SWIMMING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 January 1929, Page 10

SWIMMING

HAWERA’S OPENING NIGHT. GENEROUS PUBLIC SUPPORT. CENTRE CHAMPIONSHIPS PENDING. Striking evidence of the keen public interest taken in the sport of swimming was afforded by the presence of the big assembly which taxed the seating accommodation at t'he municipal baths on Wednesday night when the HaWera Club presented its first carnival programme of the season and, as- indicated | by the president (Mr A. W. Lawn) in i his remarks to the gathering, the gener- | ous support given should prove exc-eed-i ingly gratifying to the bond of 'enthusiastic club officials who are bent on fostering in the district this beneficial branch of recreation. Probably no former season in the experience of the club has been launched under more encouraging circumstances. As was also intimated by the president, sincere thanks are due to the big number of competing visitors who came from, as far afield as Waitara, and to whose assistance the attraction of the -carnival was largely due. Such co-operation by the contemporary clubs should, if continued, stimulate immeasurably the advancement of the sport throughout the province. The water polo display given by the visitors from Inglewood .and New Plymouth proved an outstanding feature. One result was to liven among Hawera Club members the interest evinced formerly in the New Plymouth Club’s proposal t-hat an inter- club competition should be extended over the season, and it now appears practically certain that Hawera will be represented in the cup contest.

In L. S. Poison, a former New Zealand rep. player, the club possesses an expert who would prove an admirable coach as well as one of the best players in the province. The approach of the centre championships to be decided at New Plymouth on January 26 will influence renewed zeal in training work among prospective competitors. Last season when, on January 25, the championships were held at Howera, four new records for the centre were created. By Ryan (Hawexa), who took fhe.intermediate boys’ 440 yards title, covered the distance in 7min 6sec and clipped 13 l-ssec off the previous' best time. In the same division A. Dowdle (Hawera), who won the 100 yards free style and the 100 yards breast stroke, also annexed the 220 yards .title, doing the latter distance in 3min 10 2-ssec, and reducing the previous 1 best time by 8 3-ssec. In the senior breast stroke, W. Mundy (Hawera) defeated two. previous champions, B. D, Rawson (Hawera) and D. G. Sutherland (Inglewood), to get the championship in 3min 29 3-sse,c, which reduced the previous best time by 7 2-ssec; while in the intermediate girls 1 ’ 220 yards, Miss B. Gayton (New Plymouth) registered 3min 28 2-ssec, which lowered her own record' by 1 3-ssec. Ryan aind Dowdle were in action a.t this week’s carnival, while others of last season’s championship winners who t ook part on Wednesday were G. Pookes (New Plymouth), the 100 yards senior champion; H. J. Thomas (Fitzroy), 220 yards senior, champion; C. Plumtr.ee (Fitzroy), 440 yards senior champion; G-. Harrison (Opunaike), SBO yards seinior champion; W. Carter (Hawera), senior diving champion; Miss D. Fowler (Waitara), ladies’ 100 yards and intermediate girls’ 100 yards champion; J. •Olliver (Hawera), junior boys’ 100 yards chataipion; and Miss P. Robertson (Hawera), junior giirls’ 50 yards' champion.