Swimming.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 9, 5 October 1907, Page 10

Swimming.

(By "Splash.")

Although the opening of the season ■' is still some distance away the chiha have commenced holding their annual meetings,-.and a good deal of"activity is being displayed by followers of tho sport. Sergeant GV'lvelly, of the local police torce, who has. recently been . transferred- from Nelson, has rejoined his old club—the Wellington. -Last season he adopted the crawl stroke, and,bv'-its aid reduced his time for 50yds. by Vb.cc. Kelly is a first-class polo'player,' and •should prove a tower of strength to .the.Wellington club's polo tetam. •. Henley, who lia's been a resident of Wellington for. the last three seasons, is leaving for Sydney shortly. Healey is a good sport, and will be missed-by ail the clubs, especially- -fhe Thorndon. The departing 'swimmer was one of our best exponents of the'-crawl stroke. Ho is a,cousin to Cecil and Reginald Henley, the Australian cracks.' It is stated that three centres, Aucklaud,' Hawke's Bay, and Wanganui'intend: applying for the- New' Zealand Championships this.-se.-wn; ' ! , -' '." There is some talk in Brisbane of sending i. W. Springfield '. to .England "'" nest year, when the World's Champion, ships, will be decided.' Springfield-is tho «oyds., 830 yds.; and mile Australian champion, and will bo' remembered ,a« winning the •i-Wyds.' handicap from' , scratch at Wellington Centre's carnival on the Queen's Wharf, last' February- - • ■ ,H. C. W.' Blick: will bo-missed from local carnivals .this'season as he-haa-gune to' reside in Masterton. He wa» ~-. a rare enthusiast, and his loss will ba '•' felt.- For: some time past he lias'bow acling-secretary '.of-' the Wellington " Centre. ■ -.'-.'• ~ - • Charles'M. Daniels, of the New York' '■ Athletic-Club, on July 2G broke his own world's record in the 50 'yards swim-' ' nimg championship at .the Jamestown Imposition, Virginia, winning the raco ; in 2G. ,3-ssec, with J.- W; Lawrence, ■ 'New York A.C., second, and Eoy Nelson, Bnltim'nr'e A.C. : , third. " ' Alick Wickham (tho South Sea ' Islander), of Sydney,: has covered the distance in 21 2-osec. on more than one'* ' occasion ■ .- An'■-. Arklow (Ireland) telegram of August ttatcs ;that. whilst' practising •■ for the Chanel swim-Thomas Myler, ;. = ■who fought through the Spanish-Ameri- ■ can war, nnd who lioisted the Stars and Stripes at Santiago de Cuba, was ~' drowned at Courtowri in. 3ft of water. A Channel aspirant drowned in 3ft.- of water! The ironv of it. Ted Hen ton, a -Liverpool'(England) swimmer,,of fine physique, who has es- • saved the task -more' than once and will probably. :'tacklo it. again, failed on ■August 6 in; an attempt ..to. swini the Channel. The water, was as smooth as tho proverbial .mill pond,. and iu 10 hours Heaton reached.a point: four aud a half miles from Cane (irisnez, on the French side.. ';. '■ -~-■• A-, feat something 'after .• the ' same' nature as' the ab.ovo has been performed by Mr. .G..S. Hill, of the Wellington club. Mr.: j£ iu Uil - d his Trjsts and - ankles secured... by. leather straps, and while so tied he swam across the'local baths. Mr.. Hill,'..however,'did not bring his' arms' out-. 6f the water to make a stroke. ■ . '-''"• ■'■'•''. The annual meeting of' the Young ■'"" Men's Christian ..'Association "Swi'mniing . , Club was held on Tuesday evening.- Tho : report showed that the past season was a very satisfactory one, a'marked improvement being' shown . in.. tho times ' . of the.majority of first-grade members. ■ The Juniors-also showed considerable ■ improvement. . \- : .- ,'• •' ...-•■ .•■ , The following officers.were elected for 'the coming season:—President, Mr. H.., . W." Kersley; Vice-I'residents,., Messrs.' E. Johnson, -G\ W. Sliirtcliffe,: E. C.' .O'Connor, W.'■ Campbell, W. Calendar, .W. Allan,'J.' C: Smith, J. B. Tinlay, G. Osborne,-and Webb; Captain,-' Mr. . E. P. Staples;.Secretary,;Mr. J. E.-.Wil-son (pro.-te'm.); Assistant Secretary; Mr G..P. Hanna; Treasurer, Mr.- A. "Saun. ' .ders; Committee, Messrs. .L.-C:'Parton, • W. jAllati, R.' Dysoii, Charters, .Tinson, . • Handica'pper, Timekeeper,'and Starter,, Mr. A. A.. Somerville; Delegates. to ■ . Wellington' Centre, Messrs., .L. £.; Par- / ton, G; P; Hanriii;, Representative" '•Physical' l Bdai-d Y.M.C.A, -Mi'. 1 E; Pr : Staples. .•' ■ "■' '■■'■ " *"'..■' '■ :, The meeting was: adjourned-' until ' October , 25, when- the . vice-captain,". .secretary, and check-starter will, be' ' elected.- The! Club will open the season-.* .... at Tc-'Aro Baths on October 19. ■• '~- ,