SWIMMING

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 December 1945, Page 4

SWIMMING

NEWS AND NOTES Like all other outdoor sports, i swimming on the West Coast at the present time is suffering from the effect of weather conditions and activity has been limited. However, the Grey Club has been busy preparing for its carnival on December 18, and also preparing for club mornings, which it recently decided to hold on Sunday morning between 11 and 12. The first club morning will be held this Sunday commencing at 11 a.m., but bathers outside the club will not be excluded from the baths during this hour but may watch the activities of the club. By this method, the club hopes to interest more swimmers and eventually increase its memberships and the popularity of the sport generally. Water Polo: Efforts to increase the popularity of water polo with swimmers—it is always popular with the spectators—have not been a great success as far as the West Coast is concerned, mainly because this event, is usually placed at the end of a programme at all carnivals. By that time most swimmers are cold and eager to dress and warm themselves, besides being physically tired from earlier exertions. Accordingly, if the event is ueid_.ni too often it is dropped altogether—the swimmers are not fresh enough to give a really good display and the public is disappointed. The Grey Swimming Club discussed this event at tjie recent meeting, and eventuallyl resolved that a certain time be set aside each club morning for water polo and that at any carnival water polo be held earlier in the programme, when swimmers will be more or less fresh and their display will thus create greater interest among the onlookers. Each club morning a special polo practice will now be held.

Comprehensive Programme: The Westport Swimming Club is showing commendable activity this year, and ■ arrangements have been made for swimming teams from Christchurch and Blenheim to compete in swimming carnivals at Westport early in the New Year. The West Coast Swimming Championships will, also be held at Westport this season, probably during the early part of February.

Sunday Programme: The following events have been arranged by the Grey Swimming Club for its club morning next Sunday:—33 l-3,yards, junior open dive, and a three-men relay. Entries will close with the secretary, Mr W. Thomas, or Mr J. Cassidy, at 6 p.m. to-morrow night.