CHAMPIONSHIP DIVING COMPETITION

Evening Star, Issue 22465, 9 October 1936, Page 14

CHAMPIONSHIP DIVING COMPETITION

COMING SEASON'S PROSPECTS With • the exception of the three placed men in the national men’s diving championship at Dunedin last season, the standard was somewhat disappointbut there was some cause for satisfaction in the fact that the field was a most representative one. R. 0. Johnthe present titleholder, is concentrating solely on diving this season, and it .will take a real good one to beat him.. He will not have things all his own way in the Otago championships, however, for the opposition will include Doug. Freeman, who pushed him so close last season, and it will be hoped that Charlie Eckhold, three times New Zealand intermediate champion, will be seen in action in senior ranks this season. There will be several other aspirants for honours at the Otago championships, and the diving promises to be as interesting as has been the case for some years. Otago’s record in national diving competition last season wag a proud one indeed. Six events were decided, and Otago won five titles, the only one not coming to Dunedin being the junior girls’ event, won by Aliss P. Watt, of Wanganui. But with improving facilities in many other centres, it can be ex--pected that oppisition will be keener every year, and in the men’s event one of Otago’s strongest opponents will be the diminutive Rotorua boy, Doug. Ewart. This lad came into prominence at the national championships at Auckland in 1935, when he was third in the men’s championship. Ewart was only 15 at the time, and, had his centre desired, could have competed in the intermediate event, at Timtiru, in which he would have certainly challenged the Otago representatives, who filled the throe places on that occasion. Ewart was runner-up to Johnson at Dunedin, and his attractive style greatly impressed the critics. A pupil of the well-known coach, Jack Perrin, this lad is destined to go far in the diving world. Southland was not represented in diving competition last season through the illness of Arthur Wesney, but this man, who is one of the finest diveis seen in New Zealand since Roy Calder’s heyday, was in action towards the end of the season, when he showed that ho had lost none of his former ability. * Wesney was three times runner-up in the national diving event. He is a wellknown cricketer, and last winter represented Southland on the Rugby field. His re-entry to diving competition would bo welcomed throughout. New Zealand.

In the ladies’ division, Miss Gwen Rix will take a lot of defeating. She is a polished performer and a real champion. Miss Rix is expected to go better than ever at New Plymouth, and her chances of selection in the New Zealand team for the Empire Games at Sydney in 1938 should be bright.

STIMULATING INTEREST IN BACK STROKE

There is much more incentive for swimmers to take up back stroke competition now than was the case a few years ago. Back stroke is a graceful and rhythmical style, and the improvement in times on this stylo in recent years has been amazing. Those who have made a close study of the technique of the stroke believe that even more startling times will be registered before the limit is reached, and, having regard to these facts, it is gratifying to know that exponents of back stroke will now be catered for in every division. Intermediate boys, intermediate girls, junior hoys, and junior girls w r ill now be able to contend for New Zealand, titles at this style, and at New Plymouth, in the senior championships, back stroke is likely to play its part in the final result for possession of the Yaldhnrst Shield. In place of the 150yds men’s back stroke championship, a 100yds event will now be decided, this being nearer the Olympic distance of 100 metres. In addition, there will he a 400 metres men’s back stroke championship. The ladies’ back stroke events iviH be 100yds and 200 metres.

TRANSFER OF G. P. CHAMBERS

The departure of Geoif Chambers for Wellington at the end of the month will be regretted by all who admire a fine swimmer and real sportsman. In the Kiwi Club this lad has done good work as a member of the committee during the last two years, and has shown a willingness at all times to pass on his knowledge to the younger and less experienced swimmers. As a junior he put up the remarkable performance of winning the Otago 75yds breast stroke title in his first race, and a month. later he was the New Zealand champion and record holder. Before he left the division he had reduced the mark for 75yds breast stroke to 56sec, a time which will not easily be bettered. He was narrowly beaten in the intermediate boys’ 100yds breast stroke championship of New Zealand at Hamilton in January, and he was already down to solid training when he received news of his appointment in Wellington.'His departure means the loss of one who would have been a strong challenger for intermediate breast stroke honours at Nelson, and in him Wellington has gained one of its most notable acquisitions in recent years. KIWI JOTTINGS An intermediate diver of marked promise is V. Agnew, who joined up last week. A pupil of King’s High School, this lad has much determination and is not afraid to tackle the hardest dives. With Doug. Freeman ; Agnew, Reg. Geddes, and Peter Alathieson, the club should be able to field a good diving troup this season. Water polo practice began in earnest last Thursday, Mr Don Watson, who so successfully coached tho team last season, being in attendance. It was most encouraging to find so many intermediates present, and they will have their chance in B grade games before the season ends. D. Reid and J. Webb, two newcomers from South Canterbury, will be acquisitions to the club. The former, who is a well-known member of tho Union Football Club, was one of the best 100yds men in South Canterbury, and Webb is also useful oveiv the shorter distances. Both intend playing water polo, and with experience should give a good account of .themselves. On Parents’ Night, which was held at the club hour on Tuesday, Lyall Kearns, a five-year-old girl, provided one of the most novel of the items given by the club members. This young swimmer can swim the length very easily now, and dives from tho side with groat confidence. She also jumps from the low springboard, and has no fear of the water. She is very small and provides a good example of the work being done among the younger members.

