SWIMMING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23370, 9 December 1937, Page 5

SWIMMING

By Neptune

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 (6-7 p.m.), Fridays (8.45-9.45 p.m.), Dunedin; Wednesdays (6-7 p.m.), Fridays (7-8 p.m.), Kaikorai: Tuesdays (8.45-9.45), centres polo hour. All club hours mentioned above are at the Municipal Baths. Zenith Club hours are nightly at the Y.M.C.A. Baths, except Fridays. FIXTURES December 6-11. —National “Learn to Swim ” Week. December 8 and 11. —Otago senior and intermediate and junior championship carnival. , „ December 12.—Batt Cup Harbour Race at Macandrew Bay. January 8, 10, and 12.—National championships, at New Plymouth. January 15, 17, and 18. —New Zealand junior and intermediate championships. at Nelson. . January 20,—Dunedin Amateur swimming Club’s carnival. ACTIVITIES AT LAWRENCE Favoured by fine, sunny weather and warm water, the Lawrence Swimming Club, which was assisted by Mr Smith, headmaster of the Lawrence School, held a particularly successful “ Learn to Swim” week last week. Approximately, 150 children attended the baths daily, a number appearing several times in the one day. To illustrate with what enthusiasm beginners entered into the course of instruction, it is interesting to note that one small girl confessed that she had been in the water at five different periods during the one day. That evidently was not sufficient, however, .for she was observed twice again in the water oefore the day’s instruction was completed. Keenness of this nature is bound to bring beneficial results to beginners, and at the exhibition on Friday night it was pleasing to witness the progress that had been made by d number of the children. A striking illustration of what “ Learn to Swim ” week did for at least four enthusiastic children is furnished by the fact that, although none of them could swim a stroke on the Monday, they managed to swim a width of the baths on the following day. School children from Waitahuna and Tuapeka West were brought into Lawrence every day by their teachers, and some excellent results were achieved by the instructors in this commendable work. MOSGIEL’S NEW POOL The Taieri Amateur Swimming Club, the most recently affiliated club in Otago, is to be congratulated on obtaining its new and up-to-date swimming pool, which was officially opened on Saturday by the Mayor of Mpsgiel (Mr A. F. Quelch). The necessity for the baths was stressed by Mr Quelch, who maintained that, for a number of years, swimmers had endeavoured to arrange for the erection of a new pool. That the Taieri Club could count on the support of the Otago Centre was mentioned by the secretary (Mr E. C. Isaacs), who assured the club that the centre would be only too willing to foster and encourage the sport of swimming in Mosgiel in every possible way. , , For its first carnival, the club made an excellent beginning and arranged a varied and attractive programme of events. Several of Dunedin’s prominent swimmers competed and were of the opinion that the water in the Mosgiel baths would be productive of fast times. Once again the St. Clair Life Saving Club received an enthusiastic reception for an interesting display with reel and equipment carried out under the instruction of A. G Beadle. Water polo, diving exhibitions and displays of freestyle swimming by the Empire Games nominee, Miss I. Purdie, and Miss A. Brown (Kiwi), in addition to some keen and exciting racing, provided the large crowd of spectators with a fine afternoon a entertainment. DUNEDIN DASHES The Dunedin Club is pleased to notify its members of the change in club hours, which are now on Wednesdays from 6 until 7 p.m., and on Fridays from 7 until 8 p.m. The club is also pleased to record an increase in membership this season. A pleasant outing was held on Sunday, when about 50 members travelled to the Cliffs and spent an enjoyable day. It is hoped to have another similar outing before Christmas. Graeme Jenkins is a junior mem ber who is training hard, and will soon be doing the length. Roy McTaggart has learned to swim, and can do two widths. , , , . . The club’s carnival has been postponed from December 15 until January 20. The junior diver, Billy Williams, has improved a great deal this season, and should do well in competition. The club has an energetic member in the new assistant-secretary (Mr Baker), who is doing valuable work. Joan Leckie is swimming well at present, but she should practise her turns. . . Joseph Glen is a promising little breaststroke swimmer, and possesses * fine glide. Mr Williams has a promising band of young swimmers under his careColin Bennet, Colin Wheeler, Ronnie Bennetht, Colin McGregor, and Henry Bennett are among them, and all are working hard. Ray Knewstubb is swimming well just now, but he would be advised to concentrate on some serious training. Jack and Bruce Ingram are training backstroke this season, and are both coming along well. Edgar Preston is another new member who is shaping well, his overarm movement being particularly well done. Len and Eric Williams are two promising juniors. Hazel Cleary is concentrating on breaststroke this season, and is making good progress. After a little more training the McGregor boys should enter for races this season. KAIKORAI CLUB NOTES Only two members of the Kaikorai Club attended the opening of the Taieri Baths last Saturday. Ralph Smith performed very well in the Breaststroke and Medley Handicaps. He will have to concentrate on getting a better stroke, however, for the championships. H. A. L. Laing will have some very difficult competition on Saturday night, and only hard work and more finished “starts” and “turns” will bring him success. At the club hour it is encouraging to see several new members. T. Hollebon and F. Mowat are recruits who show definite promise. D, Laing and J, Hermiston were putting the finishing touches on their training last Saturday, and, if rewards come from application to woirk, these two boys should be well repaid. Of the “old brigade,” L. S. Highfield, E. Sonntag, G, Moore, and F. Marrett were present, and their presence and helpful advice are always welcome to younger members. Members arc looking forward to the club’s harbour swim, and would like all members to resolve to make that day’s outing a red-lcter day in the club’s history. ST. CLAIR SURF CLUB A start was made with the St. Clair Surf Club's championships last Sunday, the Senior Beltrnan’s Championship and the Senior and Junor Resuscitation Championship being decided. It was unfortunate that the heavy nature of the surf made it impossible to keep a buoy out, thus causing a postponement of the Junior Beltman’s Championship and Senior and Junior Surf Races until next Sunday. In the Beltman’s Championship some particularly fine performances were recorded, ana there was very little between the first three placed men. C. Elliott, the winner, put up a fine performance, swimming very strongly and showing good judgment in choosing his course. H. Callender, who gained second place, also swam particularly well and was ’->ractically only a touch behind the winner. Callender is swimming consistently at present, and his performances in both the Sagar Cup and the championships make him one

