SWIMMING

Southland Times, Issue 21362, 7 April 1931, Page 8

SWIMMING

ORETI SURF CLUB

CARNIVAL IN TEPID BATHS KEEN COMPETITION Although the attendance was not so large as at previous fixtures of its kind, the Oreti Surf and Life Sa’ving Club’s carnival in the Municipal Tepid Baths last evening' was sufficiently well patronized to r reward the enterprise of , the promoters in providing a bright holiday attraction. Over 550 people -were present and were treated to a most enjoyable evening’s entertainment, the programme being excellently varied, comprising as it did swimming contests, diving exhibitions, water polo and novelty events. Keen competition prevailed in all events and spectators were kept in a continual state of. excitement. The diving exhibitions were of an exceptionally high standard and the judge at times' was set a difficult task in making: his awards. P. McGrath, the New Zealand intermediate champion was successful in winning the 66 2 : 3 yards backstroke handicap, off scratch in a close finish. B. Mair, a Christchurch swimmer, gained third place in the 50 yards open handicap which was' won in convincing fashion by W. T. Springford. W. A. Springford accounted for the 100 yards breaststroke open and V. Grenfell the 100 yards intcrclub handicap. The 50 yards novice race was won by R. Skow. Miss N. Basstian impressed the onlookers by winning the 50 yards ladies’ handicap. In the diving events Miss S. Murdoch won the ladies’ eVent, J. A. Murdoch the men’s event and L. Boyer the ribbon diV.e. In the relay races Waihopai won the schools events and Ex-Pupils the interclub fixture.

The water polo was well contested and held the interest of the crowd throughout. The Surf Club ran out winners by three goals to Murihiku’s one, R. C. Tuek scoring two for the winners and A. Wesney one. Murihiku’s sole points-getter was J. Doake. During the course of the evening a life saving display by four members of the club, E. Gumbley, E. Foster, A. Young and S. Ayling, proved an interesting feature. Five methods of rescue, three of release and a resuscitation demonstration, including the promotion of warmth, were given first on land and then in water. Mr E. Salisbury was instructor and an explanatory description of the various methods was given by Mr A. Kingsland. The novelty events on the programme were Professor Weary in the Monte Carlo bag trick and a punt fight. In the former event W. T. Springford displayed considerable ingenuity in escaping under water from a bag in which he had been tied and in the latter various swimmers of both sexes tried their skill at maintaining their balance on an unsteady punt and at the same time endeavouring to upset their opponents with long. poles provided for the purpose. Spills and splashes predominated. The officials responsible for the conduct of the meeting were as follows: Starter, Mr A. Kingsland; check-starter, Mr J. Wilson; handicapper, Mr R. Strang; judges, swimming, Messis • Alex Kidd, F. Johnson, W. Tuck; diving, J. Doake; timekeepers, Messrs H. S. Baker; and E. Fitzsimmons; announcer, Mr L. Foster; secretary, Mr K. Broad; call stewards,, ladies, Miss G. Basstian; men, Mr G. Rask. Following are the detailed results:—SCHOOLS RELAY RACE (Under 14 years). Four entries. Waihopai (N. Moffett, J. Heywood, S. Barclay, C. Miller) 24sec 1 Middle (J. Cdckroft, C. Kartensen, A. Hughes, C. Davis) 14sec 2 Southland Boys High School (B. Collie, F. Johnson, R, Brown, D. Kennedy) • scr. 3 Won by 10 yards. Time, 75 l-ssec. 100 YARDS BREASTSTROKE, open. Four entries. W. A. Springford (16sec) 1 M. Rillstone' (18secj 2 D. Meyers (Bsec) 3 Won by a touch. Time, lmin 34sec. 50 YARDS LADIES’ HANDICAP. Eight entries. Miss N. Basstian (scr) 1 Miss M. McGrath (6sec) 2 Miss Si Murdoch (2sec) 3 This was productive of an exciting contest the three placed swimmers finishing in close order. Miss Basstian won by a touch. Time, 33 4-ssec. MEN’S DIVE HANDICAP. Seven entries. J. A. Murdoch (2pts) 42.7pts 1 R. Brown (Opts) 41.2 pts 2 P. Grace (6pts) 40.2 pts 3 50 YARDS OPEN HANDICAP. Nine entries. First heat: F. Springford (2sec) 1, P. McGrath (scr) 2, S. Glennie (3sec) 3. Springford won by a short margin in a close finish. Time, 28seo. Second heat: W. T. Springford (ssec) and B. Mair (3sec) 1 equal, W. A. Springford (Isec) 3. Close as was the previous finish, this was closer, W. T. Springford and Mair deadheating for first place with W. A. Springford a close third. Time 29 3-ssec. FINAL. W. T. Springford 1 F. Springford • 2 B. Mair 3 A keen contest was witnessed in the final although the time was slower than in the heats. W. T. Springford, using his wellknown precise stroke, maintained his lead to win by a foot from his brother. Mair was a close third. Time, 30 3-ssec. 50 YARDS NOVICE RACE. Six entries. R. Skow 1 Ralph Wesney 2 R. Blue 3 >Won by a yard. Time, 38sec. 100 YARDS INTERCLUB HANDICAP. Five entries. V. Grenfell (19sec) 1 C. Kidd (17sec) 2 F. Springford. (3sec) 3 Grenfell and Kidd fought out a dogged race, the former winning by a touch in a good finish. F. Springford name up w’ell over the last stages to come into third place. Time, 82 2-ssec. LADIES’ DIVE HANDICAP. Three entries. S. Murdoch (scr) 34.6pts 1 F. Basstian (scr) 32.5pts 2 66 2-3 YARDS BACKSTROKE, open. Four entries. P. McGrath (scr) 1 D. Meyers (7sec) 2 Miss N. Basstian (4sec) 3 McGrath swam a powerful race to overhaul Meyers and beat him by a touch. Miss Basstian was a close third. Time, 51sec. RIBBON DIVE HANDICAP. Five entries. L. Boyer (scr) sft 9in 1 S., Glennie (Gin) sft 3in. 2 INTERCLUB RELAY RACE. Two'entries. Ex-pupils (W. A. Springford, P. Mc- . Grath, F. Springford, J. Murdoch) scr 1 Murihiku Senior (J:. Doake, L. Cockroft, M. Hunt, Miss E. Jones) 3sec 2 An exciting finish was witnessed, ExPupils gaining a narrow victory. Time, 73 3-ssec. WATER POLO. Surf Club (A. Wesney, W; A. Springford, E. Foster, W. T. Springford, R. C. Tuck, A. J. ’ Kingsland, E. Gumbley) - 1 Murihiku (M.' Hunt, J. Doake, N. Kidd, D; Meyers,’ F. Johnston, L. Cock- i roftjS.’Glennie) <: 2