SPLASHES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 939, 8 December 1933, Page 10

SPLASHES.

Notes on Local Swimmers.

By

“PIKE."

A vast improvement in times r-nd styles was noticeable last Saturday. when the second round of the {grade competition was decided at the Phillipstown and Beckenham baths. At Beckenham. East Christchurch came home comfortably ahead of Elmwovd in the A grade; not so in the second and third grades, {or they “'0"; extended to a one-point difference in the former and defeated in the latter. A good deal of interest was centred on the reappearance of D. 11. Symes after a severe illness. Symes showed good form in the 50de free-style. but in the four-length event his swimming was indifferent. and he was rather lucky to swim into second place a touch ahead of H. Schou. A. Stokes was not a “ trier " in the 220de. He swam

leisurely alongsicl Herrick, never at tempting to gaii the upper hand : But in the quartet mile Stokes gav an exhibition o his true swimminj ability. Swimminj powerfully, hi crossed the finish tng line a lengtl ahead of anyone to return smii 41sec for the distance. N. Stokes, a younger brother of the East Christchurch captain, shows promise of developing into a champion. He has everything in his favour. Out of four starts in grade competitions this promising lad has registered three wins. J. S. MacDonald left the opposition standing in the 100yds. He went to the front before half a length had been covered and crossed the finishing line, slowing up, 7yds to the good. The time registered gave no indication as to the quality of MacDonald’s fine swim. Another East Christchurch man who went well on Saturday was R. Rimmer. His time for the lOdvas, 67sec, was the same as on the previous Saturday, but he improved his 22'.Jyds time considerably, doing a good 2min 53sec for the distance. Last Saturday the ChristchurchUnited senior team were not everything that their name signifies, but on the other hand were very much divided. Only three men arrived to contest the issue with Somerfleld, with the result that a runaway victory for Somerfteld was inevitable. The Somerlield Club had a real " clean-up ” in each grade in which it was represented, coming out on top on each occasion. It won the first, fourth, fifth and ladies’ grades. Swimming in the second grade for United, R. M’Kenzie was successful in carrying off a ’’ double.” Re won the 100yds and 220yds events. In the latter event he reversed the previous Saturday’s result by defeating T. Champion. M’Kenzie is, without doubt, a fine swimmer. He is still an intermediate and, although bearing the burden of the Unitec? attack by swimming in the two most serenuous events on the programme, he returned good times for both. This lad is one of the most promising intermediates in Canterbury at the present time. He also deserves to be complimented on the excellent game of water polo he played on Monday evening. Symes never once reached the ball ahead of M’Kenzie, who had him well marked. J. Patterson also came home first t:i both of his events on Saturday. He is a consistent performer in grade competitions. POR THE DIVERS.

Somersault, forward. Disappointing- Diving-. The diving on Saturday was of a very low standard. The Canterbury champion, E. Crossley, failed to reveal anything approaching his old form, and, apart from C. R. Riordan and perhaps Miss H. Jackson, none of the others performed up to standard. Crossley can attribute his lapse to “ staleness ” and no other cause. He would be well advised to take a rest. The same thing applies to H. Nunes, whose diving at present is well below standard. He has obviously been overdoing things. C. Riordan again captured the diving event last week. He seems to be staging a “ come-back," and. with the New Zealand championships here, it is to he hoped that his run of success will continue over the Canterbury championships and in to the New Zealand championships. This may be Riordan’s last year as an active diver, and a New Zealand championship crown would be a fitting reward for many years of service to swimming, and particularly diving. In the Ladies* Grade. Miss J. Valiant, by covering the 73yds breaststroke in 71 l-ssee, registered a time equal to the best yet registered by the Elmwood lady. Miss R. Collins. The meeting of these two ladies should be interesting. This pair should trouble Miss V. Berry for her provincial title. Miss V. Anscll is the most promising lady swimmer in the Somerfield Club. On Saturday she let Miss Button got away from her in the 100yds. but in the 50yds she headed off the United lady to win the event. Miss P. M’Curry was the outstanding lady diver at Phillipstown, and. although her diving was not spectacular, she stood out well clear of anyone. CHAMPIONS or THE FAST. No. 3—Malcolm Champion. Malcolm Champion has, perhaps, the most outstanding record of any past New Zealand champion. lie was New Zealand champion in 1901-S-10,12-13-1 4 ; Empire Games representative in 1911 and Olympic representative in 1912. In 1901 he won the 100yds, 220yds, 4 40yds, 880yds and one mile championships. Champion also won all five titles in the 1907-8, 1911-12, 1912-13 and 1913-14 seasons. In 1914 he ma<?e his final appearance in championship events. At the British Empires Games in London in 1911 he won the SSOyds and five miles championships. He also won the King’s Cup life saving contest, lie was a member of the Australasian team which went to the Olympic Games at Stockholm in 1912. Champion is now doing useful work in the Auckland province imparting his knowledge of the art of swimming to ** younger Auckland." and already Malcolm Champion has been responsible for the success of many New Zealand title-hoders.