SWIMMING.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18031, 20 January 1923, Page 2

SWIMMING.

THE CHAMPIONSHIPS. The entry lists have now been completed for the New Zealand swimming championships, which will commence at the Century Baths, Craigie Avenue, on Saturday afternoon next, and he continued on Monday, YVednesdav, and Friday evenings of the following week. In addition to the fixtures named, which include events for both sexes in three grades—senior, intermediate, and junior-—in free style swimming, as well as backstroke and breast-stroke contests, diving, and water ploo, the Royal Life-Saving Society’s championships will be decided at Caroline Bay and in the Baths, and an added attraction will be the Annette Kellerman Cup race, a three miles handicap which is to he swum in the harbour. Handicap events in all grades will help to swell the programme fo the biggest natatorial carnival ever hekl in the South Island. Full details of admission charges and hooking arrangements are advertised to-day. Altogether it is expected that 250 swimmers of all ages will take part in the gathering, and quality will be as strong as quantity. One of the star items on the first day’s bill will be the 100 yards open ladies’ championship of New Zealand, the entrants for which Include the three best lady swimmers New Zealand has produced’—Miss Hoeft (Auc.’cland), present holder of the title, Miss V. Walrond (Auckland), who represented the Dominion at the last Olympic Games at Antwerp, and Miss G. Sliand, Christchurch, the holder of the N.Z. quarter-mile record. Miss Hoeft defeated Migs Sliand over the shorter distance in last year’s race, but the Christchurch girl has developed as a sprinter since then, and on their recent trip to Honolulu appeared to be at least the equal of the champion. The record for & New Zealander is 66 2-ssec by Miss Hoeft, but there is likely to be such a struggle for suprenaacy that if conditions are favourable new figures njny he posted. Tho men’s hundred title will he swum for on the same day, and J. Enwright (Auckland), who has been the winner for two years past, will be on hand to defend it, Strong opposition is expected to come from N. Batchelor., (Christchwrch), who has some fine performances to his credit in the junior and intqrmedite divisions. The one mile event is another item for the opening day, and the reigning champion, L. Hill (Christchurch) will he a competitor. A junior and an intermediate championship will also be got off, in addition to two handicaps, the open diving championship, and the flrstjround of polo. Great things are expected of some of the younger aspirants to honours, a junior lad from Christchurch named Cameron being regarded as something out of the ordinary.

Timaru has won a reputation for its excellent management of big sports fixtures, and the South Canterbury Swimming Centre is leaving nothing undone to’ maintain it. The formidable task of organisation is now almost completed, and apparently the only point on which anticipations have not been realised is the billeting of the younger competitors. So far the number of offers received has been a trifle disappointing to the Executive, though there Is yet time for things to improve in this direction.