IN BATHS AND SURF

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1935, Page 12

IN BATHS AND SURF

WEST COAST CHAMPIONS TARANAKI TEAMS PROMINENT STRATFORD CHANGE OF FRONT. (By “Beltman.”) The West Coast surf championships at Castlecliff, Wanganui, last week-end completed the competitive season for surf life-saving clubs in Taranaki. Neverin the history of the province has a sport taken such strides in popular favour in a single year. Castlecliff, being the only club in its district, cannot very well run district championships but it gets over the difficulty very well by holding what may be described as a sub-North Island championship open to Taranaki, Wanganui and Wellington clubs. The response this year was excellent, Castlecliff being matched against four clubs from Wellington and four from Taranaki. Taranaki Good In Surf. The result was a triumph fdr the northern province, Patea winning the six-man event, Fitzroy the four-man championship and the beltmen’s championship, and Ohawe being second in the march past. Wellington teams won the march past and the surf teams’ race, being second in the four-man event and the beltmen's championship. The conclusion to be reached is that Taranaki clubs as a whole in fairly difficult surf measure up to a standard equal to that of Wellington teams. Poor Organisation. Used to the splendid organisation at Opunake and New Plymouth, the Taranaki contingent found the Wanganui surf section attempting to run the carnival with only four officials—one judge, one timekeeper, a compiling steward and a marshal. The result was that teams, loudspeaker service staff and the Press could not obtain any information except that indicating which teams had reached the finals. Travellers by the New Plymouth, Wellington and Hawera trains did not know how the competitions had resulted when they left Wanganui. Apparent Mistake. There was only one timekeeper, a circumstance that proved very awkward in the march past, and a mistake was made in one event. A team that reached the buoy in 6m 18s was awarded about 20 water marks, while in the same heat a team that took 7m 38s received 25 marks. Similarly although teams in the heats invariably received between 50 and 62 points out of 70 for general land work, in the final of the Gibson Cup four-man event —in which no times were available —no team was awarded more than 404 marks out of 70. Any request for information from the compiling steward was met with the reply “Don’t worry us. We are not here to give you information.” Leaf From Taranaki Book. “Beltman,” suggests that Taranaki

officials would be pleased to give every assistance next year if asked in plenty of time. If th? West Coast championships are to remain popular with clubs and the public it must be realised that there must be a sufficient number of officials. Wanganui could well take a leaf out of Taranaki's book. Venue of National Championships. The question of the venue of the New Zealand surf championships in 1936 is at present not nearly as fully decided as it appeared to be a fortnight ago when the surf conference decided to recommend the New Zealand council to hold the championships at Dunedin next year. Much was said at the conference concerning the South Island's rights and no objection was raised to the Otago delegates’ request. In fact, they were given to understand that the conference thought surf life-saving in the South would benefit. Now, however, probably without the knowledge of Otago it is being suggested that the organisation would not be good enough. The idea seems to be that Wellington is desired as the venue in certain quarters. The main point at issue seems to be the question of keeping faith with a Centre that is looking for a fillip to its good work. As for Otago’s organisation, mere opinion 12 months before the event is no justification for refusing the application on those grounds. Municipal Baths Scheme. Stratford swimmers are keenly interested in the statement made by the Mayor, Mr. J. W. McMillan, that if he were returned at the May elections he would support a scheme to build municipal baths. Moreover, the present council appears to favour the plan and there is every chance that by next season Stratford will have town baths as good as any in Taranaki—possibly better because a suggestion that provision should be made for taking the chill off the water will be considered and perhaps adopted. The provision of such a facility would be wise. Taranaki summers are usually of short, duration and at Stratford, where an elevation of over 1000 feet gives cooler temperatures than other parts of the province, some means to warm the water would be particularly desirable. Taking the chill off the water, even if tepidity were not aimed at, would extend the swimming season at Stratford considerably. Nearly two years ago three propositions with the same idea were submitted by the club. ’ Business Method. Although well organised, carnivals held at New Plymouth up till this year have been run on in the same old way, with nobody giving any thought to possible improvements. Nowadays, however, there is an air of business about them. The loud speaker service has, made a great difference to the public's enjoyment of carnivals and the institution of a secretary’s office prevents a good deal of the old congestion. New lanes of novel design keep swimmers on the right direction. All that is wanted now in the way of minor improvement is more exit facilities, better lighting and a Press box. Th- Press box is a facility for which no club in Taranaki makes really adequate provision in the way of lighting, position and stability. Taranaki’s River Swim. The second annual bridge-to-beach race is to be held by the Waitara Swimming and Surf Club in the Waitara River at the week-end. The sealed handicap

system will be adopted, as last year, and the club is hoping to have entries as good as last time for its main event of the year. In view of the absence of suitable arrangements regarding the use of the school baths, it is possible the club may give up its efforts to organise baths swimming and regain its lost strength by taking up surf life-saving. Stratford Club Titles.

The Stratford club will begin its championships to-night, the events to be decided on a handicap basis. In the senior men’s division competition will be chiefly among T. J. Haughton, A. Robson, R. Girling and W. Penman, and in the intermediate among Noel Turnbull and R. Eagar. In the junior events M. Ryan should have little trouble in making up his time.. In the senior girls’ section the winner will probably be found among Misses R. Black, L. Wickham, D. Pettigrew, S. Nowell and C. Dixon. Junior women who have been showing up consistently during the season are Misses P. Villers, 0. Kermode and S. Healy.