First Swimming Carnival Of Season On Tuesday

Southland Times, Issue 23948, 14 October 1939, Page 16

First Swimming Carnival Of Season On Tuesday

By 1

LIFEBELT

Next Tuesday evening will see the first swimming gala of the season when the Southland Centre stages a carnival as its main contribution to physical fitness week. Although it is yet a little early for serious racing the programme is quite an attractive one with short events only for the competitions. The centre has the idea in mind to make this meeting not merely a swimming gala but an interesting evening's entertainment. With this idea in mind the chief novelty will be another screening of the New Zealand swim-

ming film entitled “It’s Easy to Swim. At its previous showing, the film was ably explained by the commentator Mr A. J. Kingsland, who will probably be officiating again in this capacity. In conjunction with this film will be screened some moving pictures of local swimmers and divers in action in the Invercargill pool. A. Branks, Southland diving champion and placed competitor in New Zealand title competitions, will be giving an exhibition of acrobatic and fancy diving off high and low boards. Exhibition swims will be presented by such high grade performers as Miss Joyce Macdonald (backstroke) New Zealand title and record holder, Miss McGrath (freestyle) runner-up ih national 440 yards championship and K. Shaw (breastroke) who featured prominently in New Zealand senior competition last February, after having won titles as an intermediate. An interesting interlude will be an exhibition of life-saving which will be given by members of the Oreti Surf Club. . . , , The swimming section is catered for with a 50 yards breastroke and 50 yards freestyle. Backstrokers have their chance in the 33 1-3 yards backstroke handicap, and that heavily patronized race, the beginners’ length is also included. Of course, ’the tiny tots width and the length under 11 are also on the bill.

There will be a great deal of interest in these early events as some guide can be expected to the probable junior representatives in Dunedin next January. One or two new swimmers are sure to appear as it is known that quite a few good youngsters are in training already. Once more the Surf Club has begun a club night to be held at its old session from 8.45 to 9.30 on Thursday evenings. Members are requested to make the hour worth while. Club executives are now mapping out a programme to keep the session interesting and instructive. Already a class is being formed for the bronze medallion award and any member, irrespective of age, wishing to go for this essential examination will be welcome.

STILL-WATER WORK

Still water life-saving has been having a boom season with the girls this year and yet another class was sucessful. in passing the bronze medallion and intermediate certificate examinations last Saturday. The successful girls were Misses H. Wyatt, M. Stobo, A. Fredric and I. McConish. Miss Mabel Hitch who was responsible for their instruction succeeded in gaining a first-class instructor’s badge. Mr Kingsland, examiner for the Royal Life Saving Society, seated that although the squad was not particularly fast in the water, the general standard was very good and the waterwork very sound. By the standard shown by the team is judged the instructress, and in this case there was no doubt that Miss Hitch has earned her degree as well. Another class is at present undergoing instruction from Miss Linda Jones and will be appearing before the examiner very soon. Two more girls classes are being formed as well.

When some of Southland’s swimmers and divers are under the impression that they are training hard they should pause and see if they are in any way compatible with Helen Crlenkovitch,

18-year-old Californian girl, who recently won the American national three metre diving title. She is one of the hardest workers on the board and for years she has been practising almost daily to achieve her goal. In 1935 she was placed second to Miss Marjorie Gestring whom she has now defeated for the title in San Franscisco. PIRIE’S SUCCESS Canada’s young star swimmer has added yet more fame to his record. Recently in Honolulu Bob Pirie, who hails from Toronto, broke the American 200 metre freestyle record credited to Johnny Weismuller, covering the distance in 2min 12.8 secs. Weismuller’s record, also set up in Honolulu, was 2min 13.6 secs. Other recent information from America is the backstroke time recorded by a young 16-year-old, Myron Frank, of Pittsburg, who went up to Cleveland and splashed his way to victory in a 100 metre backstroke event over a strong field in Imin 13secs. He would be classed as an intermediate in New Zealand and an interesting comparison

with the official New Zealand intermediate record over 100 yards is to the credit of Warren Hart, of Christchurch, whose time is lmin 13secs also. The American boy would be nearly 10 yards faster than Hart as his time was for 100 metres. Actually George Low, also of Christchurch, was credited with 69 3-ssecs' for 100 yards but then the distance was not officially recognized. However, now that it is acknowledged as a standard championship course, New Zealand times should begin to improve. TENACITY SUCCEEDS Some amusement was caused at the local pool last week when Mervyn Ryder of the 2nd Invercargill Company of the Boys’ Brigade was successful in passing his examination for his swimming certificate. One test was for the candidate to swim 30 yards on his back without using his hands and although not difficult for a seasoned swimmer it is often a tricky test for youngsters who have no knowledge of the breaststroke kick. In this instance Ryder gave an imitation of a submarine and succeeded in his test by a herculean effort which caused spectators to admire his tenacity if not his skill. As soon as he pushed off his head disappeared from view and that was the last time it was seen, except for periodical appearances for a breath, until he reached the end. But his feet were well in sight and, except for some splash, that was all that was in sight as the harder he kicked the further down went his head. Results of Collegiate Club races: — Men and boys 33 1-3 yards dash Handicap.—C. Lea 1, P. Dalton 2, J. Kilpatrick 3. Women and girls 33 1-3 yards Handicap.—M. Howie 1, M. Kennedy 2, B. Croad, J. MacGregor and L. Taylor 3 equal. Time 28secs. Competition was good with close finishes. The following were the results of last week’s events at the Murihiku club hour. 50 yards Senior and Intermediate Handicap.—Miss J. Macdonald 1, J. Cameron 2, K. Shaw 3. Time 36 l-ssecs. 33 1-3 yards Junior Handicap (Section A). —W. Macdonald 1, Don Crawford 2, Miss M. Cockroft 3. Time 28 l-ssecs. Section B.—Miss C. Scully 1, T. Ramsay 2, Miss D. Kirkland 3. Time 27 3-ssecs. Section C all off scratch.—Jack Macdonald 1, Miss M. Gerrard 2, W. Davis 3. Time 24secs. All events provided fine finishes. CLUB HOURS Monday: 6.45-7.15 p.m. Murihiku. Tuesday: 5.45-6.45 p.m. Ex-Pupils. Wednesday: 5.45-6.45 p.m. Collegiate. Thursday: 6.15-7.15 p.m. Murihiku. Thursday: 8.45-9.30 p.m. Surf Club. COMING EVENTS October 17.—Centre Carnival. (Entries close tonight). October 18.—Southland Centre Annual Meeting. (7.30 p.m.).