SWIMMING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22100, 2 November 1933, Page 5

SWIMMING

By Neptune! . • COMING EVENTS October 30-November ll.—Otago Centre’s “ Learn to Swim Fortnight.” November 4.—Otago Centre’s second carnival, Municipal Baths. December 19.—Otago Intermediate and Junior Championships, Municipal Baths. January 11.—Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club’s carnival. January 13.—Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club’s Harbour Race. January 19, 20, and 22. —New Zealand Junior and Intermediate Championships, at Pallnerston North. January 25. —Zenith A.S.C.’s Carnival. Club hours: Mondays, St. Clair and St. Kilda Life-saving Clubs; Tuesdays and Thursdays, Kiwi Amateur Swimming Club; Saturdays, Otago Centre water polo practice. Club hours from 8.45 to 9.45 p.m. at the Municipal Baths. Zenith Amateur Swimming Club, at Y.M.C.A Baths: Mondays and Thursdays, 7 to 8.30 p.m.; Tuesdays, 7.45 to 9.15 p.m.; Wednesdays, 6.30 to' 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 7.30 to 9 p.m. CLUB MEMBERSHIP No better indication of the increased interest in swimming during the past few years could be given than the' statements of club membership submitted last week to the meeting of the Otago Centre. In view of the fact that until a few weeks ago Dunedin had but one swimming pool adapted for all-the-year-round swimming, a total membership of 501 in the four local clubs is nothing short of astonishing, and it is satisfactory to note that of this number 50 per cent, are declared members. Returns are still to come in from three affiliated clubs, so that there is every probability of the new season commencing with a roll of at least 700 club members, of whom, it is safe to estimate, in the neighbourhood of 350 will he active. “LEARN TO SWIM” CAMPAIGN Judging by the large attendances at the Municipal Baths since last Monday, this year’s " Learn to Swim ” campaign should prove even more successful than its predecessors, and the enthusiasm displayed by both instructors and pupils points to an encouraging increase in the number of local swimmers by the time the campaign is brought to a close. Thanks to the director (Mr P. A. Mathieson). who has been mainly responsible for the organisation of the sessions at the Municipal Baths, everything so far has gone without a hitch; and the overcrowding • which has proved such a drawback during previous campaigns, has, by reason of the altered arrangements been far less noticeable. It is pleasing to note that there is no dearth of instructors, and the manner in which the clubs and their members have rallied round to assist is striking evidence of a very real desire to further the cause of swimming. On a lesser scale, but equally effective, is _the work being carried oil at the Y.M.C.A. Baths under the direction of the Zenith Club’s coach (Mr W. H. Buckland), and it is hoped that by the end of the period of the campaign the ranks of active swimmers in Dunedin will have been swelled considerably. For the Otago Centre s carnival on Saturday night, the entries just about constitute a record for Dunedin. Sixty swimmers will contest the six-a-skle relay, no fewer than four clubs being represented. The second class 33 1-3 Yards has attracted a field of 45 swimmers, the 100 Yards Inter-club has drawn 17, including W. J. Jarvis, Reg Geddes, E. Toase, J. O. Byrnes, and several other well-known local performers. Geddes, New Zealand’s champion breaststroke: exponent, will also be a competitor in the 100 Yards Breaststroke Handicap, which has drawn an entry of over 12 swimmers. There will be a business firms’ mixed relay, which has drawn a good entry, a burlesque of a novel nature, and a water polo match between Otago and the Rest. Among the competitors in the Short Limit Dash will be J. Blakeley, the Wellington champion swimmer.

CLUB NOTES' ZENITH. ■ Despite the fact that the Y.M.C.A. Baths ft have, been given over to free instruction every evening this week, and that the Zenith Club’s sessions have therefore been only of ah hour’s duration, much useful work has been accomplished, and members, both junior and senior, have displayed great enthusiasm. R. H. Nuttall, 6, Field, C. Jenkins. C. Hayden, D. T. Poole, and Don Harvey have been doing some hard work during, the week and all show improvement in style and form. ' .... ~ Good results are being achieved by . the juniors as a result of the close attention being given them. Little Joyce Anderson is an earnest little trier and undoubtedly will be one of . the club’s foremost junior girls next season, and if she continues as she is doing at present she. will probably compete at the primary schools’ championships this season., ' ", . If they take their work seriously Betty Collier, Ruth Hayward, and Mary Stewart will soon enter competition,, while Joan Thomson only needs to acquire a starting dive to be an entrant at,forthcoming carnivals, .. . J. Nickels, who is the youngest boy in the club, although only a beginner, is a very apt pupil, and will be swimming a good crawl before many weeks are past Two useful seniors who have linked up with Zenith are <G. Pitkethley and G Coxhead, both of whom, with coaching, should be a decided acquisition to the club. . In future the Saturday afternoon session will be dispensed with and the Saturday evening session will be -extended to one hour and a-half, the time being divided between learners and training as on other nights. ' , The club will hold its first annual car nival on January. 25, and as the cordial co-operation of its sister clubs is assured the fixture should be a great success KIWI. Following “ learn to swim session.- n Tuesday night, the usual club hour was held, there being a good muster of mem- i bers as well as a number of visitors from other clubs. D. Freeman is one of the keenest members of the club, and is making rapid improvement on the diving boards. He has been' trying a backward spring, one somersault and a-half, and is getting it 1 quite well. ; G. Roberts shows promise on the breast-stroke, and should find a place in one of the club's water polo teams. Club members heard with regret of the accident that befell E. Jenvey, a keen , little junior member, and all hope to hear of his speedy recovery. !

Miss Kitty Eekhoff is showing g6od form on the diving boards, and Miss J. Hutton has also been trying herself out as a diver. This girl is one of the keenest members in the club, and her swimming is improving every week. Arthur Thomas’s style is improving, and he should give a good account of himself in forthcoming 100 yards’ events. J. Buchanan is a new junior member who is keen, and should do well with coaching. W. Black has been buckling to training seriously, and the ex-Alexandra swimmer promises to be one of the best men in the club before the season ends. He requires a fair amount of distance work. Keg. Geddes is very fit, and training along nicely on the breast-stroke. Incidentally, he is still capable of cutting out a good 100 yards on the crawl. His coaching work in the club has been the subject of much favourable comment, and he can take some credit for the improvfement that is being shown by C. M'Gregor, the club’s promising junior. This lad is always eager to learn, and as he has another year in the junior division he should leave good times behind him. He will be a strong contender for Otago honours this year. Misses Joan and Jean Jenvey are both showing improvement, and Miss C. Knowles is also shaping well, though she would be well advised to concentrate on the breast-stroke. Miss Nancy Olds was noticed doing some useful work on the breast-stroke, and if she elected to compete she would lie hard to beat in the intermediate girls' breast-stroke event.