SWIMMING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 5 February 1927, Page 3

SWIMMING

CURRENT TOPICS. SUCCESSFUL OPENING CARNIVAL FORTHCOMING ,CHAMPIONSHIPS. (Notes by "Narwhal.”) The first Hawera carnival of the season showed on Wednesday and Thursday that the sport in this district is still regarded with much popularity, both nights the efforts made by the Hawcra Club committee were rewarded with good entries as well as liberal patronage by the general public, and the results should be very encouraging as an incentive to the organisation of similar contests in future. Competition was keen throughout, and while no records were lowered, the times were of a fair standard considering that the contests were the first of the soason. A notable feature was the interest shown by outside clubs, and particularly the presence of two teams representing Wanganui. Among these was a veiy promising lady swimmer in the person of Miss Natalie Stratton who, although only 15 years of ago, is the Wanganui centre senior champion over the ladies 100 yards as well as the 100 and 220 yards intermediate title holder. At the Dominion championships this year she swam into third position in the 100 yards intermediate girls’ championship, finishing only 3 yards behind the winner. Miss D. Magee, of Auckland, whose time—69 l-osecs —equalled the New Zealand record. Miss Stratton is beingcoached by C.ED. Richardson, custodian of the City baths, Wanganui, who knows something of the styles which develop speed, and who has a very optimistic opinion of Miss Stratton’s future as a swimmer. . H. Gowan, of Wanganui, wTio secured the honours in the inter-club 220 yards, H. Davies, of Stratford, who won the 50 vards inter-club event, and W. E. Smith, of Opunalce, who was second, were other visitors who played a prominent part. In the final, Smith was timed unofficially to do 29 3-ssec, only 2-ssec outside the Taranaki .record established last year at Hawera by H. D. Hawkins. CLUB CUPS. The carnival events included the first of the season’s progressive competitions for the senior and junior cups. The senior events were a 50 yards handicap on the first, and a 75 yards handicap on the second night respectively, and three competitors have each registered .> points. These are A. McLean, who annexed the 50 yards, M. Woods, who won the 75 yards, and .1. A. Davenport, who swam third in the 50 yards and second in the 75 yards. C. Dowdle, who finished second in the 50 yards, has two points to his credit, and R. Sage, who filled third place in the 75 yards, is in the register with one point. For the junior trophy a 50 yards handicap, was arranged pn both nights. S. Anderson, who won both events, compiled six points, and A. Dorvdle, who was second on both occasions, registered four points, while G. Gibson and A. Spragg, with a third each on the first and second nights respectively, entered the lists with one point each. Entries for the Taranaki centre championships to be held at New Plymouth next Saturday, close on Monday. Hawera’s candidates have not as yet been announced, but it is considered likely that P. O. Voalc and C. Dowdle will appear in the men’s senior events, while the ladies’' events will probably be contested by Miss Phyllis Brant, the junior girls events by Miss Myra .Tackson, and the boys’ intermediate division by A. Spragg and A. Dowdle. Opunalce is to be represented by W. E. Smith and G. Harrison in the senior 100 yards, P. M. Brooker in the breaststroke events, P. Smith in the junior .100 yards, and B. S. Dudley in the intermediate 100 and 220 yards. TITLE-HOLDERS AND RECORDS. The events set down for decision at the centre championships include several in which there was no competition last year, but of similar events which were contested last year, those who secured the titles were as follows: — iron’s Events. 100 yards men’s free style.—P. W. Grant (Hawera). Time, 67sec. This stands to his credit as the centre record. 220 yards -men’s free style.—F. W. Grant "(Hawera). Time, 2min sGsec. The present record is 2min 54 2-ssec, made on February 20, 1926, at New Plymouth by 11. J. Thomas. 220 yards men’s breaststroke. —W. G. Sutherland (New Plymouth). Time, 3min 42 2-sscc, the existing record. SSO yards men’s free style.—H. S. Weston (New Plymouth). Time, 15inin 4S 2-ssce. The record is 13min 42see, established by H. D. Hawkins at New Plymouth on January 31, 1925. Diving, men’s.—T. F. McKenzie (Hawera) . Ladies’Events. 100 yards ladies’ free style.—-Miss Phyllis Brant (Hawera). Time, 83 1-5 sec, the standing record. At the last championships Miss Brant also won the ladies’ 50 yards backstroke in. 52 4.-5 see and the ladies’ 50 yards breaststroke in 45sec, both of which stand as records. The two latter events do not, however, figure on the championshij) programme this year. Div.ing.—Miss M. Lash (New Plymouth). Intermediate and Junior. 100 yards boys’ free style.—W. Penman (New Plymouth). Time, lmin 11 see. The record is lmin 10 3-5, established by the same swimmer on January 31, 1925, at New Plymouth. 100 yards boys ’ breaststroke. —B. D. Rawson (New Plymouth). Time, lmin 25sec, the standing record. 50 yards girls’ free style.—Miss B. Gayton (New Plymouth). . Time, 40 4-5 sec. This equals the record established by Miss M. Insull at New Plymouth on January 31, 1925. 50 yards girls' breaststroke. —Miss M. Shannon (Hawera). Time, 50 2-5 sec, the standing record. 50 yards junior girls’ free style.— Myra Jackson (Hawera). Time, 49 2-5 sec. The record is held by Miss B. Gayton, who swam the distance in 41 l-ssec at New Plymouth on January 31, 1925. The junior boys’ 50 yards event, which is not included this year, was won at the last championships by A. Dowdle (Hawera) in 35 3-ssec.

NEW ZEALANDERS UNDER-RATED. It is of interest, to note that at the Dominion conference held during the period of the championship meeting it, was decided to negotiate with Australia with a view to arranging an interchange of visits. The decision was the outcome of a suggestion put forward by Air .1. Emvright, of Auckland, who proposed that New Zealand’s best male swimmers should be given a chance to beat Australia’s premiers in their own

baths. Mr Emvright said it was hardly likely that the Australian Union would sent male swimmers to New Zealand, as they could not afford the time to represent their States at tlie Australian championships and then tour this country. Making a strong plea for the recognition of New Zealanders in international swimming, he said that, while some of the w r orld’s best expoh* cuts had visited New Zealand some time or other, they had not taught our swimmers much in Jthc way of strokes and styles. He considered the time had now come when the 'New Zealand champions should be rewarded with a trip to Australia to compete in the championships there. If given the opportunity Lindsay could -be confidently expected to demonstrate that New Zealand swimmers have been badly underrated. The opinion expressed concerning the Canterbury long distance man will -be endorsed by all interested in the sport. His splendid performances will compare with Australia’s best, thoso of “Boy” Charlton excepted, and as he is only 20 years of ago he has every chance of further improvement. When he made Malcolm. Champion’s 35-year-old mile record a back number -by 63sec, Lindsay finished with two lengths to spare from Cunnold, the second man, and it is reasonable to suppose therefore that an even better time is -well within hi-s powers. Baird, the Aucklander who made a clean sweep of the men’s events from 220 yards at last year’s championships, but who retired this year in the mile—his only start —has been medically advised not to swim for 32 months. RONAYNE CUP. One of the keenest supporters of swimming was the late Thomas Ron ayne, who was killed in an accident on the West Coast. He was president of the Thorndon (Wellington) Amateur Club from .1896 to/1925—a wonderful record of service, for his was most surely active practical service—and in his memory his family have given a handsome silver cup, a perpetual challenge trophy, to remain always the property of the club,