SWIMMING.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19457, 22 December 1934, Page 22 (Supplement)

SWIMMING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. (By “Trudgeon.") Coming Events. January 12. —Thames Old Pupils’ Carnival. January 23. —Morrinsville Club’s Carnival. January 26. —Y.M.C.A. ‘Club’s Carnival. SURFING AT MANLY. DISPLAYS FOR DUKE. TRIUMPH OF ORGANISATION. Never in the hisilory of Australian sport lias such a magnificent display of healthy youth and manhood been presenlod, as was witnessed at the Royal Surf Carnival, held on the glorious Manly Beach, in honour of ilie Duke of Gloucester. Lilile did ihose who fought so hard at tiie council meetings of Ihc Surf Association, some three months ago, when tl, o venue was being decided, imagine Ilia! such a wonderful exhihilion would be the result of tiie deliberations. ■The, many months of tedious . detailed preparation, the thousand and mm items of organisation, the careful selection of learns, and Ihc assiduous training, jus! burst out on Hie day, and presented lo the Royal visitor and the huge crowd of over 20,000 the

greatest surf carnival ever staged in the history of the Surf Association of Australia, commented the Sydney Referee.

To enable the Duke to see the outstanding features of a surf carnival, the programme was arranged so that the march past and grand parade w r as timed for 3.30 p.m., to be followed by Hie rescue and resuscitation display. Promptly to time the gailycostumed life-savers marched on to the beach in perfect formation, and 25 teams went through a parade that was a thrill, even to the oldest enthusiast. Led by the fine North Bondi learn, in their chocolate, red, and while striped costumes, the long line of 500 picked youths proceeded to present a spectacle w'itliout equal in any other part of the world. As each team approached the Royal stand the order “Eyes right" was given by the team’s captain, and the returning salute of the Duke was more than a hand gesture. The salute of standard bearers then followed, when 25 coloured pennants, each bearing Hie name of some affiliated club, were dipped in salute to I lie Duke. The arena was cleared as if by magic, and on marched the 12 selected teams to take Part in the R. and R. display. Led by the Australians champions, 'Manly, the whole with reel and belt equipment looked particularly smart and new, stepped like soldiers ! to their allotted places. The open surf race v ag£in demonstrated that Noei : 'Ryan "Is the outstanding man in this branch of the sport. In fact, The Referee contends that he is the finest surf-shoot-er of all times. He has that buoyant flotation that enables him to catch and hold a wave unlike any other exponent of the art, and this was clearly demonstrated when, despite his 20 yards lead from J. Miller, of Cronulla, lie actually landed a small wave and rode it over the channel near the beach, and made the victory even more pronounced.

FROM TRUDGEON’S NOTEBOOK. Registration Fees. The registrations fees formerly payable to the New r Zealand Council by senior swimmers have been suspended for the current season. This is a step that most swimmers will applaud for, while it must be borne in mind that the national association needs adequate finance this direct levy seems, in its results, lo be 100 visionary and faraway for most swimmers. Rotorua Appointment. The New Zealand Swimming 'Council has advised that permission has been granted to Mr J. B. Perrin lo act as a carnival official for the Rotorua Club. iMatamata’s Carnival. Mailamata provided a well-balanced programme for their initial carnival of the season and, with good entries from the outside clubs, keen competition resulted. However, the times were only mediocre and there were few good performances. Duty of Secretaries. Attention is drawn by tiie secretary, Mr R. S. Enhyisitle, to the necessity’ for club secretaries to forward reports of carnivals within 10 dajs lo the centre authorities. Keen But Not Fast. Although the spectators were treated lo a succession of remarkably keen races, there was not much stimulating about I.lie carnival at 'Cambridge. The closeness of the finishes was ample indication of the excellence of the handicapping, hut the times were well below standard. This, however, was to be expected, not only on account of the earliness of the season hut also through Hhc restricted competition that was available at purely a local carnival. South Auckland's Maori Team. If the plans of the .Centre come lo fruition, there are seven likely contestants for the six places in the National Flying Squadron event. Wharcaitu and Simon, who arc swimming round about 'sßs, arc assured of a place, while the other likely contestants arc the two Manahi brothers, who performed consistently last year, Rnlii Pene and Fill Rika. The lastnamed, by the way. is a 1)0 > rthese men will be easily breaking 60 seconds before the time comes for the championships and, as a loam, they arc well in the running for success. Good Rotorua Swims. There have been some good swims at Rotorua of late. Wharcaitu lias been doing some easy frec-stylc raining before concentrating on the backslroke, and the other day covered a 100 yards in 59 3-5 seconds. I lie best performance, however, lias been given by Riko Simon, who will he remembered for his consistent improvement last season. Ho covered iooyds in 58s. which is only about, three seconds outside of the New Zealand record, ami more Ilian a second boiler than the Suulli Auckland record.

