IN BATHS AND SURF

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1933, Page 9

IN BATHS AND SURF

POLO TEAM FOR NAPIER

VISIT OF AMERICAN SWIMMERS.

FULL WEEK-END OF SPORT.

(By

“Beltman.”)

The most important gathering in Taranaki swimming circles for some time was Tuesday night’s meeting of the -Taranaki Swimming Centre at New Plymouth. The suggestion of northern clubs opposition to the south that has been growing for some time was attacked by the chairman (Mr. F. J. Eggleton), a decision was made to send a representative polo team to the National championships at Napier, and the centre decided to guarantee the £25 required for a visit to Taranaki by Frank Kurtz and Maiola Kalili, the American swimmers. Chairman Speaks Out.

The plea made by Mr. Eggleton that clubs should stop fostering the idea of north versus south was well timed. Such a suggestion is always likely to creep in while the province’s swimming is controlled from New Plymouth, and there have been one or two factors this season to give weight to the suggestion. The southern clubs are under a distinct disadvantage being placed at such a distance from New Plymouth, admittedly the strongest swimming and life-saving town in the province, and the question is how to make lighter the burden of the southern clubs, in travelling expenses particularly. The concentration of -the championship events at carnivals in North Taranaki this season, too, was a cause for complaint. It was not a case of favouritism, however, the championships being allocated among the clubs that applied for them. There is much of justice in the suggestion of Mr. W. A. Spragg at Tuesday’s meeting that some method of levelling expenses as between clubs should be arrived at It is not fair that the south should always pay. Taranaki’s Polo Team.

The . proposition- put forward by the Inglewood club regarding the sending of a polo team to Napier shed an entirely different light on the matter. At the previous centre meeting the suggestion, although regarded as attractive, was not considered wise of execution on the score of expense. The Inglewood delegate on Tuesday night, however, outlined how expenses could be kept down with the assistance of Inglewood enthusiasts and how the cost to the centre would not exceed £lO Ils. As the chairman agreed, the Inglewood offer was an excellent one. It must be regarded as an excellent service to Taranaki swimming, although it is hard to understand how Inglewood will not incur a loss. i Whatever opposition there was to the plan before, however, has no longer any ground for continuance, and the Taranaki team will have the good wishes of all swimmers with it. Inglewood, too, deserves the thanks of the centre and all Taranaki clubs. Visit of Kalili and Kurtz.

The opportunity to have a visit from Frank Kurtz, diver, and Maiola Kalili, swimmer, Americans now visiting Australia, was considered by the centre as too good to miss, and with very commendable enterprise it was decided to guarantee the £25 required. Although the two will not land in New Zealand until March 11 the attraction of seeing a man who can cover 100yds. in 53 seconds and one of America’s foremost divers should draw a large enough crowd, whether the night is warm or cold, wet or fine, to pay the guarantee and .the polo team's expenses and still leave a little extra.

Hawera Carnival Arrangements. The Hawera club would be wise to appoint more call stewards for the next carnival. A number of competitors were not called for their heats at . the last carnival and the starter had to work oyertime straightening things out. Busy Week-End for Swimmers.

This week-end will be a strenuous one for the swimmers and life-savers of the province. On Saturday afternoon will be held the annual race for the Flannagan ..Cup, from Kawaroa to East End, and Sunday, at Fitzroy, is the surf association’s annual championship day, when the Tabor Shield Taranaki championship, senior surf life-saving, the Pennant junior championship and the march past premiership will all be decided. The day will be a full one commencing at 10.30. At present there are four entries for the Tabor Shield—Old Boys, Opunake, East End and Fitzroy—and in land drill Old Boys are, judging from practice efforts by the New Plymouth teams, definitely superior in that department. They alone at present have the snap and precision required to put the finishing, touch to a good, performance. WITH THE POLO BALL. NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS. The decision of the centre to send a representative team to Napier has made the polo programme in the province a heavy one for ’the leading teams. These remain, to be played the third match between Hawera and Inglewood to decide the southern winner and in the north East End v. New Plymouth A and East End v. Fitzroy B. The provincial final will be decided at New Plymouth on February 25 Last week were explained some of the things a polo player may not do to an opponent. It should be added that all these infringements carry with them a free throw to the opposing side from the place where the foul occurred if done unintentionally. If done wilfully the player infringing is required to leave the water until a goal has been scored. If a foul is committed wilfully inside four yards from the goal the opposing side is allowed a penalty throw, from which a goal can be scored direct. A goal cannot be scored from a free throw until another person has handled it. The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to use two hands, and he may also stand to defend his goal. In places where the water is below five feet deep the cross-bar is. required to be not three feet from surface but eight feet from the bottom.

Forthcoming Events. To-night: Stratford carnival. February 18 and 22: N.Z.. swimming championships at Napier. February 18: Afternoon, Flannagan Cup. February 19: Tabor Shield, junior pennant competition and march past at Fitzroy. February 20 and 24: “Learn to Swim Week.” - February 23: Inglewood carnival. February 25: Combined clubs’ carnival at New ■ Plymouth. February 25 and 26: N.Z. surf championships at Foxton. February 28: Hawera carnival (visit from Wanganui swimmers). March 4: Okato carnival. March 5: Ballin Cup and allied competition at East End. Date in March: Visit of Kalili and Kurtz to New Plymouth,