SWIMMERS AND SWIMMING

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1930, Page 4

SWIMMERS AND SWIMMING

FINE WEATHER ENCOURAGING CLUBS STARTING PROGRAMMES. CHAMPIONSHIP DATES ALTERED. (By “Backstroke.”) Last week’s spell of fine weather has done much towards encouraging swimmers and chibs to commence their season’s- programmes. Four clubs are proceeding with their work. Fitzroy held it- first aggregate competition last club night, and New Plymouth will follow, on Monday. The New Plymouth Ladies’ Life-Saving Club opened its season with an open club night on Wednesday night. Unfortunately the water was somewhat cold yet the competitions held were well contested. This club has received a considerable increase in membership, a number of junior members having joined. Two lady swimmers of the New Plymouth Club who should do well this year are Miefc K. Donald and Miss B. Gay ton. Miss Donald in particular has improved her stroke marvellously and now swims easily, and without any trace of clumsiness. Miss Gayton should be a decided acquisition to the New Plymouth Club, and she has an established reputation as a sprint swimmer. It is possible she will improve greatly if she could be persuaded to change her stroke. The arm motion is decidedly neat but - somewhat short and inclined to . unevenness. The New Plymouth Club should be particularly strong in its intermediate membership. Roy Charters, Gayton and G. Gunson all show tendencies of developing into first-class divers, while Charters’ work is particularly good. AUSTRALIAN ACTIVITIES. Australian swimming enthusiasts received a shock last: week when it was anounced that Jean Cocksy the 15-year-old national 100 yards and 220 yards champion, would not compete against the American girl, Helene Madison, who has been invited, to Australia. Although Miss Madison’s times are several seconds better than the Australian’s, it was thought that Jean Cooks would improve sufficiently to extend the visitor. It is understood Mr. and Mrs. Cocks consider the strain upon their daughter would be too great and possibly prove detrimental to what promises to be a brilliant career. ■ New South Wales divers are practising for the national championships, which, on January 10, will be held at Sydney for the first time in nine years. The success of- the Coogee (N.S.W.) club’s night carnival' last year, which showed a profit of £255, has decided the club to hold a similar function this season. . Sydney enthusiasts are impatiently waiting the appearance of the ex-New Zealand champion and Australian Empire Games representative, Bill Cameron, says the Referee. To date, the big youth has not appeared in club events, although he is reported to be training seriously. Safer surfing notes from the Referee: —lf you are a poor swimmer, do not go out beyond your depth. But should you find you are unable to touch bottom, do not get alarmed. The next breaker will lift you towards the shore, and you are more, likely to be carried in than carried out. One who considers himself an “average” swimmer should not attempt to emulate the experts who go out 100 yards or more, unless he can swim at least three times the distance. In nearly all rescues it is an “average” swimmer >who has required the help, of the life-savers. Good performances were put up at Sydney in November. One of the speediest swims was Bruce Willson’s 100 yards in 56 3-ssec., and on the same day Bonnie Mealing, a world-record, holder, swam 100 yards (backstroke style) in 7osec.—2 3-ssec. outside her Australian record. A fortnight later Miss Mealing covered 220 yards backstroke in'3min. 2 2-ssec. “Sunburnt surf syrens” (news heading) . —A peel of belles. THE SPORT IN NEW ZEALAND. Alterations have been' decided upon for the dates of the New Zealand swimming championships at Wanganui. The tournament, which was to have been held from March 5 to 9, will now take place from - March 4 to 7. The Kellerman Cup race will be swum in the Wanganui River on the afternoon of Saturday, March 7. The Nelson Shield contest (New Zealand surf championship) will be held on Friday, March 6. The carnival programme is tentatively as follows (all are championships unless otherwise stated): — March 4. —100 yards men’s, 1 mile men’s, 150 yards men’s backstroke, 100 yards women’s, men’s and women’s diving and water polo. March 5.—200 yards men’s, 800 yards men’s, 200 yards men’s breaststroke, 440 yards women’s, 100. yards women’s backstroke, men’s and women’s diving and water polo. March 6. ; —Conference. March 7. —440 yards men’s, 220 yards women’s, 220 yards women’s breaststroke, 50 yards invitation scratch race, 500 ya/ds flying squadron, men’s and women’s diving and water polo. LIKELY CHAMPIONSHIP STARS.: Gordon, Bridson’s performances at Hamilton (Canada) place him in a class by himself among Neiy Zealand swimmers, and unless something unforeseen occurs Bridson will dominate the senior men’s section of the New Zealand championships. Bridson’s only rival last year was A. Stokes, whose best 1929-30 time for 100 yards was 59sec. This year Stokes struck form early in the Christchurch tepid baths with 61 2-ssec. to his credit.

Dave Lindsay will probably make a return to competitive swimmirig, but he will probably find difficulty in recovering his form. At his best Lindsay was a high-class swimmer, but when Bridson appeared he whs eclipsed.

N. Dowsett, Wellington, and formerly a Wanganui resident, is a probable competitor for the sprint title, which he held a few seasons ago. Dowsett was the victim of unfortunate, circumstances when he was reaching the peak of his career, and probably never was able to produce his best. C. Claridge is another possible starter in the sprint races, although the versatile Wellington man is equally good in polo, surf work or long-distance events. There was a possibility of W. Cameron’s return from Sydney, but it is now understood he intends to remain in Australia.

Miss Kathleen Miller may not be a competitor at the New Zealand championships this year. Miss N. Stratton (Wanganui), the national backstroke champion, has been at Auckland for some time for coaching by J. Enwright. It is reported that R. Calder, who injured his back during the Empire Games tour, will not be able to carry out diving practice for some weeks. Miss G. Pidgeon, the New Zealand Empire Games breaststroke representative, who was reported to be retiring

from the sport, is a likely competitor at Wanganui in March. The Otago provincial championships will be held on December 11.

Mr. W. Batty, All Black footballer, has been elected secretary of the Auckland Swifiiming Centre. Mr. Batty is chairman and was once secretary of the Grammar club, and is also in the club’s polo teamr