SWIMMING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22710, 24 October 1935, Page 5

SWIMMING

By Neptune. COMING EVENTS October 28.—Otago Centre's first carnival. November 4-November 9.—Otago Centre's " Learn to Swim " Week. November 9. —Otago Centre's "Learn to Swim" gala. December 11. —Otago intermediate and junior championships. January 14. —Kiwi Club's carnival. January 18. —Kiwi and Zenith Clubs' Harbour Races. January 28.—Otago senior championships. February 1. —Otago country clubs' championships, at Milton. February 2. —Batt Cup harbour swim, at Macandrew Bay. February 4. —Zenith Club's Carnival. February 15, 17, 18, and 19. —New Zealand national championships, at Dunedin". February 22 and 23'.—New Zealand surf life-saving championships, at Dunedin. Club Hours.—Mondays (8.45-9.45 p.m.), St. Clair and St, Kilda; Tuesdays (0-7) and Thursdays (8.45-9.45), Kiwi; Wednesdays and Fridays (8.45 to 9.45), Dunedin; Saturdays (8.45-9.4s),Kaikorai; Tuesdays (8.45-9.45), centre's polo hour. All club hours mentioned above are at the Municipal Baths. Zenith Club hours nightly at the y.M.C.A. Baths except Fridays. TUITION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN It is distinctly encouraging that the Otago Education Board is sufficiently interested in the teaching of the children in country schools to swim, to appoint two of its members to meet representatives of the Primary Schools' Sports Association and the Otago Swimming Centre, to discuss what is, to ,all those interested in swimming, a matter of paramount importance. In the city, the arrangements for the tuition of school children are poor enough in all Conscience, but the youngsters have at least the opportunity of getting coaching and .instruction through the offices of one or other of the clubs. In the country schools, however, not only are the facilities for teaching lacking in many cases, but it is frequently the case- that no competent instructor is available, with the result that the youngsters, when they leave school, still lack an essential part of their education. The yearly toll of lives by death from drowning is far too large for a country like New Zealand, where a large percentage of the population lives within easy reach of the sea, and the sooner some move is made towards ensuring that every physically fit school child can be its own life-saver in case of accident, the better. It is hoped that out of the proposed conference may come some eoncretc > scheme whereby every school in the country districts of Otago, where reasonable facilities for teaching exist, will, during each summer, be included in the'itinerary of a competent travelling instructor. LABOUR NIGHT CARNIVAL Judging by the entries that have come forward the centre's annual Labour Night carnival should prove a particularly successful fixture, more especially as it will give those who intend having a tilt at some of the championship events later in the season a good opportunity of finding out how they t-.re going. The centre has wisely decided, in arranging the programme for the fixture, to increase the distance for the majority of the races, so that prospective championship entrants will be able to gain a fair idea of their chances when the championships come along. An' unusually interesting race, which was included in the programme at the instigation of that staunch life-saving enthusiast, Mr A. Findlay. will be a Backstroke Race in which the swimmers must use the frog-kick—the only kick, by the way, which is any use to a lifesaver. Among those competing will be such well-known swimmers as the Jarvis brothers, Ptter Mathieson, J. O'Driscoll, J. Barry, and the Manawatu and exNew Zealand champion, Miss P. Sporle, so that the racing should be unusually interesting. CLUB NOTES ZENITH An encouraging accession of new members, the majority of whom have been drafted into the learners' session, has kept the coach (Mr W. H. Buck!and) particularly busy during the past week, but a satisfactory aspect of the activities among the learners is that as new ones join up, a fair proportion who commenced at the beginning of the season are now almost ready to move into an advanced grade. As in every branch of sport there are always youngsters taking up swimming who have a well-developed water-sense, and a natural buoyancy, that result in their mastering the rudiments in a remarkably short space of time, but it is a curious fact that some of these, having progressed to a certain degree, remain where they are, while some who did not start off so well manage, by dint of sheer determination and hard work to catch up their arrears. I here are, in the first hour, a good many beginners who, while they did not at first appear to be going ahead very fast, buckled down to it, and are now on the way to becoming proficient swimmers. Perhaps the besc session of all is the second, in which come of the club's most promising juniors and intermediates are to bo seen. They are all keen, and so \vell do they attend to their training that from the beginning to the end of the hour the only voice to be heard is that of the coach. The third hour is at present somewhat bare, but the seniors and advanced members who use it are getting in some solid and uninterrupted practice that should stand them in good stead later in the season. One of the most improved of the newer members is Chris. Justin, who, since the commencement of the season, has made remarkable progress. She is building up a beautifully even kick, and as she is now swimming lengths, she has now graduated into the improvers' session. Harold Wilson is a great little trier, and if determination counts for anything, he should be capable of a good length m a month or two. Norma Scott is another beginner who has the makings of a swimmer. Although she has been going only two or three weeks, she can now manage a width, but she has, of course, a good way to eo yet before she sees her name on the grading list. When she gets there, however, she should go ahead well, as she does everything with a smile and works from the time she enters the water until she leaves it.

