SWIMMING IN TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, 15 March 1928, Page 5

SWIMMING IN TARANAKI

ADMINISTRATION MATTERS. MEETING OF THE CENTRE. The monthly meeting of the Taranaki Swimming Centre was held in New Plymouth last night. Present: Messrs F. J. Eggleton (chairman), G. F. Bertrand (Boys’ High School), A. Lawrence (New Plymouth), W. N. Stephenson (Opunake), J. Thomas (Fitzroy), G. Sutherland and G. Roberts (Inglewood). The Hawera Club forwarded an account and results of the Taranaki swimming championships held there. Regarding the purchase of medals, thf Hawera Club suggested that it should buy medals in Hawera and send them to New Plymouth to be distributed. Hawera wa« given permission to secure the medals there, considering the carnival was in that district, so long as it did not exceed the credit balance of £25 10s 6d accruing from the carnival. It was urged, in a letter regarding representation at the Olympic Games, that an effort should be made to obtain the necessary funds, and on the contributing pro rata basis, the Taranaki Centre’s quota was estimated to be £6. —The letter was received. The question was brought up of affiliation subscriptions. One of the Inglewood members said that affiliation fees were not paid, by clubs, football clubs, were not paid by golf clubs, football clubs, etc. and swimming clulbs seemed to be the only organisation that had to pay them. No action was taken in the matter. Korito School sent a letter to the centre asking for financial aid in constructing a swimming pool in the creek running through their school grounds. It was decided that the centre could not help financially, but when the school grant was received Korito would not be forgotten. Regarding the new cup donated by Mr. Dalgleish, the question as to Whether it was to be presented for polo or other events was not decided. It was suggested by the Inglewood representative that the Taranaki Swimming championships should stretch over a period, of two days, so as to give long distance swimmers a fair chance. The suggestion was favourably received. - Another suggestion that came from the Inglewood representative was that starters, instead of the usual procedure, should count backwards from the number of the limit handicap. If this were done each swimmer would start when Iris handicap was called. Mr. Sutherland (Inglewood) stated that his club wished to change its colours to maroon and gold. The execiitivi agreed to submit the application to, headquarters. (By “Crawl.”) The Old Boys team is to be congratulated on again winning the Tabor Shield for life saving. By the courtesy of this team the competition was this year held on the Opunake beach, and on the beautiful stretch of sand they have there a large crowd watched proceedings with manifest interest. On the day the Old Boys’ team was undoubtedly the best, though Opunake were rather unfortunate and Fitzroy made two serious blunders which cost them the shield. Though the evenness of the senior teams was extremely evident, it was even more noticeable in the junior competition, which, after a readjustment of the points was won by the Fitzroy C team. The Opunake Club also merit a word of congratulation on the way in which all arrangements were made, and on the efficient manner in which every detail was attended to. The High School sports were held recently, and were run off in their usual efficient manner, and several promising swimmers were unearthed. The championships, held after two postponements, were a trifle disappointing, but, taking everything into consideration, they were as good as possible under the circumstances.

