IN BATHS AND SURF

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1935, Page 10

IN BATHS AND SURF

CARNIVAL DISTURBED VISITING SWIMMERS AT ELTHAM. LESLIE’S GOOD QUARTER-MILE.

(By

“Beltman.”)

Eltham s carnival last week was nearly spoiled by a small section of visiting swimmers who were a law unto themselves. .Arriving at the last minute they wanted to enter for races, entries for which had closed two days before and handicaps for which had been arranged and heats made up. The club refused to take the entries and there was some dissatisfaction. In response to agitation the committee agreed to put on an invitation race; with post' entry, but no-one nominated for this event and it was abandoned. Man in Women’s Race. The first incident occurred when the final of the women’s 50, yards was in progress. There was some accidental fouling and the referee requested the race to be re-swum. When this commenced a visiting male swimmer plunged into the baths and completed the distance, wearing a women’s swimming cap. This irregularity was.persisted in despite warnings by officials. In the first heat of the men’s 100 yards a non-competitor took the liberty of plunging' in and participating in the race.' He was not long in crossing to the opposite were no lanes—where interference was caused. to other swimmers. In the confusion the officials called to one of the bona fide competitors to pull out, thinking he was the interloper. It was difficult for the officials to straighten things out. There was general disapproval of the interference and the police were called to see that there was no repetition of the occurrence. The .heat was ordered to be reswum but some competitors de- 1 dined to participate and the placed men in the heat were put in the final. The matter will probably be reported to the centre. • 4 .. 4 Crowd Hampers Judges. Without the assistance of members of other clubs as was given on previous occasions the officials found their task made more difficult by the crowd that swarmed everywhere. The judges were hampered and the crowd also had a habit of making' irritating comments on the races. Misunderstanding in 440 Yards Finish. There was a misunderstanding over the placing df the rope for the finish of the 440 yards Taranaki intermediate cham • pionship and the contestants were confused. '-The timekeepers also were misled and the time given can only be regarded as approximate. There has been a suggestion that the race be reswum, but the placings are not. in doubt. J. Leslie, the winner of the event, put up a good performance. Once he took the lead at the sixth length each lap saw his margin increase until he had a lead of a clear length. He would probably "have. made much- better r time if he had been extended. ■ Miss V: Qarncross,'the F?' pion, ; was. a disappointment in the women’s 50 yards. She 4 was third in her heat, in which she gave Miss P. Robertson, the. winner of the final, three seconds. The finish of this race was marred 4 . by a lack of straight swimming and the illegal entry of a male swimmer. Codd’s Good Performance.

Apartfrom the incidents the contests were excellent and the finishes were keen and exciting. D. Codd (Inglewood), off 7s, put up a good performance to beat A. Roberts (Waitara, Is) .in-the .intermediate boys’’'loo yards. R. Harrison (Eltbam, 2s), who was third, is one of the best -Eltham boys and shows much promise. . ' .

Touch Decides Breaststroke. A touch only decided the 50 yards open breaststroke. S. Morrison (Eltham, Is) was the winner after a close race with George (Hawera).’ Morrison shows a splendidly easy style. The relay races caused great interest and the Eltham team’s victory was popular. The team that firiished first was disqualified for breaking. One team failed to take part in the final. Stratford Performers.

Shining among the senior men of the Stratford club at the present time is H. Skuse. Of the top ones T. J. Haughton is going very well and is showing himself good for any distance up to 100 yards, which he might well make his mark. He is an effortless swimmer and while at the moment he is not doing his best over all of the 100, a little practice would make him a formidable opponent for any Taranaki man. R. Girling, who has been labouring in the throes of an “off spell,” at the club night on Monday won the 100 yards off- 3s, Among the intermediates, Noel Turnbull has improved while R. Eagar has faded , oyer the . sprint lengths and improved over the distances. If he could get more relaxation into his style it would carry him weR over the longer events. A little- coaching is needed to develop Miss S. Nowell’s style. She is one of the most promising in the senior women’s class.

Miss P. Villers has things mostly her own way among the junior women, but here again Instruction and careful practice would make a good club swimber into an inter-club performer of merit.

Strafford cn Up-grade. Swimming, is being fostered and popularised at Stratford this year in a way that has not been approached in previous years. The club has always done well at inter-club carnivals by virtue of the performances of one or two outstanding entrants. This year there is a number of swimmers in all sections who are good enough now to hold their own with Taranaki’s best or who show definite promise of doing so with a little more experience. The latter are the products of the schools and are being enabled to improve where at one time they reached an average standard and could progress no further. Eltham’s Club Night. The relay race trophy and button.) changed hands once more at the Eltham club night on Monday, Hutton's team being the winner. Breaking was the cause of several disqualifications and a little rtrictness is needed. Selection of "Flying Squadron.” Trials for the championships were made and the "flying squadron was selected after ten of the best swimmers had been timed at Eltham. The performances were not the best that could have been given but G. Chamberlain- easily headed the list, with L. Ware and R. Harrison also to the fore. The selected team also includes H. Jenkins, F. Martin and .J. Whiting and it can be expected to give a good performance in the contest for the Spragg Cup. Disappointing Polo.

The polo match between Eltham anl Inglewood was a disappointing exhib.tion. The players appeared to be more imbued with the idea of ducking each other than playing good polo and "stoush” was far too common. An El-

tham member was ordered out of the water at one stage. It is said that memories of a former contest were avenged, but the display was certainly not very entertaining to the spectators, who wanted to see an exhibition of scientific water work. Penalties frequently marred the game and the losers were outclassed on the play. Polo competitions. The position of the teams are:— Division I.

Matches played since last Wednesday ar-s:— Inglewood 3 v. Eltham 1, at Eltham. Inglewood 3 v. Fitzroy C 0, at Inglewood. New Plymouth B 2 v. Fitzroy C 1, at New Plymouth. The Inglewood-New Plymouth B and Fitzroy A-Fitzroy C matches have not yet been played. Matches set down for decision are:— To-night: New Plymouth A v. East End, at New Plymouth. Monday: Fitzroy C v. Eltham,. at Eltham.

Tuesday: Fitzroy B v. .East End, at New Plymouth. Tuesday: New Plymouth B v. Fitzroy A at New Plymouth.

P. W. D. Points L. for ag. Pts. Hawera 3 3 0 0 14 3 6 Fitzroy B ... .. 3 1 1 1 2 7 3 Stratford ... .. 3 1 1 1 5 5 3 New Ply. A .. 3 0 2 1 4 9 2 East End .... .. 2 0 0 2 2 3 0 Division II. FitzrOy A . •. .. 2 2 0 0 10 0 4 Inglewood • ■ .. 3 2 0 1 6 6 4 New ’Ply.- B .. 1 I 0 0 2 1 Fitzroy C ... .. 2 0 0 2 1 5 0 Eltham ...... .. 2 0 0 2 1 8 0