SWIMMING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23671, 1 December 1938, Page 5

SWIMMING

By Neptune j COMING EVENTS November 28-December 3.—Olago Centre ;-" Learn to Swim Week." December 6 and B.—Otago Senior, Intermediate and Junior Cham- _ pionships, Municipal Baths. December 10.—Balclutha Amateur 'Swimming Club's carnival. January 15.—Batt Cup Harbour . swim. Macandrew Bay; January 21.—Country Clubs' Championships at Cromwell. •■ : < January 26 to 28.—New Zealand Intermediate and Junior Cham*,pionships. at Rotorua. February 14 to 18.—New Zealand National Championships, at In,vercargill; ' '•', " ;•'•■.'..- ■' , ." - * KIWI CARNIVAL One of the most outstanding features of the Kiwi''Club's carnival last week was the performance of Miss Christine Garvin, the Kiwi intermediate. Miss Garvhvwho is the. New Zelaand intermediate 100yds girls' freestyle titla holder, won the 100yds interclub handicap in 64sec, which is 4-sths of'a secortd faster than -the existing record held by Marie Farquhar, of Auckland, and is also the same Jnargin better than Miss Islay. Purdie's New Zealand intermediate'record. .Miss Garvin's dash, determination and remarkable vitality and' the'intensive'training she has done are reflected 'in her fine state of physical fitness, which Was one of the contributing factors of her success. The merit of her great swim is enhanced by the fact that she covered 5.0 yards in 29seo earlier in' the, evening. . She undoubtedly looks like being one of the outstanding performers of the present season. dive"' Cliff, of. Canterbury, who Shared the'honours'with Miss Garvin, demonstrated in no uncertain manner what a threat he is to Peter Mathieson's supremacy in ' the backstroke events. He won the 100 Yards Invitation Backstroke event in 66 2-ssec—--2-ssec faster than Mathieson's New Zealand .reeord established earlier in the year, and then went on-to win the 220 Yards Freestyle Handicap, on his back, 4n-2min 41sec. Even then ; he appeared to have, something in reserve/ Cliff employs a. wide arm pull and has a fine relaxation. His performance was all the more meritorious-because he was opposed .by some of New Zealand's best backstroke, swimmers. A promising competitor in the 100 Yards Backstroke was C Martin, the Southland ; champion, who, receiving 2sec from Cliff,-was only a touch away in second place. A. Thomas, the' Otago champion, on the game mark, as Cliff, took:''.third' place,." ."He started! slower than usual, but finished with a -great burst. ,:...,.' Joyce Macdonald,-the Empire Games representative, was, the only lady in this event, and finished jusl.outside a place. Her time was 77 3-ssec, only 1 2-ssec. outside the New Zealand record. On the following.night at Invefcargjll Miss Macdonald turned in 76sec for a similar distance, 1 better than the New, Zealand record. / ■■'••' KIWI NOTES ■ With the Otagd championships -in hand next week,. solid ; training ;has been the slogan of swimmers in every division of club, and Kiwi, will be represented numerically by one of the; largest teams in its -history. It- is many years, too, since the club has had such : a fitfe v lot of breaststroke swim-, mers; a fact which may be attributed to the coaching 'of- such experts, as ; Mi Alex. Winnie' Dunn, and Mr Bert Isaacs. Reg. Geddes, the Otago champion", was- prevented by a fractured thumb from competing at :the Very successful, carnival staged by the club'last week, but he had a worthy substitute in the club deputy captain, Bill Dyson, whqse time of 3min 7 4-ssec was one of the best performances ever registered locally. It was nine seconds better,-than Dyson's declared time, but Pysonihasthe satisfaction of knowing that",-.with the improvement thai niay be.reason-, ably expected next couple of months* .he' wilt.be a 'force <to be reck--; oned with'at. the National, Champion* ships at Iriverdargill. ~ .•■',♦ Two, prominent senior members who. have' made a .'reappearance are Miss Alice Gillies and" Miss -Greta Harris. The former was.one of.the best allrounders in the cltibftwo or three years ago/but has been out 6f competition for a season or two. By her swimming,in. the 220 Yards Breaststroke. Handicap at the club carnival, she showed that she has retained her form well, taking second place to Miss Winnie Dunn. The Empire Games representative had an easy swim, but,was moving. well,-- and. after finishing third was eventually placed first-through the disqualification of two other, competitors. > Miss .Dunn has: been training most painstakingly, and great things are expected ,of her this season.. '' Greta was: the winner of the Otago Intermediate Girls' Backstroke Championship last season, and- will be figuring in the senior title event over 100 yards.next week. Oh very., little : training,' -'she; has .been moving particularly .'weli.' :r '.': ".', •• ..-..'. Doug. Freeman, the Otago, men's diving champion, has a.,Aide batch of junior .and' intermediate divers under his' wing, and one of the most promising is Glenna Smith, the former Lawrence swimmer, who won the junior diving event at the carnival last week; She has:a: v neat style," and. once, she begins to- tackle more difficult dives she should be seen to* advantage in junior competition.' Although not placed in the diving events at .the.carnival, David Caddie showed a natural - ability,, and with practice. t wffl.'perform well. . -'•, ~ ' Don field; one of the. best all-round, swimmers in Gtagb, is employing a much! freer- stroke than last season, and now that he has lost that tendency to swing his arms rather, wide is showing mPre pace- over all 'distances. He will be competing l in the, Otago championships in air distance's from 100 yards to a mile. '• Clynton Lawrence won the 30 Yards Invitation Backstroke event at the carnival in 27 4-ssec—one'• of his best performances to date. 1 .He would be capable of good efforts over distances up to 440 yards if he would do more long-distance work' in his training. One of the best-freestyle swimmers among the juniors is Dick Barrett, who won the'so. Yards Junior and Intermediate . Handicap .last week - •in 33 2-ssec. He has a nice relaxed style with a high elbow recovery^and should do well in the. championships; :■■•■ - Ivan Wilson,' one of the club's representatives in .the breaststroke, won the "55 Yards Junior and Intermediate event, but his very fast time of 58sec was ssec more than his declared time, and he was disqualified. He will have to be seriously reckoned with, not only at the Otago, but also at the- New Zealand championships. With Wilson's disqualification, Mary Stewart, the New. Zealand junior girls' champion, who is now in Intermediate ranks, was placed first, and the good form she displayed is indicated by the fact that she turned in 67 2-ssec. Second place went to the diminutive junior, Lorraine Kearhs, with--the improving ' Mafjorie Goldtborpe 'in third place. -.''•-•• DUNEDIN CLUB It is most gratifying to find so many of the' parents taking an interest in the activities of the Dunedin Club. Large attendances are still being maintained, and while, this spirit continues good results', must be obtained. -.- . A polo practice will be held.to-mor-, row night' in the club hour. Races for the Ferguson Cyp. will be,held a*, a later'date. " l A new comer,: to,. the'. club, is Miss D. Marslin. who shows promise in th,e intermediate ranks.:.. Mi 1 S. McDougall is. showing good form; and his son is also bucklihg down to training. The.latter should be cap-, able of giving a g6od account of himself..,.- , ~.,.-.-.' --■ :*■<■>;,.■ ■ ■ ■ -■ Joah Kerr is swimming very well on the breaststroke, and has obtained a better glide. ■? :.-". : : W, McDonnell is a good club -man. He can turn his hand to polo as Well as swimming, and he is also a good diver. ". , ,;., ,:" '■'••'■ ■ Mader White has natural ability as « free-style swimmer, and with more practice should be in the running at tha championships. -., .:...