The Girls’ High School championships resulted in Lorna Marshall winning the senior championship, Jean Charters the intermediate, and Barbara Blackley the junior. All these girls. swam well, and thoroughly deserved their victories. It is very pleasing to note, the successful holding of a carnival at Stratford. It is an important step in swimming when a club such as this which has been dormant for so long has now revived, and is taking an active interest in the sport. The Inglewood Club’s carnival was a great success, and the officials deserve great praise for the efficient manner in which the meeting was run off. The local swimmers, supplemented by adarge number of New Plymouth and. Fitzroy swimmers, gave a fine exposition of the natatorial art. There were present at this carnival a number of boys from Mangatoki who are very keen, and the writer would not.be surprised if a club is formed there next year. The New Plymouth Club held ’ls carnival on Saturday last, and a good gathering resulted. The carnival was an unqualified success, and all the competition trophies were competed for. The Grey Cup was again won by Opunake, who swam remarkably well. The Flannagan Cup race was won by Kevin Staunton, of the Boys’ High School Club. He swam powerfully, and thoroughly deserved his victory. Cyril Plumtree, of the Fitzroy Club, completed his “hat trick” of fastest times, having now gained fastest time three times in succession. The two lady swimmers, Misses Hunter and Gayton, are also deserving of praise for the plucky manner in wluch they stuck to their strenuous task.' . . . The Girl Citizens held their carnival on Tuesday night, and a pleasant evening was spent. It is very gratifymg to all concerned with swimming to see sncli an interest taken in swimming by these virls, and great credit is due to Miss Cole and all concerned for the organisation of the carnival. There seems to be a general cr- now for water polo at all carnivals. Those who saw the match between New Plymouth and Inglewood on Saturday will realise what a vast improvement has been made even in one season in Jis "ame. Inglewood has an efficient instructor in W. E. Kivell, while Tony Smale trains the New Plymouth team. The public may expect a good exhibition of this game next season. On Anniversary Day. March M. a big gala dav is to be held on the Fitzroy beach, ’included in the programme is a life saving display by the Fitzroy Surf I Club, while the Old -Boys' team will be ixivino- a four-man team demonstration. In the evening a social and dance is to be held at which the Tabor Shield and the Pennant will be presented. THE FLANAGAN CUP RACE. (To the ■ Editor.) Sir, —Tn regard to the above race, I

understood that a certain courso was set for the entrants to complete as appear jd iu the Press a few days ago. If I remember rightly- the swimmers had to hop off from the Baths and pass round a buoy off the East End. My connection .with tho race was this: Mr. L. Smith and I had been fishing off the town and we came in closer to watch the race and also to give our services if necessary, as we knew that a small row-boat Would be of more use should anything untoward happen. The first person we sighted was a young lady. Shortly after a launch came up to us and asked if we would accompany the young lady, to which we agreed. A young man in bathing togs on the launch (whom I have since ascertained had something to do with the race or the handicapping) called out that she had to go round the buoy. We kept along with the young lady, who was swimming finely, and directed her on her course to the official boat that was stationed off East End, as she could not pick i» up for a long while. The occupants of this boat informed us that all competitors had to turn round their boat and make for the beach. The young lady in question complied with this request, and we accompanied her to the shore at the suggestion of Mr. Bertrand (the official marksman), as she had complained cf cramp. Wo saw her safely ashore, and then turned seaward again, and we met a young man, and I asked him if he were a competitor, and on his replying in the affirmative, I told him that he was second, as the only person who lip.d passed around the buoy in front of higi was a young lady. When passing the flagboat again, Mr. Bertrand remarked that there was only two in the race—the young lady and the young man who had both complied with the conditions and had fairly rounded the buoy, and that, the others would be disqualified. He also said he would put matters right when he got ashore.

We. put tfur boat away, and I went home feeling quite satisfied that the young lady and the young fellow mentioned above were first and second respectively in the race. On picking up this morning’s paper I was astounded to see that the race had been awarded to a High School boy, and that the young lady had only -been placed ninth. As the race was swum on Sunday, some hugged

the shore very closely, some were a little farther out, and some a little farther out again, so how can the times recorded be of any value when the swimmers did not cover the same course! Under these conditions, the race becomes a farce. Having followed swimming for some years, I consider that the young lady (I have 1. med from the report of the race that her name is Miss Hunter) is a very fine long distance swimmer, and also that the young chap that followed her round the buoy als» put up a line performance. Now, sir, as there is such dissatisfaction among the public as to the final decision, I would suggest that Miss Hunter and Mr. Staunton re-swim tho race under the same handicaps as they previously received, with the condition that they both swim an identical course, i.e., from the Baths, round a buoy stationed off East End and thence in a direct line to the beach. If such a race eventuates. I venture the opinion that there will only be one in the picture—and that will >e the young lady.- Should tho Swimming Club stage such an event (sticking strictly to the advertised conditions) and take up a collection on behalf of its funds, I am sure that the public being so much interested, will make a big response.—l am, etc., F A. FOX New Plymouth, March 12.