SWIMMING ITEMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21737, 28 February 1934, Page 17

SWIMMING ITEMS

AUCKLAND CENTRE CARNIVAL METRIC DISTANCE RACING EMPIRE GAMES EXPENDITURE The Auckland Swimming Centre proposes to hold in the Tepid Baths next week, either on Tuesday or. Thursday evening, «i championship carnival that will be unique in New Zealand. Instead of being in yards, as usual, the distances will bo in metres. Metric races are standard in most other countries and alone are derided at the Olympic Games. Since they aro official for the Olympic Games, they aro gradually being adopted throughout the world. The latest controlling body to decide its championships over metric distances was the New South Wales Amateur Swimming Association. Decision of races at these distances has often been mooted in Auckland, and last season the Auckland Centre approved of a suggestion that it should hold such a carnival, but nothing further was done then. Now, however, Auckland's leading swimmers aro to have a chance of showing how thoir speed compares with Olympic performances.

Crump, Frankham and Thomas, and Misses Leydon, Lewin, Webstor, Ludlow, Farquhar and Grange, all members of the Auckland team that was so successful at the national championship meeting last week, are expected to be among the competitors. While races for metric distances have not been staged, records for them have always been recognised in New Zealand, and the champions establishing them have had to swim alone. For the competitors next week these records will be another incentive. Games Representation The cost of sending a representative to the British Empire Games will not be so much as was suggested at tho annual conference of swimming centres in Christchurch last week. There, Mr. F. G. Dunn, treasurer to the New Zealand Council, said in the course of a statement on the council's financial position, that the cost would be at least £SOO. However, Mr. P. Coira, of Wellington, who is the council's representative on the New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association, was in Auckland during the week-end, and he explained how much money would be needed for each representative. Really, it would bo little more than £SO. England has offered £IOOO, with tho stipulation that this be used for fares alone. If the Dominion is represented by 10 athletes, which is the number intended, each member of the team will receive £IOO. Free billeting will also be arranged bv England, so that all New Zealand is left to find is enough money to cover the cost of daily allowances and outfitting. No victory at the New Zealand championship meeting was more deserved than W. Hassan's in the men's diving championship. His opportunities fortraining in Auckland are restricted, because in regard to spring, height from the water, and depth of water beneath, the boards are poor and unworthy of a city actively interested in natation. Hassan found the boards at St. Albans baths the best in his experience, and certainly he performed splendid dives. New Diving System

A new system followed in connection with the diving championships was that by which the judges publicly displayed after each dive the points they had awarded for it. To keep in touch with the progress of competitor!!, all the spectators had to do was to multiply the average of the points, as Announced, by the degree of difficulty. Interest in the contest was consequently much keener than under the old symteni, when the spectators did not know how the divers were placed until the announcement of the judges' decision. Three Southern swimmers whose ability impressed the Auckland representatives were W. .T. Jarvis, of Diniedin, Miss Nancy Basstian, of Invercargill, and W. Whareaitu, of Rotorua. Jarvis, who was already well known in Auckland as a very speedy sprinter, enhanced his reputation by being third in the 100 yards men's championship. Like Crump, he is only 17 years of age and forfeited intermediate status to compete in tho senior championships. He is of larger physique than the Auckland champion, standing about 6ft. 3in. and weighing nearly 14 stone. Inability to Start

The final was the real test, and, although Jarvis cannot be called the fastest sprinter in the Dominion, there is no doubt that if he swam in the Auckland Tepid Baths lie would be close to equalling Crump's national record, 55 l-ss. Jarvis' chief fault now is his inability to make a quick start. Ho was last away in the 100 yards final, and in the 50 yards scratch race at the final session, which he won in 24 4-ss, was left so badly that, had he started with the rest of the field, he could not havo failed to break Whareaitu's record of 24 2-ss. Jarvis is a brother of the Dominion intermediate champion, S. Jarvis, who has been doing brilliant Bwimming this season. Both boys are trained by their father. Miss Basstian was competing at her first national meeting, yet she was second in tho 100 yards ladies' championship and third in tho quarter-mile. She has not a polished action, but is very strong. Although her times wore not outstanding, she moved up well toward the finish in each of her races, and so has stamina as a firm foundation for future improvement. The most active championship competitor, she took part in the harbour race for tho Kellernian Cup and retired after covering about 2£ miles. But for this strenuous effort she might havo registered faster time in the 410 yards championship tho following evening.

W. Wharcaitu's victory in the 1150 yards men's backstroke championship caused ns much jubilance in the Auckland tco.n: as if he were a member of the team itself. This was the only championship Canterbury, represented by the holders of national records, C. Low and L. Moorhouse, was considered certain of winning. But in the second heat Whnrcaitu. surprised everyone except himself and his coach, Mr. J. Perrin, by outclassing Low, holder of the title, in lm 47 4-ss.