Mary Garnett is a keen worker who shows distinct promise. A. M. Rutherford, the deputy club captain tried himself out on Saturday night and appeared to be going easily. Unfortunately, his studies preclude his attending as frequently as he would like, and he will not in consequence be able to reach his best form until fairly late in the season. Unfortunately for the club, C. Hayden has found it necessary for business reasons to resign from the position of club captain. Through his resignation the committee has lost a keen and efficient; member whose criticism of the club's activities has always been constructive and to the point, and swimmers in the first and second sessions have lost a capable official whose work and advice were of the greatest assistance to them and to the coach. Mr Hayden's place has been filled by J. Guthrie, who has assumed his new duties with all the enthusiasm and conscientious attention to his work that have been characteristic of him ever since he joined. Above all things, Mr Guthrie is a good clubman, and under his captaincy the club should be as successful in its activities as it was under Mr Hayden. KAIKORAI. The Kaikorai baths will be opened very shortly, and it is hoped that tine weather will permit swimmers to make the opening ceremony a success. The facilities for sun-bathing around this pool arc well known. The Coaching Committee has not, a s yet, assumed control of operations at the club session. It is expected that when it does take charge it will adopt revolutionary methods, and enforce strict discipline. As the proposed alterations are intended for the general improvement of the swimming standard, it is hoped that every member will give the executive his or her closest co-operation. The evenin,- of Saturday, November 2, has been suggested as the night on which this committee will commence operations, lor the first carnival of the new season club entries are small, owing to the holiday, but two relay teams have been entered, which are as follows:—-No. 1 team—l. L a ug, T. Ness, K. Nelson, C. Sonntag; No. 2 team—M. Monaghan, D. Laing, L. Moore, W. Darling. The above are requested to be present at the club session on Saturday night for practice. The absence of A. Blair from relay teams duriug the coming months is going to prove a big loss to the club. He has been a staunch supporter of the club in the past, and it "is learned with regret that he is leaving the city, fcarl bull made a belated reappearance on Saturday night, and is advised to reconstruct his stroke in every form. Plenty of constant attention to style is his only hope tor the future. D. Hunter is another ot last year's members to make a reappearance. He favours breaststroke, and is a likely candidate for the life-saving squad. A. M'Leod is a new junior member who w making rapid progress. Bruce lea illustrated on Saturday night that he can perform quite well from the low diving board. The innovation of having a pole to dive over was- conducive to members obtaining that little extra height which counts so much for points m diving. Alis s V. Outram is a keen swimmer, but should jump on the end of the diving board to obtain an improvement in her flight. Amongst the members of the club are quite a number who have talent ill directions other than swimming, and it is intended to hold a concert on a week night in the near future. This fixture should tend to give the club a great start lor the forthcoming season, and also tend to cement the many friendships which already exist. KIWI. Despite the large attendances at the Tuesday night hour, the reorganised system of coaching has made it possible lor the instructors to cope with all the members, and splendid results are being achieved, as may be seen from the number of new members who are already in the improvers' groups. The commencement of club races on Thursday night lias increased the attendance at that hour, and the Vernon Smith Cup series and the races for the Williams Shield which are to be held on Thursday nights should attract large entries and very keen competition. Miss I. Purdie, who is a candidate for intermediate championship honours, won the first club handicap ot the season, the 33 1-3 Yards Intermediate and Junior Girls' Handicap, last Thursday night. She was off the scratch, mark, and swam with plenty of dash She has a very promising style, and should be doing fast time for 100 yards belore