SWIMMING

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 49, 28 February 1939, Page 4

SWIMMING

PRIMARY SCHOOLS WANGANUI DISTRICT RESULTS OF CHAMPIONSHIPS The" Wanganui district primary schools’ championships were held in ideal weather at the Durie Hill School baths on Saturday afternoon. A high standard of swimming marked the events, the senior boys’ title being won by P. Poari (Gonville), and the girls’ title by P. Nixon (St. Mary’s). The championships were conducted by Messrs. J. B. Cotterill, president of the Wanganui Swimming Centre, J. B. Bennett, president of the Wanganui Primary Schools’ Swimming and Life-saving Association, and D. M. Jillett, educational officer to the centre. The Durie Hill School Committee also rendered valuable assistance. Results were as follows, abbreviations being: Intermediate, I; Aramoho, A; Queen’s Park, Q.P.; Gonville, G; Wanganui East, W.E.; St. Mary’s, S.M.:— Boys’ 25yds. (under 12 years).— First Heat: D. Cavell (I), 1; W. Tamehana (Q.P.), 2; A. Cawley (A), 3. Time, 16 l-ssec. Second Heat: N. Peachey (I), 1; I. Campbell (I), 2; C. Haddon (Q.P.), 3. Time, 16 3-ssec. Final: D. Cavell (I), 1; N. Peachey (I), 2; I. Campbell (I), 3. Time, 17sec. Standard Time: D. Cavell, N. Peachey, I. Campbell, W. Tamehana. Boys’ 50yds. (under 12 years).— First Heat: D. Cavell (I), 1; W. Tamebana (Q.P.), 2; A. Lockett (G), 3. Time, 39 3-ssec. Second Heat: N. Peachey (I), 1; I. Campbell (L), 2; G. Haddon (Q.P.), 3. Time, 39 4-ssec. Final: D. Cavell (I), 1; N. Peachey (I), 2; I. Campbell (1), 3. Time, 39 4-ssec. Standard Time: D. Cavell and N. Peachy.

Champion Junior Boy.—D. Cavell. Boys’ 75yds. (under 14 years). —P. Poari (G), 1; D. Catenach (I), 2; W. Scott (I), 3. Time, 57 3-ssec. Standard Time: P. Poari. Boys’ 100yds. (under 14 years).—P. Poari (G), 1; W. Scott (I), 2; D. Catenach (I), 3. Time, 80sec. Standard Time: P. Poari and W. Scott. Champion Senior Boy.—P. Poari. Girls’ 25yds. (under 12 years).—M. Gibson (W.E.), 1; V. Wilson (G), 2; G. Storey (W.E.), 3. Time, 19 2-ssec. Standard Time: M. Gibson and V. Wilsher Girls’ 50yds. (under 12 years).—V. Wilsher (G), 1; M. Gibson (W.E.), 2; A. Hale (Q.P.), 3. Time, 46 l-ssec. Champion Junior Girl.—M. Gibson and V. Wilsher were equal for points, and the 50yds. swim-off was won by V. Wilsher. Girls’ 75yds. (under 14 years).—P. Nixon (S.M.), 1; B. McLean (I), 2. Time, 56 l-ssec. Standard Time: P. Nixon. Girls’ 100yds. (under 14 years).—P. Nixon (S.M.), 1; B. McLean (I), 2. Time, 79 3-ssec. Standard Time: P. Nixon. Champion Senior Girl.—P. Nixon.

FORDELL CARNIVAI

N.Z. CHAMPIONS COMPETING Entries for the Foretell Swimming Club’s carnival at the Gonville baths, on Saturday night, are a record. Seven senior, three intermediate, and one junior New Zealand champions have entered for various events. An unexpected entry was received from the Rotorua Club, who have notified their intention of bringing two car-loads of swimmers through. With the visiting surfers for the West Coast surf championship, there will be about 500 swimmers visiting Wanganui for the week-end. Although the Fordell Club have volunteered to billet the visitors, insufficient accommodation is available and assistance in this respect would be much appreciated. Would any person with billets Io offer please ring the secretary, 'phone 340?

FINE TRIBUTE PAID

AMAZING BREASTSTROKE SWIMMER LEN SMITH'S RETIREMENT. What an amazing swimmer is the evergreen Wanganui breaststroker, Len Smith, writes “Neptune" in the Otago Daily Times. For eight years he held the New Zealand breaststroke title, and only surrendered it last year to J. C. W. Davies, of Taranaki, whom he taught. His win in the 100 yards event at the championships at Invercargill was a fitting culmination to a notable swimming career, in which the trophy was ever a secondary consideration to the game, for Smith, as long as he has been swimming in competition, has, above all things, been a sportsman. He has retired with his honours thick upon him, and Wanganui is fortunate in having a man of his calibre to carry on on the administrative side of the sport. It was a fine gesture on the part of the officials and the competitors at the championship meeting to mark his retirement with a presentation, and equally thoughtful was it to leave the presentation to Davies, who owes a good deal of his success to the tuition given him by Smith, Somehow, future championships will not seem quite the same without Smith competing, but to him the good wishes of every swimmer in New Zealand will go out. with the hope that he may turn out many more breaststrokers like Davies.

W. Dyson has no need (continues “Neptune,”) fo feel discouraged over his defeat in the breaststroke races. In the 220 yards it was inexperience that beat him, and on Smith's performance on Saturday night it was no disgrace for a youth of Dyson's age to be beaten in such a great race. As a matter of fact, he swam magnifificently, and Smith himself, told

“Neptune" after the race that it was one of the hardest he had ever swum. “Nine times out of ten,” he said, “the kid would have beaten me, but tonight was a special occasion. He’ll be faster yet than ever I was.” That from Smith, is a tribute that Dyson should be proud of.