SWIMMING

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18587, 12 October 1928, Page 16

SWIMMING

CANTERBURY CENTRE. PROGRESS OF THE SPORT “The 1927-28 swimming season will 1 remembered as one of much activity —the Olympic appeal following close on the heels of the national championships and the necessity of holding several carnivals, with the consequent responsibility of organisation; and the general supervision of the sport—all . these have tended to make your officials very busy men,” states the annual report of the Canterbury Centre oF the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, which will be presented to the annual meeting next Tuesday. “The new’ season is now almost upon us. The New Zealand championships are to be held in Wellington, and there is an urgent necessity of the finances of the centre to be strengthened so that a full representation will be sent to the north. The position of w’ater polo will require the urgent and earnest consideration of officers of the centre and all clubs. In view of the necessity of infusing new blood into the representative water polo team, clubs are urged to take all possible steps to induce members to play. Canterbury has held the water polo championship trophy now for many years, and other centres are making strenuous efforts to win it from Canterbury.” The report congratulates the centre and affiliated clubs on a successful season. The centre regained the Yaldhurst Shield and again won the s water polo championship. The Canterbury team were very much to the fore at the national championship meeting held in Punedin, and were successful in regaining possession of the Yaldhurst Shield with 50 points, Otago being second w r ith 29 points. The most outstanding swimmers were D. P. Lindsay and A. F. Stokes,. who gained first and second places respectively’ in all the men’s free-style distance events. The former was also second in the 100 yards. Miss L. Copplestone was also successful in winning the Annette Kellerman Cup, the third member of the United Club to win this event in successive years. The A team won the water polo championship after a gruelling contest. There are now, continues the report, 15 clubs affiliated to the association in the area controlled by the centre. In addition the Canterbury head centre of the Royal Lifq Saving Society is affiliated. New clubs which joined during the year were Woolston, Sydenham, Elmwood, and Amberley. The St. Albans Club became defunct. More facilities are available for swimming, as during the year baths were opened at Shirley, Elmwood and Amberley, and in a few weeks the splendid new bath at the Boy?’ High School will be completed. L/ter-club carnivals were held during ttfe year by the East Christchurch (3), Fendalton, Leithfield, Amberley, United, \Vharenui, and Opawa Clubs. Centre challenge trophies were won as follows:—Patten Shield (senior water polo), United Club; Batley Cup (junior water polo), no competition; Duncan Shield, East Christchurch; Bishop Cup (most points in inter-club diving), Miss T. Morrissey; Harris Cup, East Christchurch; Yraldjhurst School Shield, Linwood School. In the team representing the Dominion at the 1928 Olympic Games held at Amsterdam were Messrs D. P. Lindsay and L. J. Moorhouse, of Christchurch. Lindsay competed in the freestyle events and Moorhouse in the backstroke events. The centre undertook to raise £IOO for the Olympic funds, in ad dition to the sum of over £IOO given by Canterbury swimmers by means of the registration fee. The total amount raised was £75, which can be considered a very creditable effort in view of the multiplicity of appeals for funds for the Olympic team. The institution of fresh water records has been the success that was anticipated by the centre when the proposal was mooted. The new set of records was a material factor in maintaining public interest in the national championships at Dunedin. During the past year cork lanes have been procured, and these will be brought into use in the new season. Regret is expressed at the departure from Canterbury of Mr C. Atkinson, who has been a delegate to the centre for many years and has captained the water polo team for many years. UNITED CLUB. The annual meeting of the United Amateur Swimming Club was held at the Tepid Baths on Wednesday, Mr F. R. Wheeley presiding. A vote of thanks was passed to the outgoing committee for their services. The following officers were elected for the coming year:-—Patron, Mr H. F. Herbert; president, Mr J. Meikle; vicepresidents, Mesdames F. R. Wheeley, H. F. Herbert, J. Smith, E. Estall, Messrs A. L. Wilkinson, H. J. Ballin, O. Baffin, M. Baffin, F. Eastgate, G. W. Cooke, R. J. Malcolmson, W. J. Tomkinson, J. M’Kenzie, S. White, E. Eales, E. Jamieson; hon. auditor, R. B. Wheeley; secretary, H. G. Smith; assistant hon. secretary, Miss D. Dickinson; hon. treasurer, E. C. Heard; assistant hon. treasurer, M. R. Meikle; captain, A. T. Bolain; vice-captain, M. Rattray; lady captain, Mrs J. Meikle; club handicapper, L. Agassiz; club coach, C. W. Smith; delegate to Canterbury Centre. C. W. Smith; delegate t-o Royal Life Saving Society, T. Hartigan; committee, Mesdames Agassiz, Meikle, Copplestone, Dickinson, Miss Lindsay and Miss G. Smith, Messrs R. Wilkinson, M. P. Eales, G. R. Laurie, G. Rose, E. Prosser, C. Stewart, N. Smith, L. J. Moorhouse. A vote of thanks was passed by the meeting to Mr A. T. Bolam for his excellent services as secretary, and also to Mr and Mrs Breward and Miss I. Agassiz for their unfailing courtesy and assistance at all times. It was decided to hold a carnival early in February and to apply to the centre for some of the Canterbury championships. SYDENHAM CLUB. The annual meeting; of the Sydenham Swimming Club was held last night, Mr M. E. Lyons presiding over a failattendance. Mr Lyons said that he was glad tx> see that the old Sydenham Club had heeu revix-erl. There was nothing tlia.t gave the New Zealand Swimming Council more pleasure than to put the Sydenham Club on its list as an active club again. There was a splendid bath at the disposal of the members, and this was free to all people residing in Sydenham. He hoped tha.t the club would this year take an interest in the water pol» The annual balance-sheet showed the finances of the club tx> be in a sound position. The report 'was a.dopted. It was decided to recommend the incoming committee to consider the advisability of mixed bathing, especiaJly on Saturday afternoons. The committee was also asked to go into the question of subscriptions for members, with a recommendation that the senior fee be at least ss. Mr Lyons was thanked for his offer of two medals—one for the junior champion boy and one for the champion girl. The election of officers resulted as follows:—Patron, the Rev J. K. Archer;

prosident, Mr P. Bing; vice-presidents, Messrs J. Pratt, J. Gray, J. M’Ewin, W. E. Munday, E. J. Howard, M.P., M. K Lyons, P. Cotton, J. Hcwison, J. Hall, G. Howlson. F. Frayle. Dr Anderson and Mrs F. W. Hobbs; club captain, Mr H. Hiddlestone: vice-captain, Mr L. Budd; honorary secretary, Mr IT. Bassett; honorary treasurer. Mr F. W. Hobbs; committee. Messrs V. Clancy, A Burrell, A. Sinclair, Simmons, L. Newell, J. Harper, A. Popplewell, Mrs T-liddle-stone and Miss Lee; honorary auditor, Mr C. Poore; delegate to Canterbury Swimming Centre, Mr Sinclair.