OTAGO SWIMMING CENTRE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21153, 10 October 1930, Page 3

OTAGO SWIMMING CENTRE.

ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of the Otago Swimming Centre, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the centre to be held on Wednesday next, states inter alia:— The season was a busy one, and the centre staged the championships on one night this year in place of two nights as previously, and, for a change, this fixture resulted in a profit to the centre of several _ pounds. In addition, another carnival was held at the end of the season in aid of the Empire games fund, and this, too,, resulted in a profit of several pounds, one of the pleasing features being that the swimmers very generously forwent their prizes. In addition to the carnivals,- the centre assisted by providing some of the officials at the schools’ swimming championships, and the Dunedin Club’s brilliant troupe of divers, comprising Messrs R. C. Colder, H. E. Walter, and A. M, Rix,. gave one of their splendid displays off the boards. In passing,, it may be mentioned that these fine performers were only too willing to provide similar exhibitions at all carnivals daring the season, and clubs wore not slow in making use of the opportunity thus offered.. Apart from our championship successes, the handicap events throughout drew large entries and the standard, of swimming during the whole season was a good one, especially among the juniors and intermediates, while the senior standard also, showed a welcome improvement. Once again, it may be asthat Otago still leads the way in diving, and at all carnivals the diving events were largely supported. The centre was able to despatch a very strong team to the New Zealand Championships at Greymouth, and,' taken, altogether, it is doubtful if Otago has "'ever done as well as was the case ip Greymouth. Otago was placed In every event which the centre’s representatives competed excepting those in the junior girls’ division in which Miss Nancy Olds was up against much older swimmers. Nevertheless, she carried off one title.' - Outstanding, of course, was the success of the intermediate and junior representatives, the War Memorial Shield, for most firsts in junior and intermediate events, being brought back to Eunedia, For a long time the centre endeavoured to bring about a tour fit Australia by R. C. Caldor, the champion diver, but it wap impossible to finalise any negotiations in the matter. ‘ It was therefore with great pleasure that the news was received that Calder, undoubtedly New Zealand’s finest diver, had been nominated for a place in the New Zealand team for the British Empire Games in Hamilton, Ontario, in August last. The centre was faced with a big task of raising ovoP|£7o to ensure Cnlder’s despatch, but with the co-operation of the clubs and swimmers, in genera) the opening of a subscription list through the courtesy of the Evening Star,, and the generosity of kindred sporting bodies and the general public, the necessary amount was subscribed, in a few weeks. The centre takes this further opportunity of thanking all those who. so willingly contributed to the Empire games fund. Once again it is pleasing to be able to report that the educational work continues to flourish in Otago. No fewer than 676 certificates were issued during the year. The year’s operations resulted in a loss of £18.63 Bd, details of which appear in the summary at the foot of the attached statement of income and expenditure. The amount required for the purpose of sending Roy Calder to Canada was slightly pver-eubscribcd, and it was expected that the fund would be further augmented by . a profit from the farewell dance. However, this function resulted in a loss of £5 16s 2d, which, added to the centre’s presentation to Mr Calder (£2), swallowed up the excess,- V • ■