Swimming

Comparatively, Victoria put up her worst display in the swimming. The Club this year has grown in numbers and popularity and the actual result at Tournament—one solitary point—was rather disappointing to those who had worked so hard to restore the prestige of the club.

The exclusion of women freestyle swimmers from the team was justified by the splendid performances of girls from other colleges—any of our swimmers would have been hopelessly outclassed. Salvia Hefford who was considered a certaincy for the women's breaststroke swam excellently to be defeated by a touch by the title-holder. Her time—96 secs.—was, however splendid.

Bob Hall put up a fine showing in the backstroke even against particularly strong opposition. Hall's improvement this year has been amazing, and further training should ensure success next Easter. There was very little separating the first four at the finish.

The freestyle men were unlucky to strike Duchanan, Auckland's chamption. In each of their events. Buchanan won the 100. 220. and 440 titles with case but O'Flynn, Steart and Ryan were by no means disgraced. With a little coaching in his stroke. O'Flynn should be well up to Tournament standard in the distance events.

Ron Meek, in company with several other members of the team had extremely bad luck. Almost a certainty for second place he was disqualified at the end of the second length for not swimming the correct breast-stroke. Apparently, although his stroke has satisfied officials in the other centres he has not yet learned to swim the Auckland breaststroke.

And what have we got out of Tournament besides Miss Hefford's meritorious but pitiful point?

The most valuable acquisition is experience, especially for Hall. Swimming under Tournament conditions is very different from swimming at club nights: Tournament experience has improved O'Flvnn tremendously and is sure to do the same for Hall.

And next year? Taylor will be eligible next year... And as Horace put it. "Plunge it is the deep—it will come forth more fair: grapple with it—'twill throw to earth with high renown the unscathed conqueror and wage wars for its matrons to tell of."

Isn't that a beautiful thought?