SURF LIFE SAVING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26693, 12 February 1948, Page 10

SURF LIFE SAVING

CENTENNIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS SEVENTEEN TEAMS COMPETING During the past week there has been great altivity at St. Clair Beach in preparation for the New Zealand surf lifesaving championships, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday . A large ae of beach between two lines of piles has been fenced off for the purpose, and the natural slope of the sand in th s area formo an ideal grandstand for spectators. The championships will be controlled by the Otago Surf Life-saving Association, and 14 men's teams and three women s teams will take part. Apart from events for teams of four and six which show skill in handling surf belt, line and reel, as well as resuscitation, there will be a combined march past on each day. Spectacular thrills may be expected when surf skis battle with the waves m rescue events No surf boats manned by crews of five will be seen this year, but the locallyplanned surf canoes will more than make up for this when the four-man crews paddle the ! r way to rescue patients 400 yards off shore. The third heat of the Beltman s ChampinoshiD on Saturday afternoon should be the greatest tussle of the meeting. Colin Chambers, ihe present title holder and champion distance freestyle swimmer or New Zealand, who represents the New Brighton Club, will be pitted against other former champions, both surf and still water, such as W. J. Jarv'-s (St. Clair). F. G Ryan (Lyall Bay), W. H. Dyson (Maranui), H. Goldsmith (Taylor’s Mistake), and L. E. Schou (South Brighton). Beach racing championships m the form of a 100 yards dash and a team relay race are on |he championship programme for the first time. Official Programme The official programme is as follows: To-morrow.—7.3o p.m., meeting of judges in the St. Clair Club’s pavilion; 8 p.m., meeting of officials and team managers at the Hydro Tea Rooms. Saturday.—9.4s a.m., teams assemble; 10 a.m., heats of Senior Bellman's Championship, Resuscitation in women’s teams of four and Senior Four-man Competitions: 10.40 a.m., heats of 100 Yards Beach Championship: 11 a.m., heats of Senior Six-man Rescue and Resuscitation Championship: 1.30 p.m., heats of Senior Fourman Alarm Championship: 2.15 p.m., heats of Surf Ski Championship; 2.30 p.m., combined march past display; 2.45 p.m., opening ceremony by the Mayor, Mr Cameron; 3 p.m., Surf Canoe Rescue Race; 3.15 p.m., final of Senior Six-man Rescue and Resuscitation Championship; 3.35 p.m., final of women’s teams of Four Alarm Championship; 3.50 p.m., 100 Yards Beach Championship final. Sunday.—l.3o p.m., final of Senior Beltman’s Championship; 1.45 p.m., Surf Canoe Rescue Race; 2 p.m., Senior Surf Race; 2.15 p.m., women’s Teams of Six Rescue and Resuscitation Championship final; 2.45 p.m., Senior and Women's March Past Championship; 3.15 p.m., final of Surf Ski Championship; 3.30 p.m., final of Beach .Relay Championship; 3.40 p.m.. Senior Four-man Alarm Championship final; 4 p.m., presentation of trophies.