SWIMMING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22716, 31 October 1935, Page 5

SWIMMING

By Neptune,

COMING EVENTS November 4-November 9.—Otago Centre's "Learn to Swim" Week. November 9. —Otago Centre's "Learn to Swim " gala. * December 7.—Toko. Club's open carnival, Milton. December 11. —Otago intermediate and junior championships. January B.—Toko. Club's open carnival, Milton. January 14. —Kiwi Club's carnival. January 18. —Kiwi and Zenith Clubs' Harbour Races; Toko. Club's open carnival, Milton. January 28. —Otago senior championships. February 1. —Otago country clubs' championships, at Milton. February 2.—Batt Cup harbour swim, at Macandrew Bay. February S. —Cromwell Club's annual carnival. February 15, 17, 18, and 19— New Zealand national championships, at Dunedin. February 20. —Visit of champions to Milton. 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 (6-7) and Thursdays (8.45-9.45), Kiwi; Wednesdays and Fridays (8.45 to 9.45), Dunedin; Saturdays (8.45-9.45), 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.CA. Baths except Fridays. THE DIVING PANEL From time to time after the conclusion of championship meetings the writer has heard a good deal of disapproval expressed with regard to the judging of diving. It must be admitted that on occasions there are certainly good grounds for such complaints, but the dissatisfaction generally arises not so much from the fact that the. judges are incompetent as that the rules bv which they allot their points are sometimes open to varying interpretations.: The introduction of a judges' panel, therefore, is a move that is wise as well as, timely, for, as has been the case in Otago, other centres will, no doubt, be-careful, in nominating their panels, to ehdose only judges who not only know the rules backward, but who have had sufficient experience of championship competition to temper their interpretations of these rules with common sense. Including as it does no fewer than five ex-New Zealand champions, all of whom have had considerable experience in judging, as well as others, who have, so to speak, grown up with diving in New Zealand, the Otago panel should prove satisfactory to everyone. Certain it is that there are few of its members who, figuratively speaking, could not recite the book of rules backwards, and at the same time be trusted to judge with reason and fairness. "LEARN TO SWIM" WEEK The Otago Centre's annual "Learn to Swim" week will be commenced at the Municipal Baths on _ Monday next, and will be continued until the following Saturday, when the campaign will be brought (o a close with the usual carnival. Instructors from all clubs have already come forward with offers of assistance, and under the capable organisation of Mr P. E. Mathieson, it is expected that the instructional sessions will be responsible for giving a decided stimulus to swimming. Following is the programme for week:— Monday, November 4. —12-2 p.m., tuition by instructors appointed from clubs and centre; afternoon, tuition by baths' staff and centre instructors; 6.45 p.m.. official opening of " Learn J© Swim" week; 7-8.30 p.m., tuition by club and centre instructors: 8.30 p.m., interval—demonstration of swimming strokes to be a'i> ranged. Tuesday, November 5. —12-2 p.m., tuition by club and centre instructors; afternoon, tuition by baths' staff and instructors; 7-8.30 p.m., tuition by club and centre instructors; 8.30 p.m., interval—exhibition of diving by Otago champions. Wednesday, November 6. —;12-2 p.m., tuition by club and centre officials: afternoon, tuition by baths' staff and instructors; 7-8 p.m., tuition by club and centre instructors; 8.30 p.m.,' interval—exhibition of fancy swimming by Mr P. A. Mathieson and assistants. Thursday, November 7.—12-2 p.m., tuition by club and centre instructors; afternoon, tuition by baths' staff and instructors; 7-8.30 p.m., tuition by club ; and centre instructors; 8.30 p.m., exhibition of strokes.

Fridaj'. November 8. —12-2 p.m., tuition by club and centre instructors; afternoon, tuition by baths' staff and instructors; 7-8.30 p.m.. tuition by club and centre officials; 8.30 p.m.. exhibition of life saving, Rescues and releases. Saturday, November 9. —Afternoon: instruction by club and centre instructors; evening, centre's grand gala. LABOUR NIGHT CARNIVAL Although trainins operations among the clubs can hardly be said as yet to be in full swing, performances at Monday night's carnival indicated that some of Otago's hopes for forthcoming championship competition will soon be at the peak of their form. Generally speaking, times were faster, and the standard of swimming better, than is usually the case at the beginning of the season, and the keen interest with which the packed benches of spectators followed the racing augured well for the' success of future carnivals. Kiwi Club has a coming champion in Mies I. Purdie, a speedy, intermediate, who, at the first time of asking, broke 70 seconds for the 100 Yards with comparative ease. This girl has a beautifully relaxed, swinging arm stroke, and an 'efficient kick, and after throwing the distance behind her in 69 4-5 seconds in the heat, and four-fifths of a second less in the final, she appeared still to have a good deal in reserve. It would not be surprising to see her doing in the neighbourhood of 64 or 65 seconds before the season closes. A doughty little swimmer is Miss O. Armour, who took the first heat of the 33 1-3 Yards Second-class Handicap. Although only 10 years of age, this lass, who is one of the Kiwi Club's promising juniors, swam with remarkable dash, and maintained a nice even stroke over the whole distance. Another Kiwi girl who took the eye was Miss E. Abernethy, who won her heat and the final of the same race. Reg. Geddes has apparently lost no time in striking form, and his 76 2-5 seconds in his heat of the 100 Yards Breaststroke Handicap was a particularly good effort. The handicappers are to be congratulated on their assessments in practically every race, and in very few cases was their estimate of a competitor's form much wide of the mark. Especially was this noticeable in the 100 Yards Breaststroke Handicap and the freestyle event over the same distance, in both of which a blanket would have covered the first five swimmers at the finish. The writer noticed the local officer having a quiet word with some of the competitors whose costumes, to say the least of it, were hardly in harmony with what the well-dressed swimmer should wear. Some of the costumes worn on Monday

