SWIMMING

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 96, 17 January 1935, Page 2

SWIMMING

N.Z. Diving Title MANY PROTESTS MADE Use of Punt in Harbour

(By

Trudge. )

There is strong resentment not only in Wellington, but other centres, notably Canterbury and Otaiip, against holding the Dominion diving championships at Auckland next month from a punt moored in the harbour. Such conditions are considered to be far from a fair test and those closely connected with (living will probably support the protests being torwarded to the N.Z.A.S.A. Diving has its place on the Dominion championships programme, and it is difficult to see why the competitors should be expected to compete at a venue other than that at which the national championships are being held. It is unreasonable for divers training under championship conditions to be called upon to compete in the most important event of the year from a punt. It certainly calls for a strong protest. Mr. W. 11. Matthews, one of the most able diving officials in the Dominion, and a prominent figure in Otago’s swimming circles, when voicing his dissent, asked a pertinent question at last week’s meeting of the Otago centre, when he wanted to know what would result if the punt happened to bo going away from the diver in a running dive as lie was about to make his jump. It was a sound question and very awkward to answer. How can the judges, for instance, be expected to differentiate on entry into the water if the sea is at all rough? Will the judges be placed in proper positions to judge the dive to best advantage? “Tlooker,” in the "Evening Star,” Dunedin, is strong in his condemnation of the action of the Dominion council. He says that many objections to this proposal could be voiced, but what is puzzling him most is under what grounds the council could possibly have granted Auckland’s application. Why, he asks, were centres likely to be concerned not consulted first? If it is the desire of the council to kill interest in diving, the granting of permission to stage a championship event from a punt is the right way to do it.

Hutt’s Successful Effort. The initial carnival of the season, conducted by the Hutt Valley . Amateur Swimming Club, at Riddiford Baths, last week, was an outstanding success, and a credit to the organising ability of the club officials, particularly the energetic hon. secretary, Mr. N. N. Oldershaw. There were 18 events on the programme, excluding heats, which numbered 24, making in all 37 events, most of which provided exciting finishes. Among the competitors were swimmers from the Masterton and Greytown clubs, all of whom performed well against more experienced opposition. If swimmers from all clubs, including those of Masterton and Greytuwn, support the Wellington centre’s carnival at Te Aro Baths next Saturday to the same extent as they did last week’s effort, then, given fine weather, the centre’s carnival should also be a success. Club members and supporters of swimming should do all in their power to assist the centre iu its efforts to build a fund for the promotion of this sport in Wellington.

As a result of last week’s carnival one can look forward with more confidence to a brighter season and a high standard of swimming at approaching carnivals. The form displayed by some of the younger competitors was most encouraging, and augurs well for the future of the sport locally.

Blakeley Regains Title. The only disappointment of the carnival was the inability of D. Plank. Maranui club, holder of the Wellington eentte 220yds. senior free style championship, to defend his title, as it. was obvious in his present form he would have been very hard to defeat. However, in J. C. Blakeley, Lyall Bay club, he would have found strong opposition, and bad these two met they undoubtedly would have provided the thrill of the evening just as they did in the same event last season, when Plank won by a touch. Nevertheless, Plank’s absence did not deter from the merit of Blakeley’s success in regaining the championship, for he was required to give of his best to stave off the determined effort of his club-.mate ; K. Thwaites. Blakeley held the honour in 1933.

Noticeable Improvement. The performance of Miss Olga Smith, Wellington ladies’ club, in winning the

50yds. open breaststroke handicap, revealed tins young performer as having made noticeable improvement in this particular branch of swimming. Under the able coaching of Miss Kathleen Miller, ex-Olympic, New Zealand; Otago and Wellington representative, Miss Smith is fulfilling the prophecy made in this column last season. With the perfecting of arm and leg strokes, which seem to be working in much better unison than last season, Miss Smith has made splendid progress. She should make good times in the girls' section this season and might bring back the breaststroke Dominion title n't the New Zealand intermediate and junior championships opening at Timai;u next week. Tlnvaites’s Progress.

Keith Thwaites, Lyall Bay club, revealed in his determined effort against his more experienced club-mate, J. C. Blakeley, in the 220yds. centre free style championship that he is the most improved of the younger free stylets iu Wellington and is a much more stronger swimmer than was the case last season) when he won the SSOyds. free style championship at the Masterton carnival. It would not be over-estimating the capabilities of Thwaites to say that his chances of retaining his 880yds. title and winning the 440yds. championship are exceptionally bright.

Carnival Tit-Bits. A, Somervell, who won the scratch invitation event over 50yds., will, no doubt, benefit from last week’s two hard races. He is a powerful swimmer with a neatlytimed trudge stroke and should be an acquisition to the Hutt club during the season. D. O’Neill, Wellington club, winner ot the boys’ intermediate 100yds. championship, displayed a tine burst of speed to win the final. He is the most promising boy in" Wellington at the present time and if his performances in his heat and the final, in which lie reduced his heat time of GTsec. by 1 l-ssec., can be judged correctly, then some smart times can be expected from him in the boys’ events during the season, W. A. Bell, Wellington club, _ who swam second to O’Neill in the boys’ intermediate 100yds. championship, did not fulfil expectations, despite the fact that O’Neill was considered his most dangerous opponent. It was evident Bell was suffering from nervousness, and until ne can overcome this weakness he may find It difficult to reach championship standarAs was anticipated, the water polo match between Lyall Bay and Hutt was full of excitement from start to finish, and the result of a goal a-side draw was a fitting conclusion to a memorable contest. J. Meikle. Lyall Bay, again demonstrated his quality as a centre-half.

Next Saturday’s Carnival. An attractive programme has been arranged for the Wellington centre carnival, at Te Aro Baths, on Saturday afternoon, commencing at 2.30, and given fine weather there should be a record attendance of the public. The championship events alone are sure to be productive of some spirited competition. The men’s 50yds. should draw such crack sprinters together as J. C. Blakeley. Lyall Bay club, D. Plank. Maranui club, A. Somervell, Hutt club. Williams brothers. Lyall Bay club, Gellate. de Costa. O. Claridge, and Balfour. Blakeley is swimming so well at present that his chance of again winning is bright. Some of the above swimmers will also be seen out in the 440yds. Blakeley should win. but in K, Thwaites he may find a serious Opponent. This ’ad is swimming so well that he must not be taken too lightly in distance events. ft should prove an interesting race. With Plank. Pennington, and probably Williams making the pace. The women’s 100yds. championship should draw a much larger field than last season, nnd from what can be gathered the fonm shown by some of the women swimmers is so forward that tiie race should provide a keen contest. The present holder of the championship is M'ss Joan Wright, Wellington Ladies’ club. There seems to be some doubt as to whether Miss Wright will be available to defend her title, but if she does she should heln to provide a close finish. The men’s diving championship is also set down for decision, and the water polo championship match between those old rivals. Lyall Bay A and Maranui A, is expected to be a fast and thrilling encounter.

With several inter-club handicap events also on the programme, the public is being provided with otie of the brightest swimming sports afternoons of the season.