SWIMMING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18355, 22 March 1923, Page 12

SWIMMING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Wide interest was taken in the meeting of Miss Mina Wylie, Australian lady champion, and the local champions, in the 100 yards ladies' invitation race at the cummer carnival swimming gala at Calliope Dock on Tuesday evening, and the spectators were not disappointed, for it proved an exciting contest, in which the visitor Was) defeated by Miss Pauline Hoeft (Auckland) by a touch. The other competitors were Miss Violet Walrond (Auckland), the New Zealand champion, and Miss Piri Page (Auckland). Miss Watrond, who beat Miss Hoeft by - a narrow margin at the championship meeting at Timaru in January, and beat Miss Wylie at Sydney last month, failed to pro-

tluce her beat form and finished fourth, juet behind Miss Pace, who swam a fine race. The lighting of. the dock was not all tfrat could be desired, and it was hard for spectators to follow the race closely. The event Quickly resolved iteelf into _ a struggle between Miss Hoeft and Miss Wylie. They were the first to enter the water. Miss Walrond did not got a good start, being the last to leave, and never caught up the leaders. Over the laet 50yds, Misses Hoeft and Wyliß, close together, raced up the dock practically stroke for stroke, with Miss Page in close attendance just ahead of Mis* Walrond. There was a great struggle between Mies Hoeft and Miss Wylie over the Jast few yards, but neither could gain any perceptible advantage. In an exciting finish Miss Hoeft defeated the Australian swimmer by a touch. Then came Miss Pago, with the New Zealand champion fourth. Ihe time was 695, which is 2 3-5* slower than Mi*s Hoelt's record- The time for the Australian ladies' championship at Sydney, when Miss Walrond beat Mies Wylie was 69 2-ss._ There was another great race between Miss Wylie and Miss Hoeft in a heat of the 100 yds ladies' handicap, in which they dead-heated for third place. They did not start in the final. Misa Walrond did not compete in thie event. , •. _, , .„-,,, The Mount Eden Swimming Club will hold its fifth carnival of the season at the Mount Eden baths on Monday evening. The principal races ore the secondary schools relay race for the Stevenson Shield and the 100 yds inter-club relay. . ~ „ _ The Wanganui Centre oi the New, Zealand Amateur Swimming Association l* receiving considerable support in its effort to have the intermediate swimming championships retained in the New Zealand chainpionship programme, nnd with the united support of Auckland and South Auckland, Manawatu, and Hawke'g Bay in the North Island it is believed that intermediate swimming will still prevail. It is claimed that at a conference held at Timaru the real feeling of Dominion swimming clubs was not truly represented, and that opinions of the centres now being sought will, reverse the decision of the conference. It le recognised by the authorities of other sports associations that the tremendous headway swimming has made during the last, tew years is mainly "due to the junior and intermediate competitions having been establisned by the New.Zealand Council, and the very recent performance of Loundj of HawKe s Bay, in bringing the Dominion record tor 100 yds down to 62 2-ss. It is. also believed that the breaking of the minute for .**&?, 100 yds will be credited to one of the boys now coming from the intermediate jrraoie. It is also pointed out that .if the intermediate grade is done away with, junior speed swimming would also be serously jeopardisea, as juniors could not be expected to compete against seniors. On these poinds it » confidently believed that the majority'; the centres will support Wanganui « *»«» *g prevent the recent system of competitions bcine inwf'wravi -with.