SWIMMING ITEMS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22400, 22 April 1936, Page 21

SWIMMING ITEMS

SEASON OF WATER POLO NORTH SHORE SUCCESSFUL WINNING TEAM ABLY COACHED Water polo competitions this season were concluded at the Mount Eden Amateur Swimming Club's carnival in the Tepid Baths, when North Shove defeated Ponsonby by three goals to two in the final of the A grade championship. North Shore thus holds the championship for the first time. The teams, which prior to the match had not been defeated and had drawn in the first round, consistently gave the brightest exhibitions of teamwork, their display ,in the final being a fitting climax. Tackling was vigorously stern, as was warranted by the importance of the issue, yet the ball was tossed about freely, and the closeness with which play was followed by the spectators indicated how very exhilarating they found the deft handling of the ball. North Shore's slightly moro varied tactics turned the scale in its favour. Ponsonby, however, was unlucky to lose one of its most useful players, A. Uaper, for part of the second spell. The two men largely responsible for North Shore's success were W. F. Smith, the captain, and F. Lonsdale, the Philomel player. Smith again justified his reputation as a sure builder of water polo teams. An interesting point is that he was opposing his old club, as Ponsonbv's distinguished run at water polo over a period of several seasons a few years ago was the result of his association with it. The North Shore team consisted mostly of young players, and the manner in which they climbed to the championship since Smith joined them early this season showed their quick response to sound leadership and coaching. Lonsdale, too, was a solid player in every respect. His team will miss him badly next season, as his term of service in New Zealand expires in November. No less praise for moulding a team is due to the Ponsonby coach, Mr. S. Brooking, who lias an extensive knowledge of water polo. Proceedings during the season again emphasised the urgent necessity of every team in every grade having a match each week. Great difficulties confront the Auckland Water Polo Control Board in whatever it may do to satisfy this need, but all enthusiasts i will hope that next season it will bo able to make better arrangements for the use of baths. If players were assured of a weekly game, defaults in the lower grades would be by no means as numerous, and the general standard would become considerably higher. RECORD FOR FRANKHAM HUNDRED METRES FIGURES The sprint champion of New Zealand. R. B. Frankham, has at last succeeded in gaining the national record for 100 metres by eclipsing N. Crump's time of 61 l-5s by one-fifth ot a second at the Mount Eden Club's carnival. Commendable although this performance was, Frankham plainly did not swim as well as the previous week, when he sprinted 60 2-3vds in the exceptionally fast time of 33 2-ss. On this occasion, however, he was drawn out from nrratch by pace-makers. The season haß been strenuous, and it was difficult for him to maintain his form at a high plane always. He now holds the records for the two main sprints, and this season has shown himself to be New Zealand's star sprinter. HANDICAPPING SYSTEM INSUFFICIENT ELASTICITY Before next season means may also have to be considered of improving the handicapping system. The establishment at the beginning of the current season of a handicapping coifimittee to replace the sole handicappers, whose work had its shortcomings, was hoped to please disgruntled competitors and remove the causes of dissatisfaction. Conditions have been generally better, but anomalies are still evident. Handicapping a swimmer by liis times in races, if the times are noted in everv instance, tends to be too stringent as there is hardly any elasticity to provide for loss of form, a trouble to which the more prominent swimmers are especially susceptible because of their activity. Further indication that discrepancies are fairly prevalent is afforded bv the fact that close finishes embracing all competitors have this season been no more numerous than when adjustments were made by one handicapper. . ' Regarding reforms, a system adopted in many other places and worth a trial in Auckland transfers some of the responsibility of computing the correct handicap upon the swimmer himself. In nominating he is required to state his time on an official entry form. Safeguard against abuse is provided by the disqualification of anyone beating his time by more than the stipulated margin, this being the rule already observed locally.