the season ends. Miss Agnes Brown, who divided second place with Miss JMina Abernethv, is a promising intermediate who is now tackling the longer distances. Mr A. Greig has the New Zealand junior bovs' champion, Geoff Chambers, working solidly on the breaststroke, and he should be right on the score of fitness when the Otago Championships are decided in December. Another of Mr Greig's pupils who has a very good style on the breaststroke is A. M'Murtrie, who is a likely competitor in the junior event at the Otao-o Championships. He also shapes well on the diving boards. Watson Stewart will be swimming in senior ranks this season, and if he reaches out a little more will secure better results. He is swimming very well at present. Miss Boulton, the ladies' captain, has a fine team of breaststroke swimmers in her charge, and Peggy Mundie and Dorothy, two of the most promising, covered 12 lengths last Saturday.. Bill M'Lauchlan is now being coached "by Mr A. Findlay, and is showing improvement. He will develop into a good breaststroke swimmer, but should try to straighten his arms out a little. Vernon Palmer is another junior who is beginning to show improvement on the breaststroke. Miss D. Pope is taking diving seriously now, and she shaped quite well at some of the more difficult numbers on Tuesday night. Ethel Baker is a great little trier on the breaststroke, and Lyall Kearns, who is only four years of age, swam a length on the tube on Tuesday. A Smith won the Intermediate and Junior Boys' Handicap on Thursday night and would be one of the best sprinters in the junior division if he elected to take his training seriously. Dick M'Kornan, who filled second place, is improving his arm action, but should get his elbows up higher. Brian Poberts is improving on his kick, but needs a wider arm action. Miss Chrissie Knowles, the holder of the Otago Junior Girls' Breaststroke title, will be swimming as an intermediate, this season, and is now buckling clown to serious training. She is one of the keenest members in the club. DUNEDIN. The annual meeting of the club last Friday was well attended, and it was pleasing to see so many new members present. The club has suffered a decided loss through the resignation of Brian Kerr, who, over a long period of years, has proved an efficient and extremely popular secretary. R. Payton, an ex-Otago diving champion, has renewed his association with the club' after an absence of some years. He will be seen in competition on Monday. Myra Gillies is training hard on the freestyle, and has shown considerable improvement of late. Among the new members are Darcy Duckitt, Joan Bower, Joy and Pearl Wi'lden, all of whom are keen to be coached. Mr W. Williams has a very promising pupil in Leo Cornish. Sydney Murray has just gained his 50 yards certificate, and is a very proud lad indeed. Miss Edna Johnson is again elub captain, and Miss Max Mathieson deputy captain. Both these ladies are always on hand to help in coaching activities, and their election was popular with all members. J. O'Driscoll, the new club captain, and E. Toase, deputy captain, also are always willing to lend a helping hand. Pattie Sporl has been attending club nights, and is trying to improve her arm action, Muriel M Earlane is training hard, but requires to watch her leg action. Members are all pleased to see Mavis Pockson again in the water, and are hoping to see her back again in competition. Mr W. L. Hooper has given a cup to be competed for among the lady senior members, so that there should be some keen competition later in the season. Esine Ceerie can now swim the length, and Dulcie Docherty a width. Fred Shore is showing marked improvement, and James Docherty is another promising junior who is always in the water. L. Lake intends entering competition this season, and if he has time to train he should be a member well worth watching. Polo players are reminded of practice matches, and are requested to be present as often as possible. Winnie Newall has settled down to serious training, and at present is swimming well. C. Eckhold has started practice on the diving board, and has already shown market improvement. This is his final year as an intermediate, and everyone wishes him a successful season. Sydney Jarvis is also training hard, both in swimming and diving. In February, after competing in the intermediate ranks at Hamilton, he will enter senior ranks.