IN BATHS AND SURF

Taranaki Daily News, 23 April 1932, Page 8

IN BATHS AND SURF

SWIMMING IN THE SOUTH

SPORT THRIVING AT DUNEDIN. FEAT. OF 15-YEAR-OLD' JARVIS. . ‘ : (By;“Bqltmari.”) ' . Swimming is a popular sport at Dunedin but it'is confined to a large, extent to the tepid baths—surf dubs are not very well treated in the way of. weather and temperatures. , Nevertheless, .although life-saying has to take a .subordinate position, the Dunedin clubs can be justifiably proud of the swimmers and divers they produce. Eleven Months’ Season. '•' /

Dunedin is in. a similar position to the other main centres—the city possesses tepid baths which are open rl the .year,; .syringing is ; not so much a test of courage when the temperature is constant just, above 70 deg. Fahrenheit. Consequently continuous practice has had the .effect of developing swimmers t who, if'not , perhaps perfect, are nevertheless,, in the grudg-. ing tones of a Taranakian, pretty good. Schoolboy Marvel.

• The most promising of Dunedin swimmers would appear., to', be Walter Jarvis, a High. School boy who is six feet high and an inch oT two to spare. Jarvis is showing, the benefit of coaching by his father, and already has played a prominent part in junior and' intermediate national meetings. He seems to be improving all the time ai;d when his at present, slender -figure fills out as he grows there is. no telling what he will do in the swimming world. The 50 Yards Record. . . ; The New Zealand 50 yards record has not' had an easy life this season.' E. McConville (Canterbury) brought it down to 25 4-ssee and . equalled .that time at the beginning of this month. A week later it was announced that Jarvis woqld attempt to lower this record, but before'he could do so R. Frankham at Auckland swam the distance in 25 2-ssec. Nevertheless Jarvis made his attempt last Friday. . Great Unpaced Attempt . U “

The Dunedin priinary schools’ chain-, pionship carnival. was the occasion for the attempt and as it, is . only two years ago that: Jarvis; was, a: competitor at that meeting he: was. greeted witn deafening applause by the youthful assembly. In the attempt he swam unpaced with an unhurried style, not particularly graceful and. apparently no particularly fast. The boy made, a goo turn to swim to the rope in the same fashion. The'time was announced after consultation —25 3-ssec. One would say that such a time, by a boy of 15, unpaced and in fresh water, was a marvellous swim. What .will Jarvis, be jure before he passes • from intermediate class ? , e “Wallie’s” style' is noC a marvel of flowing grace, but it is neat and, what is more, very efficient. He gives the impression of being out to get somewhere and settles d-own to stroke in a businesslike way. His long, legs play their part well and help a lot m the. takeoff. ■ •/ ' - • • ’ Better at' Sprints. . J ; ' 1 \

Sprints seem to be Jarvis, forte at the present time, and although Reg. Geddes was his equal over whatever distances they swam, Jarvis seems more

the build for a eprinter until he broad' ens. Geddes, who is older and much mor© powerfully built,: might.be better advised to train for distances? Although good at th© crawl, Geddes is even better at breast-stroke, while. Jarvis tsko- - back-stroke as a side-line. The two of them are definitely superior to any others, intermediate ort senior; at Dunedin at present, and would' probably extend their superiority ■ if' they contested distances.up to the mile. ' Ex-New Plymouth Girt - ‘ The Otago dribs are not particularly, strong in woman i swim-mers\ ; ing apart, the only one that tqkes •active part at present in Dominion 'swimming is Miss Maxine MstLiesqp, who swam second in the; New ZeijJajiii.: ladies’ 440 yards championship t at Th maru this year. The Ma.thiespps.. »W / well-known to • numbers of, ,New;;Plymouth residents) Mr. and ; Mrs f rMathie* son having been in charge.of the. Plymouth municipal. baths till. ■ witpin seven or eight years ago. Mr. Mauhieson is ’ now chief • ins tractor at ■ th? ..Dunedlri baths, where he has been responsible in no small' degree ,fpr. the shown. “Peter” is very; down south, and ‘ enjoys it,; but .at,Lthe. .time urged thpt tepid baths, that- he'..might i haye ..the opportunity of - applying for, custodianship.-• Besides ; having;-;• trained}. . Mathieson’ tilE she.is >ofi. national stqndard, Mr. Mathieson can also .taker* lot of credit: for the -sureegs. of; Peter Mathidson junior, who at the intermediate championships in VVellingtop .• in January won the New ■ intermediate diving championship, carrying on-.Otago’s diving traditions. High Standard of Diving. •_ • • •’ Otago is particularly rich’Moving champions. First and of. course, is Roy Calder who went.away to the last Olympic Games. not give of his best because of "aiuiniurv Calder is at present diving’cham- ' 'bion of New Zealand, having' regained his title at Timaru this year.-.Jn his •absence the title had been retained for Otago in 1931 by H. E. Walker, and Walker secured second place this season. Miss Joy Eggers has been, national lady champion for the past two years. Similarly Otago has been prominent in the intermediate boys’ classt-rlast: year, R. McLay won and this' year.- Peter Mathieson. On the whole Otago can lay claim to being a stronghold of'diving. Ofhets of Medium Standard. ’ Apart from those mentioned there are ko others who would be outstanding if they came, say, to Taranaki. The. standard of water polo is .a littb better, hut not. much better than that of, the game in Taranaki. There is much more training done in. the height of the season; that, with the better all-the-year-round facilities, probably accounts J for the superiority of the larger centres. Championships for Taranaki.

.Several Otago swimmers ; wanted to know when the national championship meeting was to be held ,at New Plymouth. When they were told that Tara- ' naki would like to have it in 1934 it was pointed out that that was the ■South Island’s year. 'Nevertheless if Taranaki applies 'for : 1*935 - the centre will apparently have. ‘ support - from Otago.' ■. ■ ■*; < '%-?■■ ■'v ■•

Visit Next Year? " '' ■ /The championships are at. Ropier next year and it is probable ‘a.strong party of Dunedin swimmers will be presept. It ■ was suggested- that 'opinion might be sought as to the possibility of a visit being: paid to New Plymouth before the swimmers return- south. That is a matter, though, that the centre will have to decide according to general opinion. '