SWIMMING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1932, Page 18

SWIMMING

■ ''-'■By "HmAD£O" .....-, LOCAL DOINGS

CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

NEXT WEEK'S EVENTS

FIXTURES.

January 16th.~-Wellingtou Club Carnival, Te January 22nd and'23rd'—Xational Junior and r . Intermediate Championships, Klddiford 1 Baths, Lower Hutt, ■ January. 30th.—LyallBay and Maranui Clubs' .combined Carnival,'.Te Aro. February 4th.—Hutt Club Carnival, Lower Hutt. February 13th, 15th; 16th, and 17tu.—National Senior Championships, Timaru. February. 27th.—Worser Bay. Club -Carnival, Te - .Aro. -.-■■.,'■. ;; . " ........ March sth.—Primary Schools' Association Car- . nival, Te Aro.' ■ .--■-.■:■ Marcb 19tfi.—Wellington Club Carnival, Te Aro. ' Although swimming matters generally are quiet" during the festive season as far as competition • goes,:the holidays saw a very large number :of bathers enjoying a'dip: The weather was somewhat variable, but nevertheless did not deter the crowds from attending the numerous' beaches, which were patronised Jniore extensively .-'than" has been the case fbr some seasons past. A'pleasing |.teature' was; the' absence- of any accidents, and; although many-of the lifesaving club members were on vacation, those remaining' exercised their usual careful watch, with happy results; • The.Hutt Valley carnival^ which took place on Thursday evening- last, marks an .early start:in the New Year, and, from now on, there-.will .be any amount of activity W engage the attention of those in control. Matters in connection with the ' National' Junior and Intermediate championships ' are progressing smoothly, with the various subcommittees completing their arrangements! in preparation for the big event: .: Further trials and selections indicate'that'theie will be a fine ■■'■representation' at the .meeting,-and even;:at this, date' a successful- gathering seems assured. : '. ■■'• '-: •'" .-■. Wellington<Jlub Carnival.'..'. \:']~ ' ■ I The first' of • the local centre's championships 'are set; down for decision next' ■ Saturday afternoon at Te Aro Baths> when, the; Wellington Club will stage its first carnival;. Two > championship races' will take place—the '100 yards free "style; and. the ;. 220 yards breast-stroke-^aiid ■ ' both : ' /contests promise ;to -jtiovide: keen competition; The, full, entry is .jiot known at -time of writing, but the issue would appear to be between C. Glaridge;(the holder), J. Blakeley, Van'd B. .Gellate. Each lias been responsible- for :s"oine..-'-smart performances: during this season, and air three: on ,present, form: should fill the-places: ■; '-..-■- • '■"'■"- : ',. '; Claridge is swimming as well as ever^ and,, although his, victories ,on former occasions have been narrow, he' rises- to the occasion ! when required> which •is an- adyantage; in i his favour., Blak«ley is probably moving better now than at any previous time, while'hisT latest foriri is' equal to' that'of his rivals.'' He will make it very hard for Gla'ridg^ especial-" ly' if ;he.can get; away on; even: terids. The, recent (times of Gellate; indicate, that, he, is maintaining, his junior,aiid intermediate, form, >nd/.'h'e'.should be capable of fully extending both 'Claridge arid Blakeley■■'all the way. While ho1 may probably -go. better in fresb water; he has put up some smart sprints at..T« Ar<>V a»id>as only to improve slightly to be very dangerous. With all conditions being ' equal, ' Blakeley should .just About win from Claridge and Gellate. , ' : :'""; :: . The chief opponents of K. Spry in the breast-stroke event will probably be Hepburn, Deans, and Tremewan. The latter is up from the intermediates and Will go well,- but, on form, Spry looks to be sure to hold Kis title, ss he will keep; the pace hptVall 'the way m an endeavour to set a new record. Hepburn should be' second from Deans and Tremewan. The remainder of the programme is varied^ embricing. events for all classes of swimmers, so that there should'be: a'big entry. ;-; '■■'•'■ Championship Dives.!■'.' -.""', j;. :. The Council of the New-Zealand Amateur. Swimming Association has approved; of the, following compulsory dives • fortthc ;eVents :tb be decided: at the ■'national; championship : regatta meetings rr-1-. : .-i ~s. :-, ,> : . :Men.—Low' board:: Pike:?diye, forward,, running;: degree of 1.5: one- screw, ,fbrsvard, standing, 1.9.. High board: Back somersault, J;6; one Mollberg somersault, forward, standing (take 6fl ; fromtboth,feet), 1.8. : - : . ■■■?■ ...Ladies.—Low: board: Hunch •: dive, running,; 1.3 j half-screwji forward, running,. i; 5. High board: .Pike dive, forward; running, 1;6; somersault, backward, 1.6. , . .. ■; ; ;, .-■.-.: Intermediate • Boys.—Low board: Half-screw,;- forward, .standing, 1.5; pike dive, 1.6. , High board:' half-borer, .forward, running, 1.6: somersault, backward, 1.6.. ; ' ■The di^es set for the local championship, which will be contested at the Lyall Bay. and Maranui combined carnival, are as follows: Low board: Pike diye; running; one screw forward, standing; - ,/High . board: >back, somersault. Two vol.unUry.. dives will also1 be allowed. '.-'" '■■■ . Notes. .-;-:;. ..-'.- .'".'*.., " ..... ~ , . ; '' :; 'Alec' Watson, one ' time Wellington Club swimmer and ex-secretary of the local, centre, now. domiciled in Sydney, is making history across the way. He is one "of the; leading performers-of the Sydney Club, specialising in back-stroke swimming,. at.' which- style ie has improved vastly since, leaving these shores. For some time he nas registering smart-figures, over .various , distances, and recently he attempted to lower the State rejord for 220. yards. In this he was successful, cutting out the distance 'in'3min- 7 4-ssec, an improvement of l-ssec on the previous time. In cpmmenting 6n the.efEort, a Sydney paper states that; Watson did not swim with all the ienergy he could command, staying with his rivals instead of going away ..from them over the- first lap. This is. proved by a later :effort on the same afternoon, when he swam backstroke in ■ a 220 yards free-style final and cut out the'distance in 3mhr-6sec. These times will indicate the improvement Watson has made, and his many friends will bepleased to learn of his success...; •: ~ ..'■■ ~. .. /; ■ ' ■■'''■ Making his .first ; appearance .on the boardsfbrsome time, Koy Calder coni-r p'eted in the Otago- championship' last month. Obviously he was out of form and went down to Mick Walker and McLay, both; of whom' gave; good, display's. It is anticipated, however,' that' by the time the national event comes up for decision, the ex-champion will be showing, all'his. old skill.' ' ' -

'Gordon Bridsori 'is reported' to be striking, his best form. In a'recent 220 yards open handicap he covered the journey *ih under 2min 30sec, which- is a smart effort for a first try-out. The time was put up in fresh water, so that. Timatrii -mil £ot trouble. him as much as was expected.,- . '