night were bizarre and wonderful, and Mr Findlay acted wisely in checking what might in time become a decided offence to the eye. Backless costumes held together by a couple of strips of tape, diaphanous confections of nun's veiling or mosquito netting, baggy cotton suits worn without slips, and merely trunks without any covering for the upper part of the body may be all very well for Hollywood or the wide open spaces, but they are definitely out of place at a public swimming carnival, which, after all, does not include a competition for finding the most beautiful figure, male or female. It is a pity that the centre, when drawing up the rules for the 33 1-3 Yards Backstroke Race 'with the frog kick, did not stipulate that the arms should not be used. The idea of the race, in the first place, was to encourage swimmers to use the only kick which is of use in life saving, but it should be pointed out to those who contested the race that the overarm stroke is just as useless in life saving as is the crawl kick. CLUB NOTES ZENITH. Attendances at the club sessions are becoming larger and larger, but the organisation of the club hours has now been reduced to such a fine art that every member, whether junior or in the more advanced grades, is assured. of his or her fair share of coaching. It is particularly encouraging to see the enthusiasm with which the swimmers in the middle session, who are now beginning to attain a fair degree of proficiency, throw themselves into',-their work, and it is the attention they pay to what is told them that makes the work of the coach pleasant and relatively easy. In another few years, if the present crop of juniors and intermediates keep on as .they are going, the club should have a powerful senior division. Jim Will and Tom Ellis are two newcomers who show distinct promise, the latter especially being. the possessor of a stroke that, with some polishing up, should bring him into the ranks of the faster handicap swimmers before the season closes. Betty Collier is a smooth and easy little swimmer who moves along with a very relaxed action. It is a pity she is unable to attend more regularly, as she is a speedy sprinter in the making if she could get her full quota of training and coaching. It will be recollected that this little girl captured a title at the last primary schools' championships, and, given the opportunity, there seems no reason why further successes should not come her way later on. G. Thomson, was unable, in the earlier part of the season, to get into the water, ■and even now can get in a training swim only at intervals. He has, however, been giving valuable assistance in the first session, and has made the clubroom and its activities his special care. His sister, Joan, is .moving nicely, and is devoting a good deal of time to distance work. Neil Hughes is buckling down to his work in earnest, and as a result is showing a decided improvement on his form of last season. The coach (Mr W. H. Buckland) was putting several of the advanced seniors through their paces with the coachaphone on Saturday night. On account of the busy sessions, it had previously been impracticable to bring the machine into use regularly, but as the majority of swimmers in the last hour are now able to get along with a minimum of attention Sir Buckland proposes, as far as possible, to have the phone in use for advanced coaching every evening. The benefits of coaching by this method must be seen to be believed, and it is no exaggeration to state that as the pupil swims down the baths a definite improvement in stroke can be noticed by anyone inter* ested enough to watch closely. KAIKORAI. This week-end the Kaikorai baths in Eraser's Glen will re-open, and should suitable weather conditions prevail during the coming months this pool will again be very popular. Members are reminded of the convenience of having season tickets. The Labour Night Carnival on Monday evening was not very well represented by club members. One relay team had to be scratched and no new competitors toed their marks. Several members are ready for inter-club competition, and with more training during the next few weeks will be facing the starters at forthcoming carn.ivajs. Perliaps the most pleasing aspect of this fixture was the good race swum by K. Nelson in the 100 Yards Interelub Handicap. He is to be congratulated on having broken 70sec in this event so early in the season. The "Learn to Swim Campaign " at thei Tepid Baths next week is having, the enthusiastic support of club members. Entries for the "Gala Carnival" which will wind up the campaign will close on Monday. Any entries are to be handed to the captain on or before the club session on. Saturday night. This club session will sfee the Coaching Committee fully equipped for its new duties. A new junior member. James Rodgers, is very keen, and for his size is doing remarkably well on the paddle board. Audrey Hortor. another junior, who learned all her swimming at the Kaikorai Baths last summer, has made a reappearance. She will do very well in competition this season, as she has a good easy style and is capable of doing several lengths on breaststroke. E. Sonntag, winner of the Senior Cup last season, is swimming with more relaxation this year. Lyle Thompson would make a good diver if he would tackle the more difficult numbers. He has good balance and does the plain dives very well. D. Laing, B. Tea, M. Monaghan and J. Huddart as a team would give a good account of themselves in any carnival. They are all juniors and are improving with every swim. ■ It is planned to hold n. parents and children V night should.the forthcoming concert and dance be a financial success.