Pungent Pars

NZ Truth, Issue 1199, 22 November 1928, Page 16

Pungent Pars

EVE IN THE SWIM LIL. COPPLESTONE, who has announced her intention of swimming across Cook Strait early m 1929, is an ex-Chrlstciuu-ch. swimmer now living m Ashburton. She won the last Kellerman Cup, across Otago harbor, and when she lived m Christchurch was the outstanding distance swimmer among the ladies. She intends to hop into the sea from the South Island side, somewhere near the top of Queen Charlotte Sound, and, if she sees the journey out, will land whither the tide carries her. .HITTING, IT UP THE first double-century of the season goes to Gailand, the veteran Otago player. Gailand commenced^ his innings on Saturday and m 185 minutes he had trounced the Albion bowling to the tun© of 218 runs. He hit 32 fours and three sixers. COMPETITION THE formation of new athletic clubs "■ m and around Christchurch this season has caused the older-establish-ed clubs to scout around and canvass for new members, resulting m many newqoiners being induced into the fold. Tech. have enrolled over thirty, and Canterbury about twenty, while Old Boys, under a complete reorganization, are gradually building up again. Two active organizations who have recently unfurled their flags are New Brighton, with eighty members, and Sumner with fifty, and both of these seaside bodies have their own grounds for training purposes. Brighton has already held two meetings, and is holding another, this month and the city runner^ are raking advantage of these suburban meets to run into form, or run their handicap off. . ... KEEPING UP THE Canterbury Centre of the Ama- *■ teur Athletic' Association is keeping abreast of the times by introducing this season a programme of interclub relay- racing, though it appears to have erred by arranging the races on the match system instead of by an •aggregate of points. Under match conditions, it merely jneans a survival of the fittest, whereas under aggregate points, similar to the Wellington system, losers get their points just the same as winners and the interest is maintained. - However, a start has been made which is the main consideration, and no doubt the , centre officials will be wise enough to realize "if they have made an error and rectify it m future seasons. SPEEDY TRIO WHEN Carl Atkinson trained both Dave Lindsay and Alec. Stokes lust season he expressed the view, thsit Alec, would be equal to lowering the Olympic man's colors either this season or next. Strangely enough they will represent different provinces this season, Dave having removed from Christchurch to Wellington. Another candidate enters the field, however; m G. Bridson, who swims m senior ranks this year for. Auckland. The distance events at the national championships will provide something out of the ordinary with this trio competing, and if Stokes makes the im-.. provement expected of him . the Olympic representative will 'kno^v he has been swimming when the heats are over. Bridson was ever a dark horse, and who knows but what he holds the beating of both of them when they get m the water?

HAPPY THOUGHT THE failure of the New Zealand 1 swimmers at the Olympic Games has set the members of the Canterbury Centre thinking, and a proposition is fit present being considered to engage the services of a professional coach. The suggestion emanated from Delegate T. Patton,. who thinks that the money now lying to the credit of the Olympic fund should be used to subsidize a pro. Most forms of sport are' now -being improved through the agency of professionals, and as swimming m New Zealand has made sucn rapid improvement m post-war years, the introduction of professional coaches should be considered by all the major centres. •A "WISE MOVE THE Petone Club is acting wisely m * encouraging the young members of whom there are no fewer than 30. The senior .members' are devoting their time to coaching the novices, and this is a good move, that will have its reward m raising the standard of rowing m the shed. The Wanganui Club will also make a st,art shortly with its club fours. The entries are not large, but some good contests should be witnessed. LOOKING UP THERE is every prospect of the * Hamilton Rowing Club having a record season. No fewer than nine crews competecHin the Trial Fours, and the standard oi' rowing was high.

HELP THE LADIES CO far the Canterbury Centre has *■* made little apparent effort to encourage ladies' athletics this season and apart from the Brighton Club, activities m this branch of the sport have been confined to training and the Girls' Association sports. The inclusion of some ladies' spi-ints In the evening meeting programmes is a vital necessity, if the centre hopes to be adequately represented by lady runners m its provincial team.. . With sprinters like Miss J. F. Martyn (North Canterbury) and Mis's M. Boyd (Brighton), Canterbury should have a good chance of gaining places m the national championship meeting. LOOKS OPEN" THE Canterbury 100 yards championship looks very open this season with Malcolm Leadbetter definitely out of the way. Jack Murphy (Marist), an ex-Can-terbury champion, J. Blakeway (Tech.) and Rus. Cordery (Canterbury A.A.C.) will -be the favored competitors, but there are lesser lights who will provide a stern contest m Bret. Clark and Norm. Steans (Tech.), Keith Johnston (Ashburton) and Jim Gasson (Canterbury). COLLEGIANS STRONG CANTERBURY Varsity looks like having a strong team to contest the inter-Varsity- championships this season, and as the meeting will be held m Christchuroh they will have every opportunity of improving on their second of last year. Jeff. 'Alley, the All Black lock, and J. D. Henderson are both going well-with-the shot. There is no one m sight to fill Malcolm Leadbetter's place m the sprints, but the College will hold a strong hand with E. B. Taylor m the distances and D. W. Bain m the middle-distance events. LOOKING AHEAD *TMMARU and Nelson are looking well * ahead, and have asked the Canterbury Swimming Centre's support for them to have the control of the national championships m 1930. The centre, however, has already pledged itself to support the claim of Greymouth, where swimming has made marked and definite progress since the Avar.