SWIMMERS’ FORM REVIEWED

Taranaki Daily News, 13 February 1931, Page 3

SWIMMERS’ FORM REVIEWED

HAWERA CLUB PERFORMANCES. SUCCESS AT RECENT CARNIVALS. (By “Life-Saver.”) Hawera swimmers found difficulty with their handicaps at the Stratford carnival on Thursday of last week, but despite this considerable successes were achieved.

The men’s 50 yards dash saw Hawera swimmers prominent in four out of the eight heats. McMillan, who won the first heat off two seconds, appears to be still improving. Glimpses of his old form were given- by A. 'Spragg, who also won a heat in the 50 yards. First in his heat and second in the final, G. Meyrick could be a very good 50 yards man if he gave a little more attention to his swimming. Meyrick has not been seen in the water much this year. Probably the most unlucky swimmer in Hawera is V, Spragg, who won the sixth heat off the three seconds mark. To be first in heats and third in finals seems to be the closest lie has been for the past two or three seasons. By winning the men’s dive at Stratford J. Olliver proved that he is. one of the best plain divers in the province. I. Jobson has ‘made wonderful progress in the 100 yards distance and was just beaten by St. .George after a great race. Miss Z. Spragg is diving most attractively this season and deserved her win in the ladies’ event.

B. Bassett is evidently beginning to strike form, for he was seen to advantage in the first heat of the 50 yards dash at the Hawera carnival on Friday last. Clocked at 26 3-saec., S. Anderson did not waste time in his heat of /he 50 yards. His style is not perfect, but ho certainly gets through the water. Jobson won both his heat and the final of this event. He is sprinting well and has been credited with 27 seconds for 50 yards. F. Clarke, who won the 100 yards breaststroke, has shown great improvement since Smith, the New Zealand champion; first visited Hawera. With R. Clarke, J. Olliver, K. MeGlashan, F. Dallinger, A. Wallis and J. Brennan as members, the Hawera Club has half a dozen youngsters of whom it should be proud. Keen rivalry between Olliver and Clarke in the junior, diving generally makes that event most interesting, as the pair are hard to separate. Their performances to date have been of high standard, and providing they concentrate, they should become among the best in Taranaki.

In junior women’s events Hawera has no lack of representatives, almost a di zen reaching a good standard. Both the Hawera and Stratford carnivals were held in aid of the earthquake relief funds. Four Hawera speedsters, Anderson, Spragg, Jobson and Bassett, captured the principal trophy, the Grey Cup for relay teams, at the New Plymouth carnival last Saturday night after a magnificent effort. A lead of a yard or two established by Bassett in the first length was retained and increased until Anderson sprinted home 10 yards ahead of the Fitzroy man. Six teams competed. The Hawera quartette may be regarded as the foremost sprinters of the province.

In the 66 2-3 yards men’s event .Bussett, who won his heat and the final, was never challenged in the last 20 yards. In the final he had three or four yards to spare. I. Jobson from scratch won as he liked in the 150 yards race. By winning the mile championship St. George (Fitzroy) has proved that he is-to be reckoned with over all distances this year, though in the 220 and 440 yards Jobson and Ryan, Hawera, should both be able to push him to his best at the championships. Anderson and Bassett are the pick of South Taranaki over 100 yards, nut at th e championships will find strong opposition in St. George. Should all three start a “ding-dong go” may be expected. Hawera has three contenders in the 50 yards event, Anderson, Bassett and Jobson, who all merit attention. On times that have been returned lately, the Taranaki record of 28 2-s?ec. should not last much longer.

In the intermediate class F. Clarke should not havje much opposition from 100 yards breaststroke swimmers, as he has made some very fast times this year. There are two classes in the men’s dive, plain and fancy, as set out for the New Zealand championships. In the first class Hawera will probably be represented by Olliver and Nelson, both of whom are in good form. Providing they find the.boards to their liking they should be amona- the placed men. Miss E. Kelsen will probably retain her 50 yards junior girls’ title. The present ladies’ diving champion, Miss J. Murray, may be counted on to make a vigorous attempt to retain her title, though she will find Miss C. Marsh (Fitzroy) a capable challenger; Miss Marsh has been giving good exhibitions in all types of diving this season. Although Hawera has lost W. Mundy, the Taranaki title and 100 yards breaststroke record holder, the club nas a good second string in J. Tarrant.