SWIMMING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21531, 31 December 1931, Page 4

SWIMMING

By Neptune. FIXTURES January 15.—Kiwi Club’s carnival, i January 22 and 23. —New Zealand intermediate and junior championships, at Lower Hutt. January 30. —Kiwi Club’s harbour race. February 2. —Centre’s final carnival. February 6. —Batt Cup harbour race. February 13, 15, 16, and 17.—New Zealand national championships, at Timaru. Club Hours.—Monday: St. Clair Life Saving Club and Training College Swimming and Life Saving Club; Tuesdays and Thursdays, Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club; Fridays and Saturdays, Dunedin Amateur Swimming Club. Club hours are at the Municipal Baths from 8.45 to 9.45 p.m. DUNEDIN CLUB’S HARBOUR RACE It is probable that the Dunedin Club will hold its annual harbour race this year in conjunction with the Ravensbourne regatta. It is understood that the Regatta Committee favours the idea, and if good entries come forward the race should prove as much of an added attraction to the regatta as it will be of benefit to the club. The committee of the Ravensbourue regatta has always given particularly willing support to swimming, and it is to be congratulated on at least giving consideration to the Dunedin Club’s proposal. SAGAR CUP COMPETITION New rules for the Sagar Cup life saving competition have been framed by the St. Clair Club, and it is probable that early in the year a team from the Sumner Life Saving Club will visit Dunedin to compete with the St. Clair Club. The club has at present in its ranks the material for a team well up to championship standard, and it is on the cards that it may be represented at the New Zealand Surf Championships at Christchurch in February. WATER POLO COMPETITION The next round of the Donald Stuart Banner Water Polo Competition will commence at the Kiwi Club’s hour next Wednesday night, when Dunedin A will play Kiwi B. On the following Saturday night at the Dunedin Club’s hour, St. Clair B will meet Dunedin B, and the match between St, Clair A and Kiwi A is set dow r u for the St. Clair Club’s hour on January 11. The selectors have made a good choice in the 19 players chosen to go into practice for representative honours, and wjth two such efficient coaches as Messrs H. V. Jcrred and P. A. Mathieson to bring them along, Otago should be able to put a strong team in the water for the Dominion Championships at Timaru in February. The only difficulty at present is the low state of the centre’s coffers, which makes the financing of the trip impossible unless the majority of the selected players can arrange to find their expenses. KIWI CLUB’S CARNIVAL Although entries for the Kiwi Club’s carnival, to be held on January 14, do not close for a week, strong support has already come forward for every event, and present indications point to this popular fixture being an outstanding success. The club has included a 33 1-3 Yards Backstroke Handicap on the programme, and entries have so far exceeded expectations that two or three heats will be necessary. As usual, the 33 1-3 Yards Interclub Handicap has attracted very large entries, with the prospect of more, and other events that are included and which have already drawn good support are the Diving Handicap, 50 Yards (under 17), 33 1-3 Yards Ladies, 100 Yards Breaststroke, Dual Relay (which should be one of the best races on the programme), 33 1-3 Yards Junior Handicap (under 14). and 33 1-3 Yards Blindfold Race. The 440 Yards Championship has also been included on the programme, and the competitors will include Yal Newall, Ted Turgis, and M. Taylor, while the Six-a-side Relay Championship should be a particularly interesting event, OTAGO REPRESENTATIVE TEAM With the Otago team chosen to represent the province in the New Zealand Intermediate and Junior Championships at Wellington on January 22 and 23, it is a case of quality and not quantity, for, although the team is not so strong numerically as in former years, every member is a tried and proved performer, with every chance of notching a victory in his or her event. On paper, it looks as if Otago will again take the War Memorial Shield, but there will be some stiff competition from the northern pro„vinces, and there is a big probability of several New Zealand records in the intermediate grade being replaced by faster times. Principal interest should, of course, centre in the intermediate boys’ class, and with such brilliant young swimmers as Noel Crump, who performed so well as a junior last year, Pat M'Grath, of Southland (the holder of the Intermediate 100 and 220 Yards titles), Reg Geddes, and Walter Jarvis pitted against one another some great swimming should be witnessed. Geddes is at his best in the breaststroke style this season, and so far there does not appear to be anyone in view capable of wresting his 100 Yards title from him; also, in view of his time in the 220 Yards Free Style event at the Otago championships, M'Grath and Crump will need all their brilliance to head him off. _ Walter Jarvis is also at the top of his form, and who ever beats him and Geddes in tlje 100 Yards should have the right to call himself the New Zealand intermediate champion over that distance. Geddes will also contest the 440 Yards Free Style Championship, and should go a better race this year than he did at Ashburton, where he gained third place after a particularly arduous programme. No representative has yet been chosen for the 100 Yards Intermediate Boys’ Backstroke Championship, the centre having deferred selection until after the decision of the provincial championships, to be held in the St. Clair Club hour on January 11. It is probable that Geddes, Jarvis, P Mathieson, and J. O'Driscoll will contest this event, and while O'Driscoll and Mathieson are more or less unknown quantities, they may be able to push Geddes and Jarvis along. Present indications, however, point _to the two last-named fighting out the issue. It is unfortunate that the province has not an intermediate girl considered up to championship class, but the junior division has a sound little representative in Miss Winnie Newall, who showed such dashing form at the Otago meeting. Miss Nancy Olds will be unable to make the trip to Wellington, so that Miss Newall will probably be called on to contest the Junior Girls’ Breaststroke title also. Sid Jarvis, who will be Otago’s sole representative in the junior boys’ division, has shown considerable improvement since the beginning of the season, and should go well, although, of course, it is difficult to assess his chances, in view of the fact that so far none of the other provinces seems to have unearthed a junior boy of more than ordinary promise. Whoever he competes against, however, this lad can be relied on to give of bis best. Peter Mathieson is a much improved diver, and on the finished display lie gave at the Otago championships it would not bo surprising to see him retain the title for the province. It is rather a oily that so far no mention has been made of an intermediate girls’ dive, as (his is an event in which Otago could easily put forward an entry. VISIT BY CHARLTON PROPOSED A visit by an overseas champion is likely (says the Auckland Herald). The Olympic Games at Los Angeles, coming so early as next August, preclude any possibility of the New Zealand Swimming Association contemplating the appropriation of many for the purpose of tours. All finances will be retained to defray the expenses of sending swimmers to the Olympiad if New Zealand swimming is to be represented at that international meeting. Developments during the season will decide whether there are any swimmers or divers worthy of selection. However, the Waitemata Club is negotiating privately for a visit from Andrew (“Boy”) Charlton, the great Australian Olympic champion, who has made a return to competition after an absence of three years. A visit by Charlton has been eagerly desired ever since bo became famous as Arne Borg’s victor in 1924, numerous requests for a tour of the Dominion by him having been declined. Should the project eventuate Charlton’s appearance would create . ideepread interest.