Aliss Joan Thomson has now resumed training and is developing a very powerful leg drive. Her record as a junior swimmer is an exceedingly good one, and with attention to training this girl should be an asset to the cluh in the intermediate division next year. Aliss Greta Harris is concern trating/on the back stroke, but should do more board work to develop both her kick and arm stroke, as at present she is ; inclined to pull herself along by sheer strength. Monty Goodwin is getting down to solid training, hut is shortening his arm stroke a little at present. He is a very promising sprinter, and will bo representing the club at the carnivals this year. His young sister shows great aptitude for the crawl stroke and intends attempting the junior distances this season.

Miss Aland Stewart will also be competing over the junior distances, but will have to get in more training, as her stroke at present is very rougn. Alarjorie Goldthorpe is developing a fast breast stroke, and would do well to concentrate on this for tho present season.

The chib has more junior breast stroke swimmers than it has had tor some time, and the following are all getting down to training for the junior breast stroke championships :—YuilJecn Alyers (who is only 11 years old). Annette Armour, AI. Passmore, R. Peat, and J. Purdic. The nast-named three are all outstanding hoys, -while the two girls are both swimming well.

Ohvyn Armour has a remarkable kick for a junior girl, and at present is gaining more relaxation in her aim stroke. When she can develop a hotter pull she will find a great improvement in her stroke.

Edna Goldthorpo is starting to drop her elbows slightly, but will soon rectify this fault. She is one of the most conscientious girls in the club at the present time and sets an example to some of the older girls in the attention she pays to her training. Miss Jean Dunn would improve iroie rapidly if she would pay more attcnuoi to her coach and do serious training.

She swims well and can keep going ever the distance, but her stroke require;, correcting slightly before she will obtain any speed from it. M iss Winnie Dunn (Otago intermediate champion) has a fine breast stroke kick and is swimming well at present. She is inclined to lose the smoothness of action necessary to gain speed by the wrong timing of her log and arm movement. When she can overcome this fault she should turn in some very fast times.

Miss Islay Purdio (New Zealand intermediate girls’ 100yds and 220yds champion) should bo "etting down to serious work this month, as she will be meeting some very strong opposition this season. She is swimming well, but needs to start on distance work, as at present she fades over the longer distances.

Miss Chrissie Knowles is showing that she can still swim a useful breast stroke, and will bo pushing her club mate, Winnie Dunn, over the shorter distances this season. She has been coaching at the club hour, being kept very busy. Gordon Reid and Ivan Hall arc doing good work in the coaching of the younger boys. It is very gratifying to find these swimmers able to pass on some of the knowledge they have gained from their coach.

Peter. Young is improving on the back stroke, and only requires training to show improved times. George Williams should endeavour to raise his elbows a little higher. L. M'Gavin should do well in junior breast stroke competition this year. Bessie Porteous is a promising swimmer, but should practise her kick. A Hill should practise the back stroke kick without using the arms, and should try to develop a smoother action. Miss M. Kilroy is a regular attendee at the club hour, and is improving steadily. The under 10, under 12, and junior handicap series ' will commence next Tuesday night, and intermediate and senior events the following Thursday. The Dr William Evans Trophy is to be allotted for annual championship competition in the intermediate class, - which is the club’s strongest section at present. Mr P. E. Wood is also presenting a cup for championship competition among the intermediate boys.

SPLASHES Mr Ernest Davis, Mayor of Auckland, is the Auckland Centre’s president for the coming season, and the chairman of the committee is Mr T. C. Hobbs-Jones, who has done good work for the sport in various parts of the Dominion. Vice-chairman is Mr R. Moore, who was a very popular nanager of the Auckland team at the intermediate and junior championships at Hamilton last January. Mr J. R. Miller lias been re-elected secretary. The four members of the Management Committee include Mr L. J. Kenney, who was manager of the Auckland team at the national championships at Dunedin and was one of the most popular figures at that meeting. Messrs Kenny and Moore are also included among the diving judges. The educational officer is Mr D. Saunders, who was manager of the Auckland team at the intermediate and junior championships at Timaru in 1935, and who is an old boy of Otago Boys’ High School. Mr Saunders has done most constructive work in his position, and his services in this capacity are known outside of Auckland.

The Christian Brothers’ High School annual carnival will be held at the Municipal Baths on November 30, and already many of the competitors have commenced training. The school has lost some of its most promising swimmers, but J. D. O’Driscoll, the Otago senior free-style champion over all distances, is still a pupil and should further improve on some of his school records if he elects to compete. In the lower divisions there is much promising material and competition should be very keen. A special feature of the meeting will be the staging of a number of old boys’ races.

Swimming enthusiasts in Dunedin heard with pleasure that a club has been formed at Mosgiel, and will affiliate with the centre. Otago Centre officials have indicated that they will lend their support to the new club in every way possible. On the opening of the new baths at Mosgiel it should be possible for at least 100 swimmers to go from the Dunedin clubs to take part._ The Mosgiel Club should be an acquisition to the ranks of Otago clubs.