SWIMMING

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20740, 25 February 1939, Page 9 (Supplement)

SWIMMING

Y.M.CA. CLUB’S GALA SUCCESSFUL INITIAL FIXTURE FORM FOR CHAMPIONSHIPS (.By “Leander’’) An indication of the standard of swimming to be expected at the South Auckland swimming championship meeting this evening was gained from the Hamilton Y.M.C.A. carnival recently. At that fixture, the first staged by the club, the excellent times recorded and the fine organisation spoke well for the officials and no doubt played a great part in popularising the sport in this centre. Triumph for Y.M.C.A. Club Credit for staging one of the most interesting carnivals seen in Hamilton for many years goes to the Y.M.C.A. Club. At the Municipal Baths the public were treated to an exhibition of swimming which revealed definite talent and augurs well for the sport in this district in the future. Five clubs were represented at the fixture, which was run off smoothly and efficiently and maintained the interest of the crowd the whole lime. Mr L. f. Day, the starter, is well known for his prowess in that direction, and is to be complimented on his expert direction of the last carnival, while Mr .1. Haycraft. secretary of the club, who did not have an enviable task, executed it both efficiently and well. The guiding hand of the presi nt. Mr E. 11. Grocot.t, was there and played a great part in the success of the club’s initial fixture.

Coming Diving Champion The most promising girl diver seen in the South Auckland district for many years is Miss Joyce Macdonald, of the Y.M.C.A. Club. At her club’s last carnival she annexed the senior event with comparative ease, and judging by her display on that occasion she is a coming New Zealand champion. Already she has made her mark in the Dominion intermediate ranks, securing second place at the championship meeting at Rotorua. With the careful coaching of the club's president, Mr E. IT. Grocott, she should have every chance of making the grade before very long. Generally the standard of diving at the carnival here was fairly hie:h, another promising girl being Miss B. Saunderson. She showed definite ability when competing with ’Miss Macdonald, and frequently earned the applause of the crowd for her neat exposition of the art.

Waikato Banner Sensation Favourites for the Waikato Banner relay at the Hamilton Y.M.C.A. Club’s first, swimming carnival, Hamilton were disqualified after they had reached the final lap well ahead of their opponents. The sensational announcement came as a surprise to many of the 'onlookers, but the watchful eyes of the officials picked up a discrepancy in the Hamilton team’s swimming, and it could not be overlooked. One of the members of the combination failed to touch the end of the baths before his team-mate took the plunge, and that slight, but nevertheless serious, mistake cost them the honour of annexing the first position. Hamilton were no doubt set on winning that swim, but their enthusiasm was presumably their downfall. They are not the first who have failed In that direction, It being a common error among relay teams, but it is a mistake which should be corrected even if it means a slight loss of time. Morrinsville Swimmers One of the most promising swimmers in the Waikato is R. Aiken, the Morrinsville intermediate hopeful, who finished first in the Waikato River race for the Goldie-Anderson Cu-p. Last year he was a contender for the South Auckland title for his grade, but it was won by his clubmate, J. Rice. Aiken was the Morrinsville District High School champion two seasons ago. He will compete in the South Auckland championships tonight, and as he has the stamina and a fair turn of speed he should do well. Morrinsville has produced some first-class swimmers in the last few years, the most notable being P. Hanan, the New Zealand 220 yards champion. Aiken is considered to show as much promise. R. Clark, who swam fourth in the river race, and the fifth man, Hamilton, are also from Morrinsville, and more should be heard from them in the future. Crump Disappoints One of the big disappointments at the Dominion championships was Noel Crump, whose only placing was a third in the 100 yards, but the recordholder failed to equal standard time, 57sec. In the final of the furlong he could not return better than 2min 38sec, which was good enough to give him fourth place only. Crump's style has deteriorated, and whether or not he can regain his form, as he has done in the past, remains to be seen. Hatchwell’s Great Swim So far as the men’s freestyle division was concerned, the most promising competitor was the 19-year-old Wellington representative, Bob Hatchwell, who accomplished a sterling performance to win the 100 yards after recording 5G l-ssec in heat and final. To do this Hatch well had 'o beat the two Empire Games representatives, Peter Hanan (the titleholder) and Noel Crump (holder of the New Zealand record of OTsec), and his time was the fastest ever put up in the Invercargill pool. Hatchwell is a belter stylist than either Hanan nr Crump, and in the hundred he showed Ihe field the way from gun to finishing line, successfudy staving off a strong challenge by Hanan over the last lap and winning by a touch, Hanan being timed at onefifth of a second slower than the winner. Consistent Swimmers The title of New Zealand's most consistently brilliant swimmer would probably lie divided by Joyce Macdonald (Southland' and Winnie Dunn (Otago), who have been breaking back-slroke and breast-stroke records respectively with regularity throughout the season. The former, making her first appearance in senior championship competition, followed in Christine Garvin’s wake by adding Ihe senior too yards title to the intermediate 100 yards hack-stroke rhampionship already in her possession. Miss Macdonald swam right ud to top