SWIMMING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20892, 5 December 1929, Page 4

SWIMMING.

By Neptune,

COMING EVENTS. December 14,—Otago Championships. December 21. —Kiwi Club Harbour Race January 11.—Batt Cup Harbour Race. January 14.—Kiwi Club's carnival. January 23-30.—New Zealand Swimming Championships at Grcymouth. AROUND THE CLUBS. DUNEDIN. . The club hour on Friday night again drew a large attendance, but whilst it was encouraging to note ttiat the coaching met with such a ready response, it was disappointing that the polo team wae unable to get in a practice in consequence. The seniors, however, were able to indulge in about a quarter of an hour's useful training. Several new members (mostly juniors) joined up, and it is to be hoped that these will make useful seniors in time to come. Walter Jarvits is training solidly, and should stand a good chance of being sent away with the Otago "team to the Dominion Championship meeting. Toase, who did so well at the Schools' Championships. is another junior who is swimming well. 11. Scales and A. Talmer did some fast Inns on Friday night, and the latter snould be to the fore in the intermediate hoys' section at the Provincial Champion, ships. With the Ladies' Diving Championship in view. Miss O. Crowley, under the coaching of H. E. Walker, is putting in some hard practice on the boards. Difficult though, the dives in the intermediate boys' section of the championships undoubtedly are, it would not be surprising to see R. M*Lay perform with distinction. He is improving at every practice.

Miss M._ Mathiesou, record holder for the Intermediate Girls’ 75 Yards Breaststroke is being trained this year by her father (Mr 1\ Mathicson) and C. B. Lewis, the Otaao breast-stroke champion. Tlie oongratitlations of the club are duo to Miss .D. Murdoch, who swam so well at the Girls’ High School swimming snorts which were held recently. Miss Murdoch is one of the keenest lady members of the club, and, moreover, loses with is good grace as she wins.

Miss M. Jcpson and Miss V. Campbell are; two, very consistent trainers, and it is difficult to see who stands anv chance against Miss Jcpson at the Otago Championships. % THE SCHOOLS’ CHAMPIONSHIPS. The packed houses and the enthusiasm ot the spectators at both sessions of the Primary Schools* Swimming Championships last week were a very satisfactory and encouraging indication that local interest in swimming is increasing by leaps and bounds. Still more encouraging was the fact that record entries came forward in nearly every event, and thus the carnival formed a _ notable opening to what, it is hoped, will be one of the most successful seasons in the annals of swimming in Dunedin. The results proved what a splendid asset club membership is to a young swimmer, as the winners in practically every race were members of one or other of the local clubs, and the form tiiey displayed demonstrated in no uncertain fashion the value of the svstem of coaching juveniles which has ' been adopted by all the clubs. The battle for the Begg trophy resulted in a victory for Normal by seven points, and throughout the meeting it was obvious that swimmers from the two,schools in the running (Nornial and Albany Street) considered a win for their school was of far more iraportnnce than any individual gain. This was strikingly demonstrated in the relay races especially, in which, whether in the heats or the finals, the competitors strained every nerve to bring a few points to their schools.

. Normal School owed its win principally 11 Nancy Olds, who, besides putting a ii j e , I(dai ' a * n which she swam beyond alj doubt, won tho girls’ dive and the width of the baths Championship. This lassie has filled out wonderfully in" the past year, and is swimming at her best just now. There is certainly no one within years of her age in Dunedin at present who can come anywhere near her over tlie shorter distances.

L. Beck, also of Normal School, is another girl who, with more coaching should be amongst the front rank of junior swimmers this season For sheer gamencss V. Roycroft, an Albany Street girl, would be hard to beat. Her swim in the 33 1-3 yards championship for girls under 14 years was a great eifort, and her thrash over the last lap against a Moray Place competitor in the last lap of the second heat of the relay championship for .girls under M years provided of the best tussles seen, in the Municipal Baths for many a day. Left with nearly- half a length to make up, the Albany Street girl settled clown to her task gamely, and. although obviously tiring near the end, she put in a desperate spurt to gain the decision by a foot.

M. Pockson, of Kensington, and P. Somenille (Anderson’s Bay) swam consistently throughout the tournament, and will make useful club members in a season or two.

A distinct discovery amongst junior breaststroke swimmers is C. Elliott of Macandrew Road School. This lad has a good stroke and gets through the water at an astonishing pace for such a little chap On his present form he looks as though he might step into C. B. Lewis’s shoes one of these days.. As was expected, Walter and Sidney Jarvis had little difficulty in winning all the events they started in. These two, Sidney especially, are coming champions’, and should do well at the provincial championships at Grcymouth next month. Lake (George Street) and E. Tease (Albany Street) are a pair of good little swimmers and should develop into good handicap performers if they train seriously.

A feature of the meeting was the excellent display of diving in the boys' championship. Eleven competitors, each of whom had to do two dives, took th* board, and out of the whole 22 dives, the writer saw only one which could be classed even as indifferent. - The remainder were of a high standard, and there, could have been only a very small margin of points separating the 11 divers when the juugos totalled their marks. DUNEDIN CLUB'S CARNIVAL. The Dunedin Club has every reason to congratulate iteslf on the success of Tuesday night's carnival, which, although it was the first club carnival of the season, attracted a most encouraging attendance and, what was more important, splendid entries. Additional interest was lent to the swimming by the fact that the

rounding facts, no reasonable ground exmeeting provided what was the first real try-out for intending competitors at the forthcoming Otago championship meeting, and also for a number of decidedly promising newcomers to competitive swimming. It was disappointing, however, to note that a breast-stroke race was not included in the programme, .which was a pity, as the breast-stroke, especially on account of its value in life saving, should be encouraged. Once again, the writer wishes to draw attention to the poor lighting of the baths. The pool is altogetlier insufficiently illuminated, with the result that competitors, and in particular divers, cannot be expected to give of their best. It is to be hoped that stronger aud more diffused lights will be installed for the provincial championship meeting, W. Auckland is showing a great turn of speed at present, probably ns a result nf the coaching he has received from N. H. Bailey, and he. put up a great swim for his wius off two seconds in his heat and the final of the 33 1-3 Yards Handi-

.Miss Jepson had little difficulty in.winn.ng the 50 Yards Ladies’ Interclub Hanindicato D that 9 i° rn i 1 she fl , isplayed would indicate that she has only to swim to SSSiiot'i.S” «» Norman Bailey was also going well Y l awls W HinJ’ El '' sSt lc . npth in the 33 1-3 Re ar H^ d, f L;,p t . ai!d m the Inlerclub Ixclfo, Sq far* there does not seem to hL ai l!fT U 1 S,ftht - ca P ab,e «>f depriving him of his provincial titles. niJbf ? eat ‘! ive f ? r boys and girls under ci ht stone brought to light a.beautiful little diver in J. Durand. If this lad shan't 8 ,n the wri - v >'* is going there first cl« ra .nd boJIT'S points in), and (I cfl_i cn, | le , (three especially noticeable, showing some pretty body nlav Pikes off the high board h,s nie? a Anstralia h °h diptance s «imwhf’. e3 ? c . e s tin * frai.V a s nd ‘’hop^ l » Sd f n o j:’ \ B . tegardedM^Au rnices^to^is^credlt 6 a^cl^iyd'ne Kr i tivcly It is- DVS say, the New Zealand record-holder will not oppose the Australians and will not compete in any championship events this season as he i s unable to find the new* rXtlm co„°f ? is defection sO r £ considerable interest, is non-Hi’ <he Dom >nion champion, over disfance? ol,P ° nent fop the