SWIMMING

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1926, Page 4

SWIMMING

ACTIVITIES IN TARANAKI EVENTS IN PROSPECT.

(By

“Trudgeon.”)

During the week-end the baths were a scene of activity, many swimmers making the best of the spell of fine weather to get fit. The Fitzroy Suri Club were doing their bit of training in anticipation of their trip to Waitara and Opunake. This year the Auckland Centre seems to be confident that it is going to win everything because it has all of last year’s swimmers with the exception of Ena Stockley, who though in Australia at present will have returned for the championships in January. Isn’t it possible for Taranaki to carry off something? Perhaps she will if Batchelor doesn’t decline to get fit. Auckland; though very cock-sure will have to mind her P’s and Q’s if good first hand advice is to be believed. Canterbury possesses this year the material which will carry her a long way towards the winning of the Yoldhurst Shield. She still has last year’s representatives, Hill and Lindsay, as well as a youngster, Stokes, who, it is reputed, “cleaned them both up” on their return from the championships at Napier last year. Baird, the Auckland swimmer, has returned to that city from his temporary residence in Napier. Hard luck, Hawke's Bay; football is your long suit. The Hawera Club held its annual meeting last week and fixed the date for the first carnival as December 15. It is time that New Plymouth clubs considered suitable dates for carnivals so that their meetings will not clash with those- of the country clubs, as unfortunately happened last year. The Wanganui Centre advised that it had been decided to hold an. inter-club polo tournament for the shield held by the Gonville Club, and that competition was open to all dubs' on the West Coast. An invitation was extended »o the Hawera Club to send a team. .Since Hawera contemplates sending a team, why cannot New Plymouth do the same? There is ample material available for the formation of two good teams is New Plymouth. One team from the whole of New Plymouth should, with coaching, do well. It is pleasing to notice that the New Plymouth A.S.C. intends holding polo tournaments this season. This is, in Taranaki, a novel idea and a good one. The New Plymouth Club held the first meeting of its committee on Tuesday to decide dates for carnivals, discuss polo matters and to elect a secretary. As it is the most central club, with a good energetic secretary it should recover all it lost last season, and be able to give out trophies according to schedule. It is now doubtful whether Misses Claire Couldwell and Ettie Robertson, the two Australian lady champions, will tour New Zealand. The date fixed had to be abandoned owing to Miss Couldwell’s having to sit for an examination. The N.Z.A.S.A. has decided to ask “wether they can undertake the tour in March. Australian swimmers are preparing for the phenomenal Japanese swimmer Takaishf. The Australians, Doyle, Jones, Grier, Bliss and others should worthily uphold Australia’s name in the natative art. Though Australia is not the greatest swimming country in the world, the Japanese will have their work cut out to beat it. In speaking of Australian swimming, one naturally thinks of the wonder, Boy Charlton, who took the swimming world by storm a year or two ago. He defeated the Swede, Ame Borg, but had to lower his colours to Weismuller at the Olympic games. It has been announced that he will come back and compete with Takaishi. Here are a few ‘dont’s’ which, when observed, may save much trouble:— Don't think the baths were made fo< you alone. The others have a right not to be disturbed or pushed in. Don’t squeal for fun. Nobody will notice it when you mean it. Don’t dive rashly. Look before you leap. Don’t try to walk before you can crawl. Until you can swim, keep to the shallow end. Don’t leave your valuables in youi clothes. All the world is not honest. Don’t forget even a fool can give advice.