SWIMMING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 10 December 1927, Page 8

SWIMMING

(By

“Diver”

A ROUND OF THE BATHS.

DOINGS IN HASTINGS.

It is pleasing to see that the officials of the Heretaunga Club aie endeavouring t° promote interest in polo—a branch of swimming which appears to have fallen into the background of late years in Hawke s Bay. But would not their efforts be better directed m tile promotion oi life-saving? Admittedly, polo is a fine sport, but to my mind life-saving is far more important. Has is not been said that “Drowning is a typical New Zealand death”?

Diving in the club is as strong as ever, not only with regard to A tirade but the lesser lisnts as well. Aemn and Miss Wallace are diving really well and have improved out of sight. Kelly, also is performing well, and thev should all now have a go at the more difficult dives.

Crooks, the veteran, has appeared twice this week at the baths. On both occasions he swam a remarkable fifty for one who has not been in the water pervious]? this season. He can still stand anyone in the club a couple of seconds.

His appearance (if he could manage it more frequently) m the job of schooling up some of the lesser Lights, would be much appreciated. In “Diver’s” opinion he would be an ideal coach.

It is the intention of the Heretaunga Club to stage the learners’ race regularly in the future —a good idea. The finish of the the one on the opening night was the best of the evening, and 1 see no reason why a score of youngsters should not step up m future. Encouragement of young swimmers should be the first move of any club, and Heretaunga appears to have this idea at heart.

It seems rather astonishing that with the number of swimmers participating in the club nights, that the teams' race should be responded to by only 5 teams—ls swimmers. Twice the number would not be hard to get. for the boys are all at the bath. There is a move afoot. I hear, to reorganise the teams with a view to mingling the faster swimmers with the slower ones. This should have the effect of bringing out the B grade boys—the point aimed at. They should not forget the fact that the event is a handicap ope. The 19 seconds man has an equal chance with the 13 seconds man.

Writing to “Diver,” one swimmer who frequents the Central paths states*: “It has been the practice, when the baths have been but lit-ile used during an inclement week, to leave the water in for another week That is quite all right, as after the first week the water is as clear as when first put in. Lately, however, some of the water has been let out after a week, and replaced with fresh. _ It is this which is causing complaints. The baths do not appear to warm up in the same wav. Thev are patchy, and not at an even temperature, and swimmers generally would much prefer all the water left in for the fortnight or else completely changed weekly.’’

Fredsberg swam one of his best races to date when he won the schoolboys’ 50 yards at Mahora on Thursday night. The scratch men caught him halfway up the last lap, but he hung on to win by a yard.

Taylor, the scratch man. swam a really good race, but it took too much out of him to catch the leaders, and he finished up a good third. This boy will improve a lot on the night’s swim.

Miss J. Hood did not leave the schoolgirls’ race at Mahora in doubt, winning by a fair margin. By the way, this young lady was the only lady swimmer to be clocked—a matter that requires rectifying i n future.

Miss Stevens found her handicap a bit hard in the same race, but made amends later in the evening by winning the ladies’ race. Miss Landels could make no impression on Her in the last spurt.

Miss King is a new swimmer who did well for her first outing. But what has happened to the other Indy swimmers ?

O’Neill won his heat in the Mahora club handicap fairly easily. However, he had to do his best to stall off Rose and Giorgi in the final.

Rose swam a good race but he had to take too much out of himself to catch the leaders. He only failed in the last bit through lack of condition. Considering lie had to swim 27secs. to win, his effort was rather a good one to get within a yard of the winner.

Beech loses over a second when he dives in This should be easily corrected. He was not beaten by that second when he ran into third place in the club handicap. It certainly lost the teams’ race for him. Get that fixed up right away Jerry!

Giorgi is a swimmer I have not seen before and one of whom, I think, we will hen r more. He won his heat in the club handicap in good style, and was only beaten by a foot in the final.

With the exception of McKee’s the diving was rather poor. Kemp, runner-up in the A Grade and winner of the B grade would do better if be did not enter the water too far out.

Fannis is a promising direr, but wants tn take the matter seriously. His style is good.