SWIMMING NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 19, 23 January 1935, Page 4

SWIMMING NOTES

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So far as Wanganui is concerned, the 1934-35 season may turn out to be one of the best seasons on which swimmens may look back in the years to come. Yet Wanganui appears to have but one chance of getting a national title this season. Representation from this quarter at the national c'hampions'luips, to be held at Auckland on February 16, 18 and 20, will not be very strong. If present intentions are adhered to Wanganui will send a polo team for the championship water polo competition. Included in the team may be L. Smith, bent on defending his breaststroke title. Few will claim that the Wanganui water polo team will have an excellent chance of carrying off the Dominion honours against the elect of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. These larger centres appear to have a better chance of putting a strong team in the water. Still, few will begrudge Wanganui's representatives the trip so long as they put a display worthy of the centre.

However, the cost of the trip is an aspect of the question to which some consideration could well be devoted. It would appear that eight, perhaps nine, would have to be taken in the official party. That would make the matter of expenses a rather serious item, for fares alone would be in excess of £2O. Even with the team likely to be billeted, minor expenses may swell the total considerably, and these days it is generally the centre, or its constiuent clubs, which would have to foot the bill.

The question may well be asked at this stage: Would the expenditure of £3O be justified? This writer would be inclined to answer in the negative. It is hard to raise money; easy to spend it. Not always does the spending of it result in the advancement of the sport for it is the direction in which it is expended that counts those days. The Wanganui Centre has a credit, balance at the present time, and there do not appear (to be any substantial liabilities. But it would be scracely fair to the hard-working committees responsible for that credit balance if the present executive were 1o spend it unwisely.

The writer would suggest to the executive the advisability of exploring another channel for the expenditure of some of the funds on hand, with the certainty that more benefit would accrue than could be obtained by the visit of a polo team to the national championships.

If the Wanganui Centre were to commence building up now for the next championships to be held in the North Island, two years hence, with an eye also to the junior and intermediate championships, which will be held in the North Island next year, then a programme could be mapped out with a certainty that a much-wanted fillip would be given to Wanganui swimming. A good deal of latent talent is. awaiting development, and the responsibility for development will rest just as much on the centre as on individual ol übs.

The juniors and intermediates of today will be the intermediates and seniors of to-morrow, figuratively speaking. Why not proceed to develop in these youngsters such talent ability as will eventually enable them to take their places with the seniors of other centres, high though that standard may be? Little need is there for members to ask how this is to be done. » * * * However, getting back to the statement with which these notes opened: the present may prove to have been a crucial season in Wanganui’s swimming season. That may not be so much because of tangible achievement® as by a resolution that progress, will be made. On several occasions during the present season the writer has reiterated the appeal made in the last two seasons that Wanganui institute a “Learn to Bwini Week.” That the suggestion might be worthy of more than passing consideration is evident from ' the fact that interest is being awakened in the individual clubs, who intend to set the movement under way. It is to be hoped that they will be supported by their members as well as by the general public.

The Gonville Cllub, it is understood, recommended at a recent meeting that the centre consider the “Learn to Swim Week” proposal and give the movement its official, approval. Reports from some of the other clubs indicate that support would be forthcoming, and all that is required to raise enthusiasm in the project is the obtaining of details from other centre® where such a campaign has been carried on.

There should be plenty of such material, for New Plymouth. Timam, Dunedin, Invercargill and Wellington have had their “Learn to Swim” weeks, and only this week the writer received some Melbourne papers which •contained the news that, a similar w r eck was coni me need in the Victorian

capital at the beginning of January. There it was made a spectacular affair, with plenty of displays warranted to make the onlookers realise the value and the importance of a knowledge of swimming.

At any rate, as the Wanganui Centre does not meet till January 28, it would not be a bad idea if some information were to be sought prior to the meeting. The success of Dunedin’s campaign’' would appear to indicate 'that the swimming authorities there are on the right track, and it is likely that

The Avenue Club also is making progress.though not fired with such enthusiasm as is being displayed by the newest club here. It would be pleasing to see some of the older members of the Avenue Club rally round their leading officials and work for the successful future of the chib.

they would be only too pleased to pass on inforniatiion which mighit be appreciated here. This is what one newspaper had to say about the campaign before it had reached its height:—Judging by the large attendances at the Municipal Baths, this year’s “Learn to Swim” campaign should prove even more successful than its predecessors, and the enthusiasm displayed by both instructors and pupils points to an encouraging increase in the number of local swimmers by the time the campaign is brought to a close. Thanks to the director (Mr. F. A. Mabhieson), who has been mainly responsible for the organisation of the sessions at the Municipal Baths, everything has so far gone without a hitch, and the overcrowding which proved such a drawback during previous campaigns has by reason of the altered arrangements,

been far less noticeable. It is pleasing to note that there is no dearth of instructors, and the manner in which the clubs and their members have rallied round to assist provides evidence of a very real desire to further the cause of swimming. On a lesser scale, but equally effective, is the work being carried on at the Y.M.C.A. Baths under the direction of the Zenith Club’s coach (Mr. N. _H. Buckland), and it is hoped that by the end of the period of the campaign the ranks of active swimmers in Dunedin will have been swelled considerably.

