SWIMMING IN TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1929, Page 4

SWIMMING IN TARANAKI

THE RESCUg AT EAST END

RECOGNITION dF ERAVERY URGED.

ACTIVITIES OF 'VARIOUS CLUBS.

(By

"Coach.”)

Words inadequately express the bravery of the "two swimmers, Noel Gardiner, of the “Fitzroy Surf Club, and Allan Henderson, of the East End

Surf Club, in their very fine save on Sunday afternoon.' 1 There was a heavy sea running and they had to work under very grave disadvantages. Not

only was the rope weak (it broke while it was being pulled in), but also the belt was simply made of canvas and had no cork. This was owing to the fact that the proper belt ordered from Australia has not as yet arrived. Repeated attempts were made to reach the boy, and only as a result of dogged perserverance was he eventually saved. It is very commendable that the

Life Saving Centre is attempting to have their services recognised by the Royal Humane 1 Society. There never never has been two more deserving eases. This is Noel Gardiner’s third

rescue this season.. He pulled out a girl at Strandon, and spent a long while looking for the body of the man who was upset out of the boat at Fitzroy. It is high time his. efforts were suitably recognised.

LIVE SAVING SOCIETY’S FUNDS.

While this rescue is before the eyes of the public, it -would be well to consider the financial position of th© Life Saving Centre? ? Many people are asking why the rope broke when the rescue was being effected. The whole question is funds. The 'funds of the centre are very low, and it is to the public that the centre must turn. It is the pub ic's duty to support them, as the whole object of the Life Saving Centre is to protect people when bathing. Although this is not an appeal, it is an attempt to place the position fairly before the swimming public in Taranaki. Honorary members tickets are at present being sold by the society in an endeavour to increase their funds.

HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

The Boys’ High School swimming championship carnival is the beet run carnival of the year, and from the point of view of the spectator is an excellent one. Everything is run off to time and all the competitors are on their marks the moment their names are called. Several good swimmers were in evidence. Pepper, Dallison, Insull, Elmes and Gayton were the best of a very good bunch. Pepper is small and slight but shows a great turn of speed, and if properly coached should go far. Insull is fast but one doubts if he will gain very much more speed until he radically alters his stroke from a semitrudge to the crawl proper. Gayton is a much improved young swimmer and should do. well.

In the water polo match the school shaped well and next year should have a very good team which will seriously challenge the other teams. They will have the advantage of constant coaching and swimming together, and also the necessary discipline, which goes such a long way to the making of the successful team.

INGLEWOOD CARNIVAL.

The Inglewood carnival on Thursday night was very successful and there was a very big crowd to watch it, probably the largest that has ever been to the baths there. The entries were good, though marred by this continual nonstarting. It seems to be a habit amongst a certain number of swimmers to enter for a race and wait and see what handicap they receive; then if they think they have a good chance of winning they start, but if they think the handicap is a bit too severe they refuse to swim. It seems more like pot-

lUxiv LU D>V Ulla J-u DtvlllD lUulv 11IYU hunting than swimming for the sport. The polo match proved as exciting as was expected, and at half time there was no score. It was an interesting and exciting game, well worth a special trip. Both sides played a hard, clean game which was a pleasure to watch. But one point was plainly emphasised —that these two teams, the best in Taranaki, have still a great deal to learn before they reach a standard sufficiently high to allow a reasonable chance of success against any of the crack Auckland or Wellington teams. They play too slowly and are not off the mark quickly enough. The passing is too slow and the shots at goal seem to lack that last telling force that, makes the difference between goal and no goal. It was very noticeable how many times when a player had a shot at the goal

but threw the ball straight at the goal keeper instead of to one side or other of the goal area. But the match was a distinct improvement on many played this season. In fact, in Taranaki we may pat ourselves on the back, and say that we have established the game on a firm footing and before long should be able to put a tip-top team in the field.

HAWERA CARNIVAL. As usual the Hawera carnival was carried out in an efficient manner worthy of the club, and they were rewarded by a good attendance. In addition to the usual events they had several attractions in the visits of Norm. Dowsett, Stumpy Claridge and George Harrison. Claridge carried off a number of events and gave the public an exhibition of fine swimming. THE TABOR SHIELD. The Tabor Shield competition, which was to have been held on Saturday last, will be" decided to-morrow. If the weather continues as it is at the time of writing and the seas remain heavy it. will be a stirring test and the judges will not have a difficulty in picking the best team.

In conjunction with the New Plymouth Rowing Club the New Plymouth Swimming Club arranged some swimming races and a polo match at the breakwater in connection with the visit of H.M.S. Dunedin. Unfortunately, owing to the vagaries of the tide which would not allow the punts to be moored alongside the ship, and the moving necessary when the diving event arrived caused certain unavoidable delaj’s. One other matter caused much delay —the failure of so many swimmers -who had entered for the races to be on the mark and compete when their names were called. “Coach” was informed that for one race, over 50 entries were received and

only six started. This is not fair to the public, the club or the officials, and something must 1 be done. “Coach” is at a loss to suggest anything constructive other than what he suggested last week, but is is imperative that something should be done. The polo match between a team from H.M.S. Dunedin and the Fitzroy Surf Club resulted in a win for the former by three goals to one. The Dunedin team’s throwing was markedly superior to the local club’s, but the game was interesting and Fitzroy played a good game, considering that several of their regular players were absent.