Swimming Club

The past season has seen the achievement for the first time of two of the Club's major ideals—the winning of an N.Z.U. Men's Championship, and success in the annual teams' harbour race of 1½ miles for the Peck Shield. These victories, combined with the fact that at Easter one of the best Tournament Carnivals was staged here by our own members, show that at last the Club has attained a well-merited position of eminence in the aquatic world.

Of the many worthy members in the Club, three deserve special mention for their successes last season. Oliver, as Comptroller of Swimming, was the directing genius behind the highly successful Tournament meeting; King, the easy swimming distance man of the Club, convincingly won the 440 yards N.Z.U. Championship in the face of opposition of provincial standard, while Mason, our amiable sprinter, was selected to represent the Wellington Centre at A Grade Water Polo.

An innovation was provided this year by the progressive Massey College Club, which, keen to test the prowess of its men, sent down a team to try conclusions with our own representatives. In spite of extremely adverse conditions, several short races were swum, the results showing that in standard sprint distances our men were slightly superior. Contests between the two Colleges in future will do much to raise the standard of both.

Apart from King, the performances of our representatives at Tournament were not up to the standard we expected of them. The team consisted of Misses Pilcher and Sanders, and Messrs. Mason, King, Meek and Archibald, and there is no doubt that had there been no cold snap to interfere with training immediately prior to Easter, far better times and places would have been recorded.

The exhilarating and exacting partner of the sport of swimming—water-polo—again had its numerous devotees from the Club. Both the A and the B teams gained no small measure of success and are now firmly established as strong contenders for the premiership of their grades. More practice, however, is necessary, particularly in throwing the ball and it is suggested that next season more members, instead of training rigorously over distances, take the opportunity of "scuffling" in the water and of thus learning to handle the ball rapidly and accurately.

The success of the Club's A team in winning the Peck Shield was not expected, but all are agreed that the win was deserved. Though a handicap race, the contest is one of stamina and endurance, and all credit is due to Tate, Andrews, Archibald and Carlyon, who were the first complete four of any team of six to finish the course. Ennis, who was the first competitor to reach home, was in the B team, otherwise the win would have been even more decisive. Our own annual

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harbour race of half a mile was noteworthy for two facts. First, that a lady member—Miss Morris—competed and secondly, that she deservedly secured first place.

These notes annually record a poor showing in the ladies' section of the Club. Last season, although the fair sex were more fully represented, was no exception but we hopefully anticipate future success with two of the ladies who show distinct promise—Misses Norton and Pilcher.

With the Maranui Club, a combined carnival was held at Thorndon Baths and proved a success from all viewpoints. Three provincial championships were decided during the evening, and the large crowd fully appreciated the clubs' enterprise in arranging this fixture. Besides this event, the club ran its own College Carnival, and subsequent dance, both providing enjoyable entertainment, highlights of the swimming being the Inter-Faculty Relay and the Weir House v. The Rest water polo match.

The Cup for the most points in weekly races was won by Mason, with Jeffs runner-up.