Maori Title-Swimmers In Training

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19762, 18 December 1935, Page 26 (Supplement)

Maori Title-Swimmers In Training

/. B. Perrin s Team At Rotorua.

By “Korotangi.”)

J. B. Perrin is a coach with new ideas. But this is not the sole reason why Rotorua holds ■ the bulk of the Dominion’s most promising swimming talent. He has had the material to work on. He has found his boys and girls when they are young, has had the opportunities to develop them, to instil style and correctness and not, as so often happens, to change the fundamentals of style that is based on unsound foundations. The new Blue Bath at Rotorua is the new training ground for champions and several brief visits there during the past few weeks have impressed the writer with the possibilities that the Thermal district holds for annexing Dominion swimming titles. “Billy” Whareaitu, who represented New Zealand at the last Empire Games, will again contest the New Zealand backstroke title this year. He took a plunge into matrimony at the end of last season and it is his intention to retire altogether from

big competitive swimming at the end of the season. To those who know his indomitable purpose and steadfast intention, it will be realised that he is not likely to neglect any faotor which may prevent him from going out of the game with full honours. Riko Simon, the nice cut of a boy from Ohinemutu, will probably tackle the 440 yards, BSO yards and the mile, but a final decision will not be made until his training operations are more advanced. R. Pene has been moving very smartly over the 100 yards sprint, but his times later in the season alone can estimate his prospects at Dunedin. He should, however, be capable of improving on the 57 2-5 s which he swam at Auckland last year. Hane Manahi is another possible contender for the 100 yards but, at the present juncture his prospects do not appear so bright as those ahead of Pene. Yates’ Ivellerman Cup. Leo Yates will defend the Annette Kellerman Cup which he won in sensational fashion last season, with a possibility of tackling the mile distance as well. While his prospects for the Cup may be favoured the time is not opportune to assess his mile ability. In the intermediate section Wehi Pango will be ready for the girls’ events while a fifteen-year-old Maori boy, Sessue Aratema, after three years’ steady Training, is developing into a first-rate swimmer. Syd. Jarvis may be no easy nut to crack, but when the intermediates breast the finishing line, Aratema will not be far behind him. The junior prodigy, Nawi Kera, is not showing much form, but serious training for her commenced only a week ago. She has been brilliant in the past and at least a flash of that form will be reproduced in Hamilton for the championships in January. Ben Morrison, who will tackle the junior boys’ events, shows a pretty turn of speed and if he can get the distance he will be hard to beat. Just sixteen years of age, Douglas Ewart, the Rotorua diving prodigy who attained to third place in the national championships last year, is showing promising form and he is being carefully schooled to his best performances for Dunedin. Much depends, however, on the class of diving board that is offering in the South.