Swimmers Busy

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 532, 8 December 1928, Page 7

Swimmers Busy

Auckland Clubs Try-Out Members During December 1 ] FLOOD OF CARNIVALS \ Swimming is now getting under way in Auckland. The Parnell Club’s gymkhana last Saturday saw the beginning of active competition, and the Ponsonby Club held one or two club events. This month will see a flood of club meetings. Grammar is holding its opening carnival at the Tepid Baths on Wednesday evening next; Mount Eden’s big programme will be decided at the Bellevue Road baths on December 17; Waitemata swimmers will be in action the following evening; the Devonport Club is holding a gala at Cheltenham Beach on December 22, with minor assistance from the Wa.katere Canoe Club; Helensville swimmers will compete on the same day; and Ponsonby will hold an ambitious Christmas carnival at Shelly Beach baths on December 25. By the end of the month, officials of the centre should have a reliable insight as to the merits of Auckland’s New Zealand championship prospects. The Grammar Club’s programme is of importance. It includes the following events: 50yds novice handicap, iOvds handicap for boys from Tnk;ipuna, Auckland, and Mount Albert Grammar Schools: 100yds Grammar boys’ championship; 50yds Grammar girls’ handicap. 50yds junior girls’ handicap. 66 2-3vds women’s handicap, 50 yds men’s inter-club handicap, 220yds j

mens handicap, 100yds breast-stroke handicap, and a water polo match Grammar against Waitemata A. Mount Eden’s programme is comprehensive, too. It should attract large num bers of entries. Besides water polo, the programme includes these events: 50yds club championship, 220 yds open handicap, 66 2-3yds inter-club handicap, 100yds women’s handicao, 100yds breast-stroke handicap, 50yds novice handicap, 50yds for boys under 17, 50yds for girls under 17, junior neatheader, novelty event, and 50yds Pratt Cup championship for primary school pupils in the Mount Eden district. CHRISTMAS CARNIVAL Ponsonby officials have been early preparing for the Christmas carnival. The events are: 50yds club championship, 100yds inter-club handicap, 100 yds women’s handicap, 220vds breaststroke handicap, 50yds open handicap, in place of a novice event. 50yds junior boys, 50yds junior girls, 33 l-3yds schoolboys’ race, 33 l-3yds school girls, and diving. The diving will be conducted on New Zealand championship lines. There will be two set dives and three optional. Xovelty events will be decided. Events in the Waitemata Club’s carnival at the Tepid Baths on December 18 are: 50yds. club handicap, 220yds club handicap, 100yds women’s handicap, 50yds novice handicap, 50yds junior boys’ handicap, 50yds junior j girls’ handicap, 33 l-3yds race for girls , under 12, 33 l-3yds race for boys under j 12, 100yds breaststroke handicap, 200yds city schools’ relay for Sanford Cup, novelty event for Mr. H. Morton’s trophy, and neat header for boys under 17. * * • George St. Heaps has been thrilling Sydney crowds with his sensational sprints. He smashed a New South W r ales record of 18 years’ standing when he uashed over 50yds in 23 2-5 seconds in an exhibition swum at ' W'ollongong. Alick Wickham had

made the previous record at Rose Bay. St. Heaps broke another of Wickham n records a few days later. open water, at Clovelly, he covered 55yds in 38 l-ssec. St. Heaps is certain to be a strong contender for the State title. * • • Ena Stockley is expected to make her first appearance of the reason in Grammar’s ranks at next week’s carnival. Gordon Bridson will be another capable Grammar representative, and De Loree, of Mount Eden, who swam well off a back mark at Parnell, is also expected to appear. • • • R. Skinner, the youthful Parnell member, who headed Be Loree home, has improved to a remarkable extent since last season. He will probably concentrate on the 220yds distance this season. Mary Colebrook is another Parnell member who is expected to do well over 50yds this season. She did not race on Saturday, but will shortly make her first appearance! n competitive swimming. At Hoxton baths recently Miss Joyce Cooper, of the Mermaid Swimmir-. Club, England, broke the world’s re cord for women by swimming 300 yard l in 3min 57 3-ssec. • • • Arne Borg, who is now expected to tour Australia in January and Eeb ruary, asked for £3OO allowance when negotiations were first in hand. Under the amateur ruling, the amount due to Borg for his time in Australia reaches £2GO, and there was some criticism of the meagre allowance to overseas swimmers, but the obstacle has been smoothed over.