IN BATHS AND SURF

Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1932, Page 11

IN BATHS AND SURF

THE NEED FOR. TRAINING

WAITARA’S DIFFICULTY SOLVED.

MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS

(By

“Beltman.”)

The way is now open for most of the Taranaki swimming clubs to commence operations —all the northern clubs have held their annual meetings. The meetings of delegates to the swimming and life-saving centres are to be held shortly, and with those and the formation of the Surf Association over the season will be in full swing. The Position at Waitara. A situation rather unique in .Taranaki swimming circles was reached at the annual meeting of the Fitzroy Surf Club on Thursday night. Five members of the Waitara Club were present and asked for a branch of the town club to be formed at Waitara. Lack of facilities for club work at Waitara made it hard to carry on the Waitara Club, it was stated, but there were several swimmers who wished to continue. If these could join Fitzroy and organise a life-saving team at Waitara it would be advantageous to both Fitzroy and Waitara. The Fitzroy committee agreed to the proposal eventually. “Branches” are something new in Taranaki swimming, and it was made clear that the existing agreement ..should continue only until the Waitara Club is able to function separately again. Fitzroy would benefit by having swimmers such as A. Webb and F. Trueman to draw upon for carnivals, and possibly a full Tabor Shield or pennant team; Waitara would benefit because by paying subscriptions to the Fitzroy Club the members would be relieved of administrative work and financial worry, and would still be able to take an active part in swimming and life-saving. It is proposed to apply for a carnival date for Waitara, and the profit on that night will be held in trust until Waitara has once more a club of its own. 'The expedv ent adopted, recognised as purely a temporary one, shows every sign of being a success.' . Residential Qualification.

T?he arrangement regarding Waitara swimming raises the question of residential qualification. _ Theoretically it is more desirable. to insist upon swimmers joining with the club in the district where they live. Swimming has not reached the competitive state, however, as completely as Rugby football has, and the residential qualification has not been needed. Therefore the Fitzroy Club after due consideration of the position • decided that it could not harm the sport by accepting the new members, and might, indeed, do much good. At New Plymouth, however, there is a difference. Although- a s-wimmer in town A who has several friends in the elub in town B and none at all in the club in town A should not be de-

barred from joining the club he wishes, and although a swimmer at New Ply-' mouth has a perfect right to join which of the clubs he likes, indiscriminate membership of one club one year and another club the next should be firmly discouraged. Not only does it lead to clubs being suspected of over-business-like methods but also it encourages the setting off' of one club against another. The Surf Association.

With the position regarding the surf association made more public to Taranaki swimmers as the result of details published, it is easy to see the forces that have been at work. However, Taranaki has no quarrel with either Wellington or Canterbury—the province will have plenty to do organism" its own life-saving without .participating in other districts’ differences. The events over which the jurisdiction of the Taranaki Surf Association will probably extend will probably be the following: Tabor Shield, Junior Pennant, Weston Cup, Ballin Cup, Moles-Mclsaac Cup (Fitzroy-East EndNew Plymouth), Grey Cup (East End), Victuallers’ Cup (Waitara), and Dowlin" Pennant (lady members). Excluding the Moles-Mclsaac and Grey Cups, that leaves six events open to all the surf clubs in the district. As one of the main practical objects of • the new association is to make life-saving competitions less tedious it will no doubt be possible to' arrange, say, for the Tabor Shield and Junior Pennant competitions to be conducted on the one day, and the Weston and Ballin Cups to be made the medium of another afternoon’s competition. Taranaki had an excellent record last season for freedom from drowning accidents. That is no reason, however, for leaving beaches more or less unpatrolled week-end after week-end during January and February. Training.

The remarks made at the Fitzroy annual meeting by Messrs. W. ,N. Stephenson and J. W. Moorhead regarding training were very apt. It is no injustice to either New Plymouth or Fitzroy to say that the main reasons for Fitzroy’s having to give up the Dalgleish Water Polo Cup to New Plymouth last February were New Plymouth’s training and Fitzroy’s lack of

it. If Fitzroy accepts the challenge thus thrown down and New W’ 11 '? 11 ™ keens up the standard it has attained New Plymouth carnival crowds will see stirring polo this summer. It is not only to polo, however, that , remarks regarding training apply. It is a fact that very little serious training is done in the province except for a dozen or so enthusiasts. _ What serious training really means is practice in the water every day, strict attention t food, avoidance of many late nights and a general concentration on the theory of swimming as well as the practice. Of course it is not every club member who wants to enter into the sport so whole-heartedly, but the general standard would be greatly improved if, instead of frittering away time idly on club nights, junior members particularly would devote a quarter-hour to practice They would find the older ones ready to help. By making a compulsory period of coaching and training a feature of club nights Taranaki clubs could largely overcome tjie lack of tepid baths. Forthcoming Events. November 1: Fitzroy opening night. November 2: Swimming Centre annual. November.?: New Plymouth opening night—impromptu carnival.