SWIMMING FOR WOMEN

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1935, Page 14

SWIMMING FOR WOMEN

NEW PLYMOUTH DECLINE NEED FOR AN AWAKENING PROSPECT OF NEW CLUB

(By

“Beltman.”)

It is surprising in a seaside town like New Plymouth, where interest in swimming is keen and widespread, that the group of women taking part in the sport is so small. It is hoped something may be done this season to check the steady decline of years. Some time ago, in the days of such stalwarts as Miss Bessie Gayton and Miss Dora Fowler, things were different. The women formed a strong and significant part of the clubs and not infrequently, with due handicap, challenged the men in their own domain. They swam well and their entry at carnivals was the guarantee of a good race, not alone for those interested in women but also for those interested in swimming. Latterly, however, with the marriage and retirement of Misses Gayton and Fowler the female element of the clubs’ personnel, has dwindled and weakened, so much so that the last two years have seen a growing feeling among the men that it would be better to exclude women members entirely. This season the question is likely to crop up again' with no fewer supporters.

Whether women are excluded or not is beside the point. The problem is rather how is the quality of women’s swimming at New Plymouth to be improved and the number of enthusiasts increased. The fact that the schools are turning out as good or better material than ever before makes it the more regrettable that that material is being virtually wasted. In the long run neither the town, nor the carnivals, nor even the clubs perhaps, will benefit from the slackening of women’s interest

For years there have been two bodies catering for women swimmers—the New Plymouth women’s club and the Y.W.C.A. club. These have suffered a bewildering process of alternate amalgamation and division which has terminated, apparently, this year in the New Plymouth club handing over control to the Y.W.C.A. Miss E. L. Dowling, however, the vitality of whose enthusiasm has always been the mainstay of the New Plymouth club 1 and of women’s swimming in general, will assist with the coaching of the Y.W.C.A. members.

At the same time women members of the various general clubs, perhaps feeling their membership may at any time be rejected, are agitating for the formation of a new New Plymouth club quite apart from the old one. One wishes the agitators the best of fortune. Should the proposed club be launched and function with anything like success it will fill a conspicuous gap in the swimming life of New Plymouth. The combined New Plymouth-Y.W.C.A. club last season did excellent work in a small way, but it caters more for inexperienced swimmers or straightout learners. The new club would absorb the better swimmers from the mixed clubs who at present find too little competition in the Y.W.C.A. club to be induced to join it. They would form the senior club that is required.

Should the new club not be formed after all and the men press for the exclusion of women members from their clubs, it will behove the officers of the Y.W.C.A. club to consider whether it would not be possible to extend their own activities to include the better grade of swimmer. It is a step that must be taken sooner or later, but whether this season or several seasons ahead is a matter that should depend on the support that is accorded the suggested New Plymouth club. Whatever clubs may be formed there is one thing to be remembered. It is worse than useless to gather a crowd of women together and to attempt to make them swim without direction or incentive. The clubs must provide good programmes of races and they must provide good coaching. Few women at- New Plymouth have sufficient knowledge of the mechanics of swimming to make them adequate coaches; therefore it would be advisable to seek the aid of experienced men in this respect. There are numbers who, if they were approached, would be willing to give up about an hour a week of their time to the furtherance among women of scientific swimming.

It is unlikely that J. W. Savidan will be seen in action in track events this season, as present indications are that he will be training for, the marathon of 26 miles 385 yards with a view to selection for this event at the Olympic Games.

The world’s boxing champion, James J. Braddock, is keeping his punch warm by refereeing all-in wrestling. In a bout in U.S.A, the other night the seconds of one of the principals disagreed with James’ decision. They were convinced in the approved fashion. Braddock put both to sleep.

If recommendations made by a committee are adopted the next New Zealand swimming championships will embody six diving titles instead of three. At present the diving events are restricted to classes for men and women and intermediate youths, the proposal being to establish championship events for intermediate girls and junior girls and boys. The committee has also recommended the institution of a national panel of diving judges, for which each centre would be required to submit the names of not fewer than five nor more than 10 recommended members. Judges of national and centre championship dives would be selected from the panel only and centres would be asked to see that wherever possible none but panel judges should judge inter-club dives. The New Zealand council is also to be recommended to make it a rule that diving championships should be held only in recognised baths or pools.