Where Dunedin has succeeded Wanganui can at least attempt. It is to be hoped that swimmers will approach the campaign with a determination that success will be achieved. It would be better to have hundreds of swimmers, even if champions be few, than bo have just a few fast swimmers a-nd the rest mere paddlers in thie shallow wait or.

Just how much swimming talent there is available would be difficult to asisci?s, but the entries for to-morrow night’s carnival at Wanganui East give some indication of the position. In the men’s B grade 50 yards handicap, there are 26 entries, with four heats to decide who shall enter the finals. No fewer than 38 entries were received for the men’s B grad c5O yards handicap, while the presence of 16 names in the list for the 100 yards breaststroke handicap is a pleasing circumstance. In the ladies’ events entries are also on a generous scale. Altogether, it is a very large cotry list, and a good deal will depend on the responsible officials if they are to ensure that a programme of sotme 40 events and hoaits is io be golt off with smoothness and celerity.

Features at the Wanganui East carnival, it is promised, will be the 50 yards invitation scratch race for Dr. Kenrick Christie’s Cup, the Crotty Cup race between Wanganui East, Central and Gonville, each contestant swimming one length, and the race for

“old-timers” over 25 yards. An exhibition of breaststroke swimming by L. S'inith, New Zealand champion, should prove of interest, while above all there is thy championship water polo match with which tine carnival will conclude.

Adding to the increased interest being taken -in swimming is t-he news that the Aramoho Club, newly revived by an energetic committee, has had a couple of very successful club nights. It is to be hoped that the committee will be encouraged by their success to aim still higher.

Like the two clubs already mentioned, the G-onvillc Club will be sending a large contingent of swimmers over to Wanganui East to-morrow night for the carnival there. The manner in which those swimmers accept defeat or victory should be the measure of their success. A lesson in sportsmanship could well be learnt from a recent winner who clapped the run-ner-up on the shoulder and said: “1 was lucky to win. It should be your turn next.” That takes, the sting out of defeat and makes for better inftercluib feeling.

An impromptu club night was held by Gonville last Thursdiay, with several good races staged. In the 220 yards open race C. Reid swam a good raiee to win by four yards from 11. Taluer, who just lacked the final dash. It i® pleasing to note that the swimmere are starting in t-hc longer distance races. It would not be out of

place here to suggest that these races be held ni'ore frequently in order to enable swimmers to increase their staying power. In the 25 yards race for intermediates T. Tum'baidge, B. McG'lashin, E. Morrell and I. Forrester s-wam well and staged a close finish, with inches separating the four mentioned. The dual relay last. Thursday n>ig’ht was aliso a feature of the evening’s spoilt.

After their club races the Gonville A polo team journeyed to the Avenue Baths to play their first game in the championsiii.p series, emerging winners, after an exciting game, by four goals to one. The Gonville C team played a game last Thunsday nig’hlt against. Wanganui East B team, the Latter team winning by three goals to one. Among the ladies who are swimming In good form, Miss Melton and Miss Merewether are doing best, the former especially showing out in the freestyle. Miss P. Patterson is also showing good times. In the men’® section L. Smith is in good form and should give nn exceJleuit display at the national championships. Some promising ju iors among whom a little training would work wonders are ,1. Garr, G. Waltou, F. Booth and C. Coker. Certainly there is plenty of talent at Gonville. Indications point to the likelihood ol’ excellent entries being received, lor the surf relay race to be held during the running of the West Coast slrf championshi]>s at Castlcliff on Mirch 3. It. is anticipated that no difficulty will bo experienced in getting at least 16 teams to outer for the event, in which comipetitors will run some 1:5 yards down the sand to enter the surf, swim 50 y ards out to a buoy, ci rile it and return to the beach and th? starting point, where the next moniLer of the four-man team takes over the relay. It is understood that, if there are too m»ny entries, clubs will have to be content with one entry each. A better suggesition might be to hold an elimination race to see which team should reprasujll. the club whifth h Q « po pfa.l

than one. ’rhe Auckland Swimming Centre doos noil, approve of backless berthing costumes being worn by women competitors at swimming carnivals. The matter was discussed at a recent meeting, delegates objecting to that type of costume. Ono speaker *uud he disapproved most: sdrongly of the eo®tume tied by a small cord at the back of the neck. The centre decided tihait, in future, the wearing of the regulation competitive costume should be enforced. The Gast led iff Surf Section has two teams which are in serious training for forthcoming competitions. The first competition is Batea’s, to be held this month and then follow the Taranaki olianw*ion«h i.D P-t OiDUnako on I'otnin ry

9 and 10. the New Zealand championships at New Plymouth on February 23 and 24 and the We®t Const champiomships for the Hnckshaw Searle Shield (of which Ohawe are holders) at Caisitlecliff early in Alnrcli. A unique swimming feat was recently accomplished by four Soviet swimmers. They crossed the Volga from Volsk to Saratov, a distance of 85 miles ,in four days, including time for rest. The first man to complete the distance covered it in exac. y 24 hours of swimming. He swam 24 miles on the first two days, 20 on the third, and 15 on the fourth. Each man was accompanied by a boat carrying n doctor* fraiinpr <pnd ©OOI4,