IN BATHS AND SURF

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1935, Page 2

IN BATHS AND SURF

PRESENT HECTIC PERIOD ENTHUSIASM AT A HIGH PEAK. NEVILLE’S GOOD PERFORMANCES. (By “Beltman.”) One has become accustomed in Taranaki to a hectic swimming season m January and February, but never has there been one to equal the present. Club carnivals started in earnest as soon as Christmas was over and have been disposed of at the rate of one or two each week ever since. Added to these there have been the two championship meetings, the sending of a team to Auckland, learn-to-swim week, the Taranaki surf championships and attendant strenuous practice, and a constant succession of competition polo matches. AH are over, but tho season is only just coming to its peak period—the national surf championships meeting at Fitzroy next week-end. On the Up-grade.

The Taranaki senior, intermediate and junior swimming championship carnivals, besides increasing the credit balance of the centre usefully, though not abnormally, gave the impression once again that Taranaki swimming is gradually on the up-grade. While Neville was the only outstanding performer and few records were broken competition was much closer and titles spread among more competitors, which betokens a better average standard. If only Neville, Miss Carncross, Miss Alleman and the several promising intermediate boys could receive constant coaching from city swimmers Taranaki would soon be competing successfully at New Zealand championship meetings. As it is Neville’s performances at Auckland cannot be rated too highly considering his- limited experience, and the other Taranaki performers will all be able to make good use of their experience. Need for Development.

There was one fact that was made plain by the Taranaki championship meetings; that is that Taranaki clubs must develop breaststroke and backstroke exponents. The present champions cut the present records to a remarkable extent, bringing then} to respectable figures, and this against scarcely any opposition. Davies, Ryan, and Miss Wickham are three potential competitors for national honours, but they must have opposition. The same applies even more emphatically to the junior and intermediate events in these classes, ’ and the question is one for club executives. Late Entries.

The committee of the New Plymouth combined clubs, acting on the sentiments expressed at a recent centre meeting, made a resolute stand against late entries and entries unaccompanied by times for the carnival on Saturday. There will probably be a few disappointments, for the rule was adhered to strictly. Although the entries for this carnival were such that the committee could afford to take this action, it is to be hoped that the remaining carnivals this season Will assist in bringing the slow competitors up to the mark. Taumarunui Swimmers.

Mr. Frank Tollerton, secretary of the Taumarunui Swimming Club, has written to Mr. W. J. Moorhead, New Plymouth, as follows: “I am sorry arrangements cannot be made visit your carnival on Saturday. Sixteen swimmers from our clubs are travelling to Taihape on Wednesday. If, however, I can make up a team to visit you on a later date I shall be pleased to do so, and if any of your officials or members are travelling this way we shall be pleased to give them a few ‘trials’ here in the Wanganui River. We have no baths as yet.” Polo Nearing Conclusion.

Apart from New Plymouth B’s expected victory over Eltham, polo has been relegated to the background in the past week in favour of surf work. Fitzroy A’s lack of practice let in New Plymouth B, which with the advantage of a win by default against kigle.wood is in a play-off. Neither Fitzroy nor New Plymouth sustained a defeat, and the only point each team lost was to the other. The two teams have yet to arrange a date upon which to decide the team to play Hawera. In the meantime Taranaki will have the opportunity on Saturday of comparing Hawera’s form with that of Lyall Bay. Stratford Club Notes. Entries for the weekly competition' of the Stratford club have been maintained this season to a much greater degree than in the past, for members are realising the value of competitive effort as a medium for improving style and speed. W. Penman, who was a few years ago one of Taranaki’s best freestyle swimmers, was practically out of competitions for two years owing to the nature of his employment, and it is only now, when the season is well advanced, that he is beginning to show a return to his old form. He has improved rapidly over the last few weeks and should shortly be pushing the top men along. J. Osmond is another who has been steadily bettering his performances and has been making his mark in the breaststroke events, while A. Pettigrew came to the fore at last week’s club night and swam second to Penman in the 50 yards. Penman might well turn his attention to diving, at which he used to be no mean exponent. Pettigrew favours a longdistance event of about half a mile, but he could gain much by giving close attention to the sprint- distances, which could teach him much. The fields in the intermediate girls’ events are regrettably small, and the two chief entrants in the class, P. Villers and I. Kermode, are losing much through lack of competition, for they can gain little by swimming against each other and have little incentive to exert themselves. Miss Villers has been practising a different style and is benefiting by the

experiment. She needs to do her best on every occasion if she wants to better her times, and both girls would profit by competition in carnivals. Miss Villers is the faster on freestyle, while Miss Kermode can beat her at breaststroke. Following a Stratford protest, the intermediate diving championship will be held again at the next Hawera carnival and N. Tufnbull, who was off colour and was beaten last time, will have a chance to retain his title.

Nominations for Championships. The Stratford club has learned that when making the nominations for the Taranaki championships the selection of only those who have a chance of winning is not the best policy. Other clubs have nominated three or four swimmers, if they have them, for each event and though all cannot win they may score points or places that are very useful in the banner competition. Stratford swimmers who are not right in the top flight will in future be given the opportunity to compete in the championship events.

Eltham Club Night. The absence o' several competitors made the Eltham club night events somewhat smaller than usual on Monday, but good competition was seen in several races and the diving was of fair standard. The inter-house relay suffered from the absence of several of the usual competitors but two teams of New Plymouth polo players made up entries to give a better competition. A team of juniors, called the Midgets, won and the victory which was scored by a yard off 19s start was a popular one. The Eltham club evenings have been well attended and there will probably be only a couple more of these before the season closes.