Levin Swimming Club Members Gain Three Manawatu Titles

Chronicle (Levin), 24 February 1949, Page 7

Levin Swimming Club Members Gain Three Manawatu Titles

The swimming team from Levin which competed at the Manawatu championships on Tuesday night at the Palmerston North Municipal Baths did very well, having its share of success. Three titles were secured by the local team. The girls' 100 yards medley championship was gained by Miss Judy Todd, the senior men's 100 yards medley by Des Jacobs and the junior boys' 100 yards freestyle championship by Darcy Rikihana. | This was an excellent race, which found the first three places filled by Levin boys. Darcy just headed off Warren Travers by a small margin. Richard Routley finished strongly in third place. . ...

In the senior men's 100 yards freestyle championship, Keith Lines and Richard Denton filled second places in their respective heats. Both these heats were swum in better time tiian that of last yeir's title holders. Keith Lines was placed second in the final, and was •also second in the senior men's 440 yards freestyle championship. A weakness in the Levin club over a nurnber of years is starting and a vast improvement in this department was noticed on Saturday night. Last WedneSday's club night was literally a "wash-out" owing to Ihe heavy downpour of rain, but final arrangements were made for the trip to Palmerston North on Thursday. A large team made the trip, there being well over 50 swimmers and supporters present. The carnival held by the Y.M.C.A. club was enjoyed by both spectators and competitors alike. The only thing that marred the evening was the late hour of finishing— ' brought about by the large nurnber of entries. The usual warm hospitality was extended to all visitors and & very dainty supper served in their rooms. It is these get-togethers that help to make the sport so popular. I think that in future if such large entries are received by clubs they should be controlled by inaugurating a system of standard times. This will also have the effect of raising the standard of competi-

) tions by causmg swimmers to tram ] harder to reach the time set. At I the same time learners and newcomers should not be completely ig"ored, and could be catered for by i the inclusion of novice and similar races on cluh programmes. I The Levin team as a whole gave a very creditable performance. I Those swimmers whose names have |been mentioned from time to time 'in these nofces all showed up well. : The amouni of training done by , each swimmer was fully realised by The results in individuals. It is junfortunate that the official results i have not yet come to hand, so nriticism will have to be delayed. i At this stage let it suffice to menjtion the outstanding performances of Misses Janet McClune, June Miller and Diana Rathbone and D. Boulton, Roy Spooner, Warren Travers, Darcy Rikihana, Richard Routley and Keith Lines. All gave away big times and were in places at the finish. Next Saturday's carnival at the Levin baths warrants a successfui 'afternoon's sports by the nurnber of outside entries from Red Cross, Y.M.C.A., Kiwi, Hokiwhitu, Palmerston North, Dannevirke, Foxton : and Hutt. An attraction which should prove worthwhile is the water polo game te be played by the Hutt and Levin teams. _ The learners' class is still progressing although the attendance last Saturday was sinai1 er than .usual, mainly on account of the coolness of the atmosphere.