SWIMMING

Southland Times, Issue 24368, 24 February 1941, Page 9

SWIMMING

CRITICISM OF CONDUCT OF CHAMPIONSHIPS “The 1941 championship meeting was not a happy one for the officials concerned. It was the first of the wartime championships and disclosed weaknesses which should be remedied, states Mr J. C. Kirkland, manager of the Southland team, in his report to the Southland Swimming Centre on the championships at New Plymouth. “I wish to make it clear that the blame cannot be wholly laid on the shoulders of the Taranaki Centre. They were up against things right from the start. Many of their officials were away on active service; the decision to hold the meeting there was only made during Labour Day week-end and they thus lost many months necessary for the preliminary work; the change in their arrangement to hold the second night at Stratford nullified much organization work; the unprecedented number of entries necessitated arranging nearly twice the number of billets anticipated, and the reduced number of visiting officials who are usually available to help out were all factors that made their task difficult.

“On top of these troubles the first night was spoiled by a thunderstorm just as the carnival was about to start. The storm was so severe that the loudspeaker apparatus was put out of action. Rain caused postponement on the second night. On the Tuesday evening everything went wrong. The lighting system shorted and electrified a metal support, the wet concrete at the starting end, and even gave the swimmers a shock in the water. Later the extra lighting gave out altogether and the events had to be swum in such poor light that at least two mistakes were made in the placings. The swimmers could not see the other competitors in the water or the end of the baths at the deep end. (From our point of view D. Doake lost second place in the 100 yards junior boys through not being seen by the officials, and W. Chalmers bumped his head hard when in a good place in the 440 yards intermediate boys’ championship as a result of not being able to see the deep end. While this was going on inside few people knew that a large water main had burst outside the baths and threatened to flood the place out.) MEETING OF MANAGERS “Despite all this the organization (ell short of championship standard in many respects, and it was with a view to trying to ensure that a similar state of affairs would not occur in the future that a meeting of managers was convened on the morning of the final day. Here many factors affecting this and the future carnivals were discussed and managers were asked to submit a full report of these to their centres on their return so that centres should discuss them before they were forgotten, and either make recommendations to the council or submit remits to the next meeting of centres. "The prize-giving ceremony, also,” said Mr Kirkland, “was a complete failure and no prizes were given. It is hoped that arrangements can be made for the certificates, trophies and the shield to be presented at the Otago v. Southland match on March 22." Mr Kirkland then outlined proposals for improved conditions at future championships. SURF CHAMPIONSHIPS (United Press Association) WANGANUI, February 23. A crowd of several thousands attended the West Coast surf championships at Castlecliff beach this afternoon. The weather was perfect and there was a good surf, though a good breeze accentuated the drift of the current late in the afternoon. Results:—Gibson Cup (four-man alarm): Maranui A 1, Lyall Bay A 2, Lyall Bay B 3. Hackshaw Searle Shield (senior six-man championship): Lyall Bay B 1. Three other teams competing were disqualified for not entering the water directly in front of the reel. Wysocki Nut Bowl (women’s teams of four): Wellington Ladies 1, Castlecliff Ladies 2. Hoard Cup (six-man junior): Fitzray 1, Castlecliff 2. H. R. Sutcliffe Cup (women’s teams of six): Wellington Ladies 1, Batea and Waitemata equal 2. Williams Cup (march past championship): Lyall Bay, Castlecliff and Maranui teams. Surf race (senior): Lyall Bay 1, Maranui 2, Castlecliff 3. Junior: Lyall Bay 1, Castlecliff 2. Women: Milford 1, I.X.L. Cup (women’s, march past): Wellington Ladies 1.