. Miss Stockley’s time was 68secs., which is one second -better than the standard and 2 3-ssecs. outside her N.Z. record. The visit of both lady swimmers to the Coast this month will create keen interest amongst local swimmers. GREYMOUTH BATHS. Attendance of spectators and competitors at carnivals held in the Greymouth baths has shown that'swimming has appealed to local public taste to a remarkable degree. The smallest “gate” so far was £24, which means that some 700 patrons paid for admission. On the other hand there has been an occasion when the accommodation for 1200 people was fully taxed, and when it was necessary to turn away two hundred would-be spectators. These facts would serve to warrant support of application to the Borough Council for more seating accommodation to be provided. It could be done by shifting the fence back to enlarge the section taken up by the baths. Fortunately the area required is borough reserve, so that the expense of purchasing more land is eliminated, and the public property required would be well utilised in furthering and maintaining public interest, in the useful and health-giving sport. Furthermore, the fact that next year the N.Z. Championships will be decided in the Greymouth baths makes the present -an opportune time to seek a reform, the necessity for which would, in any case, become increasingly evident. The people of Westland will have an opportunity of seeing swimming on that occasion such as has not been witnessed previously on the Coast, and it is to be hoped that steps will be taken to so exetnd the accommodation that at least 1500 people will be able to view the racing for the championships. The interest they will arouse would be such that the extended seating accommodation would not be found unnecessarily great for. subsequent requirements for local carnivals.

PROMISING LADS. A promising distance swimmer in tho making is Master Pat Irwin, the 14-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs.* S. J. Irwin, of Hokitika. Last Saturday afternoon lie swam a distance of three miles in the local baths, a good performance for a lad of his age. When R. Sutherland, the Timaru lad, won the 220yds. intermediate and created a record in Wellington, he seemed a likely pick for the 100 yards boys’ championship, but E. McConville, the Christchurch boy, led all the way and missed standard time by only onefifth of a second.

Conditions governing the Kellerman Cup race include that it shall be held over a course of not less than three miles and in conjunction with the N.Z. Championship meeting, which next summer will .take place in the Greymouth baths. Consequently those having to make preparations for that gathering will also be called upon to arrange for the open water course. It should not present serious difficulty as, if held at Luke Brunner- on a Sunday or the half-holiday, jjeople could be relied upon to make it a picnic occasion. A triangular course from the station round buoys a mile away would be easily arranged. Last Thursday 19 started in the Annette Kellerman Cup Race in Wellington harbour. Six finished and C. Claridge, of Wellington, won off the 6£min. mark in 94min. 4-5 secs., L. Harty (Nelson) being second and Miss Coppiestone third. r rhis week in Hamilton is “learn to swim” week, and three hundred children are being taught by members of the Ladies’ Swimming Club, the Old Boys’ Club, and others. The movement was initiated as the result of numerous drowning accidents in the Waikato district.