SWIMMING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20282, 15 December 1927, Page 5

SWIMMING.

By Neptotz.

CHAMPIONSHIP NOTES. On first seeing the entries for the Otago championships I was decidedly optimistic, and looked forward to an outstandingly successful meeting. Look- , ing back on the crowds attracted to the baths by the Dunedin and Kiwi Clubs and the primary schools’ championships, my optimism became more pronounced, and I was in expectations of having to push my way through an enthusiastic crowd of some 1000 or so spectators. Unfortunately, the carnival was a disappointment throughout. The attendances were poor, and, roughly, 50 per cent, of the entrants failed to face the starter. Possibly sickness was responsible for the meagre “gates”; undoubtedly it was responsible for the lack of swimmers. In all fairness to the centre, it may be said that it was in no way to blame. The arrangements were excellent, the officials ■were well chosen and did their job wholeheartedly, and on both nights the events were swum off without delay. In view of this, the meeting deserved better sup port than it received. This year’s centre is a particularly live body, and already it has done some good work which is reflected in a decidedly increased interest in swimming locally; therefore I am sorry to see it get a “ knock back,” so to speak, in its first effort to stage a carnival. Still, arrangements are well in hand for the national championship meeting next month, and then we shall see what our centre really can do. The bugbear of announcing placings and times seems to have been laid for good and all b;, the new results board which was used for the first time at the carnival. It is altogether an excellent idea, and is clearness itself. Picking up results spoken through a megaphone, no matter how good the raegaphonest, is not the easiest matter in the world for some people, so that the new board, with its large white figures standing out on a black background where everyone could see them, was indeed a welcome innovation. , Generally speaking, the racing was poor, but for this the competitors can hardly be blamed, as no swimmer, however good, can give of his or her'best if the competitive element is missing. Thus, I am convinced that Jack M'Lean’s times would have improved enormously bad he had someone to beat in the 440 and 880 yards championships. He appears to be swimming as well as ever, but, of course, he was never extended. Twice did Miss Jepson and Miss Miller try conclusions, and whilst the result of the 220 yards championship occasioned no surprise, the dead heat in the 100 yards set some of the older hands thinking. The latter race was a great one, but I am convinced that over this distance Miss Jepson would touch ahead of her opponent eight times out of 10. One hundred yards is Miss Jepson’s distance/and, despite the result of Thursday night’s swim, I cannot think she was at the top of her form. For the matter of that, neither was Miss Miller, but no one can gainsay that the intermediate distances are her forte, I look to Miss Jepson to extend them all over the 100 yards next month; similarly I cannot see anyone who is capable of taking Miss Miller’s titles away from her. It was good to see Stan Fogg competing again on Thursday and Saturday nights. He was lost sight of for some time, which was a p!ty,_ as he is undoubtedly one ot our best sprinters I understand that Stan was somewhat discouraged over not receiving recognition of his wins in tho Otago championships two years ago, and in this connection he has my sympathy. The deplorable laxity which was responsible for the omission (not only in Fogg’s case, but in others), would hardly tend to encourage any swimmer to carry on. Hat in hand, I bow to. whoever was responsible for arranging the pairs in the Relay Championship. Never, I think, have I seen such a good race, or one in which tho swimmers were so evenly matched. For four pairs to race so closely as did the Kiwi and St. Clair representatives on Thursday is a thing which happens all too rarely, and more racing such as this would go far towards popularising tho sport. N. H. Bailey,’ of tho Kiwi Club, is a sprinter who has come to the fore with a bound, and he looks as if he could clip a few seconds off his time for tho 100 Yards Championship. H. Clark, also a Kiwi member, surprised everyone by his effort in the 220 Yards Breaststroke Championship, and his win was well deserved. Harrod, who swam a close second, is another breaststroke exponent of whom more will be heard before long. The diving, both in the ladies’ and the men’s classes was a little disappointing. The two lady competitors. Misses D, roots and J. Eggors, are both young, but both undoubtedly possess great possibilities. Considering everything, however, Miss Foote’s display was quite good, although at times there was room for improvement in her flight. Miss Eggers has the makings of a diver, but lacks finish. Another season should see both of these girl amongst New Zealand’s best. Roy Colder did not appear to dive up to his usual form on Saturday night, but later in the evening, he gave an exhibition which showed a vast improvement. Tho only other competitor in the Men’s Dive, A. M. Rex, made one or two excellent efforts, but in most cases he lacked balance and went over *oo far. W. Boyd’s exposition of the back-stroke in the 150 Yards Championship was neat and effortless. Ho has some speed hidden away somewhere. Miss D Murdoch, of Dunedin Club, has done wcl] for her first season, and should go further with more coaching. I cannot help thinking, however, that luck was witn her in_ the 100 Yards Junior Girls’ Championship Her only opponent. Miss C. Lang, turned badly and fouled the ropelanes twice, otherwise I consider she would have got home first. This little lassie’s finishing effort was one of the gamest swims I have seen for a long time, but whoever is coaching her should give her 10 minutes each day on turning. No doubt swimming breeds sportsmen: take the case of young S. Jarvis. He is only a handful, and although hopelessly outclassed in the 150 Yards Junior Boys’ Championship, he battled on long after the winner and tho second boy were out of the water, and finished—an example of keenness which many an adult might well follow. Reginald Geddes had things all his own way in the junior boys’ events. Ho is a pretty little swimmer and ho is game. 11 he is looked after, there is a future before him. I was looking forward to seeing C. Goughian, a Dunedin Club junior, in action on one of the carnival nights, but unfortunately he was unable to compete. On his showing at his club and the primary schools’ meetings he would have made things interesting in the junior events. The veteran. Jack M'lndoe. was again in evidence at the meeting, and after a, solid tussle he and Cecil Lewis prevented the life saving championship from going away from their club (St. Clair). J. S. M‘Veigh, a High School boy, was unfortunate in collapsing after covering 100 yards in the 150 Yards Junior Championship. I understand that he was just out of bed after an attack of the ’flu.,’’ and was too eager to swim. It seems a pity that no ono could have advised the lad, as it is difficult to foresee what the results of such a collapse might be. CENSUS OF SCHOOLS. During the past season a census was taken by tho Education Department with a view cl ascertaining- how many of the public schools facilities for the teaching of swimming exist; at how many schools swimming is taught; tho percentage of tho boys and girls able to swim. Just over 80 per cent, of the schools replied to the questionnaire, and their replies afford the following information: —Out of a total of 1866 school?, 204 have bath facilities (including public city baths), 725 have other facilities (chiefly sea and river), while 937 have no facilities at all. This means that half the total number of schools are with out facilities. Swimming is taught in under one-third of the total schools, the figures being Taught 566, not taught 1300. Taken from Standards I to VI, tho percentage of children who can swim works out at 24 per cent, of the hoys and 23 per cent, of the girls. The Wellington district is the only one where tho percentage of girl swimmers is greater than tho boys, the figures reading:—Girls 28 per cent, boys 25 per cent. When it is pointed out that to date the total number of certificates issued to school children reaches the big figure of 61.665, it will be readily acknowledged that the educational work being done is exceptionally wonderful considering the facilities that do exist.