SWIMMING IN OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25718, 14 December 1944, Page 8

SWIMMING IN OTAGO

FORTNIGHTLY MEETING OF CENTRE The fortnightly meeting of the Otago Swimming Centre was held last night. The president (Mr S. Brown) occupied the chair. The chairman made reference to the unfortunate occurrence at St. Kilda on Sunday last, as a result of which Mr James Purdie, one of those who had set off from the beach in a canoe, was missing. Mr Brown said that Mr Purdie was an experienced and capable surf swimmer and a former New Zealand junior champion diver, and the mishap was deeply regretted. Mr A. McD. Miller reported on the progress that was being made by the' Balclutha Club. Improvements had been made to (he bath at a cost of approximately £SO, and a high diving platform had been erected to New Zealand championship requirements. It was mentioned by Mrs Miller that the Balclutha Club had plans in hand for the construction next season of a learners’ pool. In connection with the Canterbury Centre’s decision to forgo the New Zealand Swimming Championships because of the change of date which had been made by the New Zealand Council, it was decided to write to Miss Doieen Brown, secretary of that centre, conveying the appreciation of the Otago Centre for the preliminary work she had done in preparing for the meeting and expressing regret at the chance of date and venue. It was decided to recommend to tire next annual meeting of lire New Zealand Council that, in recognition of their services to swimming, Messrs D. Thomson and E. Sonntag be awarded New Zealand honorary blazers. It was mentioned that Mr Thomson has, been a member of the centre for the past 17 years and Mr Sonntag for more than 10 years. The secretary of the New Zealand Council (Mr B. O’Neill) wrote stating that the attention of the council had been directed to the fact Hint Miss Ngaire Lane, of Dunedin, was the concurrent holder of backstroke records in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Divisions, a performance that, if it is not singular in the history of New Zealand swimming, was at least remarkable. Tire council asked that its congratulations should be tendered to the swimmer on her performance. Her triple success should be an encouragement not only to herself, he added, but to those people In Otago who devoted so much time to the teaching and training of the younger swimmers.