of the best prospects for the New Zealand championship team. E. Toase, who was third, although not registering quite such fast times as the other two men, was only a few seconds behind them, and with a little more experience may easily reverse the positions. One of the most pleasing performances was that of J. Cranston. This was his first belt swim in competition, and he was rather unfortunate in striking a very heavy sea when he was almost at the buoy. More should be heard of him later.

In the Resuscitation Championship all the competitors performed exceptionally well, very few points separating them. In the senior competition H. D. Gillies, W. Kaler, and W. Carr were all equal, with 17J points out of a possible 'of 20, and it will be necessary for these three to compete again next Sunday morning to decide the winner. C. Elliott and H. Devlin were next, with 16J points, the former and also J. Durand gaining full points for the actual timing of the resuscitation, but losing points in their care of the patient. In the junior competition V. Robinson, with 18 points, was first, A. Raines. 17 $ points second, and W. Dyson, 17 points, third. It is very encouragi ,g to note that all these members are new to competitions, and they are to be congratulated on their fine showings.

A list showing the points gained by each competitor for time and care of natient will be on the club otice board next week-end, when all members will be able to seen in which section of the work they lost points. The Canoe Championship for the Shannon Shield was, from the spectators’ point of view, the most spectacular event of the afternoon. J Swan proved to be the most skilful exponent of the art. and some of his “ shoots ” gave the crowd a great thrill. Considering the heaviness of the surf the competitors handled, their crafts excellently, and demonstrated the effectiveness of canoes in assistin'* in a rescue where a bather has been swept out by the current. Members are asked to note that training is now being carried out on Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday, and Thursday evenings at 6.30. wet or fine. When it is too wet for outside training resuscitation practice will be carried out.