Whareaitu’s Time Bettered. Swimming enthusiasts in 'Christchurch had a treat last Wednesday evening, when the Australian champion, Reg. Clark, competed there against the Dunedin sprinter, W. J. ■Jarvis, and the 'Canterbury backstroke champion, tG. Low. Clark won the 50 yards free-style in 25 4-ss, but Jarvis won the 100yds, thus being successful in two of the three 100yds contests he has had with Clark. The Australian and Low had a thrilling struggle in the 100 yards backstroke, Clark winning by a touch in 665, 1 2-5 s faster than W. Whareaitu’s New Zealand record. Low must, 'therefore, have bettered this also. Centre’s Diving Team In 'Burch, Ladd and Salisbury the South Auckland Centre has chosen a fairly strong itrio to represent their interests at the national championships at Auckland early next year. All three are well-known to Waikato carnival supporters and are capable of putting up displays equal to ithe Dominion’s best performers. It cannot be denied, however, that all three are erratic and it is quite on the cards that 'they, might give a very poor display on tiie big occasion. _ It has appeared to “Trudgeon”—in marked contrast with the position of earlier years-—that the "entry” of most men divers in ‘the Waikato could be improved considerably.

Across the Strait. Compared with swimming the Cook Strait, which separates the North and South Islands of New Zealand, swimming the English 'Channel is considered To be child’s play, comments the Sydney Referee. lit has not been been done yet, and it is a feat that will take some doing. The latest aspirant for the honour of being the first lo swim 'Cook Strait is a nativeborn son of the Dominion, _ Malcolm ■Connor, who has been residing in England for some years. There he was successful in winning the swimming race from Southsea to the Isle of Wight in record time, and since his arrival here he has expressed his intention of undertaking the formidable 'task.

Maori 'Flying Squadron. If the remarks of the Centre executive on Wednesday advocating the 'selection of an all-Maori relay team for the national championships was inspired by sentiment it is to be deplored. It would be a happy and novel sitate of affairs to send a native team to compete but, on the other hand, if there are patella swimmers better qualified lo lake a place in the team then sentiment should be discarded and the very best selected. However, it is very possible that tiie .Centre’s strongest 'swimmers would be recruited from Hie ranks of the •Maori.

Native Championships? The council of the New Zealand Amateur 'Swimming Association requires an early report from the centre on an application by the Ohinemutu ■Club for the institution of championships for Maoris. Tiie club, in advocating the early introduction of the scheme, has pronounced its willing-ness-lo conduct an inaugural meeting at Rotorua. “ The centre will not permit this move as the club lias already refused the offer of the A.. EC.. • club" to conduct the New Zealand Junior ami Intermediate championships if they arc allotted lo boulh ~ncl,” commented the centre sccrclarv, Mr. R. S. Enlwistlc, when the matter was referred lo him. W<j know there arc several good Maoi swimmers in the Rotorua district but the point is, arc there any great numbers in other parts of the Dominion.