SPORTS BUDGET

Southland Times, Issue 24685, 5 March 1942, Page 6

SPORTS BUDGET

HIGH STANDARD OF DIVING One of the most varied exhibitions of diving seen in Invercargill for some time was given at the Southland Swimming Centre’s second race and polo night last week. Two compulsory dives and two voluntary dives were set and no fewer than 12 competitors attempted them with very creditable results. Among the voluntaries were back and forward somersaults off the high board and various other difficult dives. An example to all other divers in the height he gains from the board is David Doake, the Southland intermediate boy champion and present holder of the New Zealand junior boys’ diving title. All his dives begin with great height and he therefore gains much more time to execute the movements in the air. In his backward spring forward last week he was the only competitor to gain any height at all. As a result he attained good marks and it was noticeable that his pike position was shown and completed before he came down to the level of thb board. It is a pity he has not yet mastered the back somersault off the high board as that is a compulsory dive at Dunedin this month. Bill Pasco At Auckland Bill Pasco, the Southland heavyweight boxer, is now living in Auckland where he is training at the R. V. Gymnasium under the eye of Wally McLean. Pasco has been in steady training since Christmas and he would like to get a bout against Don Mullett, the Wellington heavyweight. The Auckland Association seems to be quite keen to put the bout on and the date in view is the end of March. In the meantime he has plenty of sparring partners as Jack Cossil, Bunny Martin, and Pat Cowan have offered to spar with him. Pasco says that Auckland agrees with him and that he has never felt better in his life. Southland Swimmers In Camp Southland is well represented among the swimming instructors at Burnham Camp as three well-known Invercargill swimmers are among the number. They are Corporal J. Alexander (Ex-Pupils) and Privates W. Clouston and J. Cameron, of the Murihiku Club. These men were among those who attended the course for instructors at the Christchurch Municipal Baths and now carry on at the camp. Cameron held New Zealand swimming titles as an intermediate boy. It is the intention of the Murihiku Swimming Club to hold a picnic next Saturday at the Oreti river, and given a fine day the occasion should certainly be a success. •

The Southland Swimming Centre’s 50 yards beginners’ handicap received good entries. Into this race have been put the Holloway Cup class (under 11 years) and the weaker section of the novice handicaps. The stronger of the novice class have gone into the Aitchison Cup series over 100 yards. Golf And Tennis Balls

When the United States, galvanized into violent activity by the blow at Pearl Harbour, set about the job of turning its industries over to munitions and conserving all essentials for war purposes players of games in which balls are used received a sudden and unexpected shock. The authorities vetoed at once and holus bolus the manufacture of golf balls, tennis balls, squash racket balls, hand balls and some others ceased. There are estimated to be 3,500,00 golfers, 4,000,000 tennis players and millions of other ballsmiters and ball-bouncers in the states and the ukase threw them into consternation. They did not lose their wits, however, and there was a stampede to the stores. Stocks melted away like the snowfall in the river. On the morning the decision of the authorities was announced one sports shop sold 2000 dozen golf balls before 11 a.m. That was in December, and unless some system of rationing has been introduced golf and tennis balls are probably unprocurable in America today.