OTAGO SWIMMING CENTRE

Evening Star, Issue 22463, 7 October 1936, Page 3

OTAGO SWIMMING CENTRE

BIG YEAR IN RETROSPECT The annual report of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur .Swimming Association, which will ho presented at the annual meeting on Monday evening next, states, inter alia: Successful though some recent seasons have been, there is no doubt that the year under review has been the most notable in the centre’s history, marking as it did retention of the War Memorial Shield and the achievement of the long-awaited ambition, the winning of the Yaldhurst Shield for the first time, accomplishments which were commensurate with progress made by the sport in other directions. It is encouraging to record again that three new clubs became affiliated during the season. The Wauaka Amateur Swimming Club was awaiting confirmation of its affiliation at the time of its last annual meeting, and this was subsequently granted. The Lawrence Amateur Swimming Club and the Owaka Amateur Swimming Club were granted affiliation by the council, which also agreed to the reaffiliation of the Dunedin Training College Amateur Swimming Club upon tho reopening of the college. Every year has seen an increase in tho number of active swimmers associated, with the clubs under the centre’s jurisdiction, and the season under review saw tho returns exceed the 2,000 mark for the first time. This may be attributed in no small mear sure to the extensive educational work carried out by the centre over a period of years and to the benefits that have accrued in the country districts as a result of the visit of the Australian team in 1934. Activity was as marked as over in Dunedin itself, and a large number of visits were made to carnivals controlled by the country clubs, while the Macandrew Bay and Ravensbourne regattas included swimming on their respective programmes. Tho Otago Centre was honoured by the invitation that was extended to P. E. Mathieson, of the Kiwi Club, and W. J. Jarvis, of the St. Clair Club, by the Now South Wales Amateur Swimming Association, which, in conjunction with the Victorian Amateur Swimming Association, sponsored a tour of New South Wales and Victoria by our representatives. Mathieson especially had a wonderfully successful tour and carried all before him. He lowered the Australian record for 220yds back stroke by covering the distance in 2min 38 l-ssec, but owing to non-compliance with a .technicality in the starting command on the part of tho starter, the performance could not be recognised as a record. During the season several New Zealand records were broken by Otago swimmers, and P. E. Mathieson, of the Kiwi Club, established two of them in back stroke events. He now holds all New Zealand men’s back stroke records. G. P, Chambers, of the Kiwi- Club, on September 23, 1935, lowered his own New Zealand record for 75yds junior boys’ breast stroke from 58sec to 56sec. Miss I. Pnrdie, of the Kiwi Club, set two new Dominion records at the New Zealand intermediate and junior championships at Hamilton. She established a New Zealand intermediate girls’ record of 64 4-ssec for 100yds, and a 220yds record of 2min 50 3-ssec. OLYMPIC GAMES. Despite the strenuous efforts on the part of the Otago Centre, P. E. Mathieson’s nomination for the New Zealand team for the Olympic Games at Berlin was not forwarded by the New Zealand Swimming Council td tho Olympic Association, and much disappointment was caused as a result. The centre was represented by a strong team at the New Zealand intermediate and junior championships' at Hamilton on January 25. 27, and 28. Otago won the War Memorial Shield for the fifth time, the performances of all the members of the team being noteworthy. The big event of the year was the staging by the centre of the New Zealand national senior championships from February 14 to February 19, which were a complete success in every way, and which accomplished the two-fold purpose of giving swimming here a wonderful impetus and - of illustrating how totally inadequate the accommodation at the Municipal Baths is for our present-day requirements. The competitive side of the meeting marked the achievement of Otago’s long ambition, the centre’s representatives winning the Yaldhurst Shield for the first time with a total of 50 points, Auckland being runners-up with 32, and Canterbury third with 27. Southland came next with 13, Wellington 10, South Auckland 3, and Manawatu 1. That the centre’s victory was a popular one was indicated, in the remraks made by the manager of the Auckland team (Mr L. Kenny) in handing the shield over to the president of tlio centre at the prize-giving function. The water polo competitions again attracted much interest, though tho number of matches played was rather curtailed on account of the training of the two teams to represent Otago at the national championships. The attention of ail players concentrated upon representation at the national championships, and in view of the fact that the Otago A team won the New Zealand water polo championship and the B team also put up a very creditable periormance, it ivill be agreed that the selectors made a very good job of the choice of the two i earns. During the year a letter was received from the Otago Education Board asking for representatives to bo appointed to attend a conference of the Education Board, Schools’ Sports Association, School Committees’ Association, and the centre, in regard to swimming instruction in schools. Representatives were appointed, but no further advice was received, and the conference did not take place. It is felt that good may yet ho accomplished if this conference is held. The work of the educational officer (Mr D, C. Bannatyne) is apt to be taken for granted, but his duties are both responsible and onerous, and lie carries them out in a most efficient and thorough manner. No more fitting tribute to his .efforts could he given than the figures for the awards which have been issued this year, the total number of certificates, 782, constituting a record. Not a little of the credit for this state of affairs is due to Mr Bannatyne, who has on every possible occasion brought under the notice of schools the facilities offering for children to swim for their certificates. The awards were made up as follows Merit 139, proficiency 203, learners 440. Special thanks are due to Messrs P. A. Mathieson, W. S. Hindmarsh, and Miss N. Fleming, of the baths staff, for their assistance in supervising many of the performances and for help in other directions. The first country club’s championship meeting of Otago was held at Milton under the jurisdiction of the Toko. Club on Saturday, February 1, and proved a most successful fixture. One of the most gracious and generous acts it has ever been tho lot of the centre to record was that of Mrs Kira, of Rotorua, in presenting for _ competition under the centre’s jurisdiction the Nawi Kira Shield in recognition of the kindness shown to Tier daughter, Nawi, .the brilliant little Maori swimmer and holder of the New Zealand junior girls’ 50yds and 100yds free stylo titles and records, by mem-

hers of the Otago team. The services to swimming of Mr Alexander Greig have been referred to in previous reports, and it is most gratifying to record on this occasion that the work done by this “ grand old man ” of Otago swimming has been recognised in a most practical and tangible manner. Expressing keen appreciation of the efforts of Mr Greig in encouraging the young idea and his valuable services as a coach, an anonymous donor presented the centre with a magnificent shield, which, in consideration of Mr Greig’s services to swimming, he desired to be known as the Alex. Greig Shield. The centre gladly approved of the suggestion, and it has been decided that it be awarded annually to the club gaining most points iii Otago senior, intermediate, and junior championship events, along the lines of the Yaldhurst Shield. The campaign for a new swimming pod of Olympic design and specifications has no,w taken more definite shape, and the centre obtained considerable information on pools of the most modern kind, this being handed to the City Council. Suggestions to have a poll of ratepayers taken for a loan have been made to the City Council, whoso General Committee met the centre’s representatives in conference in September, giving the proposal a very sympathetic hearing, and promising thoroughly to investigate the matter.

Sport in Otago suffered an almost irreparable loss during the year through the death of Mr Donald Stuart, and his presence will be sadly missed from the centre’s carnivals. Mr Stuart had long been a staunch supporter of the centre, and in his younger days was one of the finest water polo players this province has ever produced, as well as being an excellent swimmer.