SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 413, 23 January 1909, Page 12

SWIMMING.

_o _ (By SrtAsn,) CARNIVAL DATES.: January 23. —Swifts Carnival. February 6.—Y.M.&A. Carnival. • February 11 and 12.—New Zealand Championships at Tironru. February 20.—Wellington Carnival. ' March 6.—Thorndon Carnival. March 20.—Centre Carnival. ' The Y.M.C.A. Club are evidently believers in. early rising, for last Wednesday morning at 6.30 they decided a 50 yards' (the distance was nearer 60 yards) swim at To ■ Aro. There were seven starters. Tho club has the distinction of being the first club to use the new- extension for racing purposes. This was absolutely necessary, as the tide was at its. lowest. The take-ofE was from the truck way over the western concrete wall, which made rather a high plunge for a racing start, and the finish was at tho pile-driving punt at-present in use at tho baths, the distance being quite 60 yards. .The- evont resulted in a well-de-sorved win for S. L. Mark, who (unlike many a better swimmer in his club) is not afraid to have a-go in every race the club puts on. He was closely pressed by R. Baker, who just managed to beat W. Wilson for second place by a foot.. W. Chartres,-scratck man, came fourth, after slightly fouling C. Arthur, to whom lie conceded a second start. In _ these two swimmers the club has a handy pair of useful handicap mien, who, besides having a good sprint, are capable of doing a distance. 'V. Crew, although he was leading at oue part of the journey, finished out of a place. : Ho is, sadly out of form at present. I -.-

The same evening the Thorndon Clubheld. a 150 yards' handicap, which brought out nine starters, thero being two scratchings. I cannot understand the reason for K. Wiggins - not ' starting; he was favourably treated by the handicapper, and was' in the water, when the race was about to start. The race proved an easy win for-Reg. Healey, his first in this city.' Before Healey's number was called, G. Bruce, the limit man, had covered 40 yards of the journey; and was first at the turn, closely followed by E. Picot and W. Bey. Healey, swimming at. a great rate, caught F.-Roberts after ho had gone 70 yards. R. Ronayne, who was taking things easily, was then a yard astern. Don. M'Leod was first at the nest turn, .but-'shortly' after Healey ..took command, and had •F. Roberts, .who haddis-, placed D. M'Leod as his .nearest attendant about three yards away.'. This .order was 'maintained' till 15 yards from'the finishing line, when R. Ronayne'came with a great sprint, arid beat Roberts for seco ad place. Ronayne would, do much better if ho would pay' less attention to style and .more to speed at. the beginning of a race.. Swimming "all' out" over the full course there are not many who could give, him a'start.' Roberts was in nothing, like his .best form'.' Healey's time for the distance' was lniiu.: •SOsec., but had he; been pushed 'he.--would have dono it .'much faster." ----■.:—---■•-,

The Wellington Club intend holding the races for the Pfosident's'Cup'(Dr.''Chapple's) shortly; the distances will" be-50; ,100, and 150 yards, points to count five for the first, three for the .second, and one. for the third; The. present holder, A. N.: Wine,; has done .very little swimming,; this • season/ and ; will have to bestir himself if he wishes to.repeSt last season's' performance. : ■.■ ,'',-■■;■■' v 0.. D. Morpeth, who, lfefore.,he took', up his residence at Island Bay, wis a daily attendant, at the bath, has presented a polo ball, to the .Wellington., Club.., , , ..;..';: Six cartloads of seaweed were removed- from tbobaths.oue day last week.'. The weedwas driven''.'tip" the entrance and' with, a change in the wind was.carried down'to ihe.Te.Aro, end of the.harbour. '.' ' ' " .'',' ; ■ •'.''.■' 'The; 'baths' been -■ exceptionally' well' ■patronised 'this week, tho attendance'.', on Tuesday being something- like.'a' record.'"•"':A huniberof the men who will be competing at the Swifts's carnival to-clayj'hav* been- getting in some good .solid, work during tho week.-/ '-.: .- -.; •'. ,: ■■,-.■.: "' :<:.■

: Arrangements are well in hand for the Swifts Club carnival, to'be.held.at.Te-A'rb Baths - to-day. This -. is ' the " first: carnival to be held since the baths.have been enlarged. Particularly keen, interest ;is being manifested in tho meeting of Reg.'Healy, exNew South Wales'champion,, with the/Wellington champion, B. C. Freyberg, in the 220 yards handicap. At the'last Swifts' carnival Froyberg.broks the. Now .Zealand record over this"'distance, and there is every, probability, ■of New Zealand's,best time;being lowored. by one.or. both, of the men .on.Saturday. Arrangement's have been,made by the club committee 'with Miss Cunningham, a teacher, of swimming and diving, to g{ve an exhibition of her prowess during an interval.'! ' . The gamo of waiter . polo,- for •which the Swifts Club at present hold the New Zealand championship, should be interesting, as two even teams have been selected-to give an exhibition 'gamo. The racing events 'havo been fairly well supported, by swimmers in face of the recent unfavourable weather con-, ditions, as far as training operations;, are concerned.. ; . .. ...v:'.-:-\

The.N.Z.A.S.A. has decided to procure a registered die for New Zealand' championship medals, and a sub-committee has been appointed,to go.into the matter,,with power to act,; so that there',will'be Rome uniformity,inchampionship medals.' .'....>.. ■.'■■■ ,',;--..: ', The,council of the'N.Z.AiS.'A. seems to bo fully ;alivo to .the interests of swimming, if attention to business counts for. anything, at least the Christchurch "Press',' says so, and adds' that on Friday evening, • despite, torrential rain, there was only one delegate absent. The Wellington and other .centres will be pleased at the above assurance. The Wellington Centre had come to believe that the New Zealand' Council was moss-grown, and some of.'-the members will know, who wrote the above paragraph. ■■■■'■,"'-,;'. One regrettable feature of last year's New Zealand Championship was the mismanagement of the same, says "Leander" in'tiie Christchurch "Press." A protest was lodged in the 880 yds. by H. Rich,' of Christchurch, against B. C. Froyberg, of .Wellington, for erratic swimming. The protest' was -dismissed by the committee controlling thecarnival. Eich appealed toi the ■ council through the Canterbury Centre against'the decision of the Hawke's Bay Centre, .-'and owing to a technical breach.of the rules, Rich unfortunately lost.his appeal, the Hawke's Bay Centre' stating that the appeal Rich made to, the committee was not an' appeal to the centre. .This may.be correct, but it is riot in the best interest of the sport, and the reading of the i rules doea not interpret the same.reading as the Hawke's Bay Centre The unfortunate part of the case is that no action.was taken by the council at the time of the appeal being made, and at this distant date the council have to be guided-by the Hawke's Bay Centre's deoision, although there, is abundant .evidence 'in favour 'of Rich's appeal. ■ [If there was any regrettable feature about the above, it was that a protest should have been lodged at all.—"Splash."] ' This year's championships, to bo held at Timaru on February 11 and 12, will take place in the Corporation Bath, which.is capable of holding'lsQo people. The programme for the first day, Thursday, comprises the 220 yds. and 880 yds. championships. and 200 yds. Breast Stroke Championship and preliminary rounds of the Polo; Championship. Inter-club events include a 50yds. Hahdican, 50yds. Novelty, 200 yds. Relay and HighDive. The second day, Friday, will' see'the 440 yds., 100 yds,, One Mile Championships, and final of the water polo. There will also be a 100 yds. Handicap,' Inter-club, 50yds. Novelty, 200 yds. Relay,/ and Springboard Diving, the prize money totalling £45 ss. Friendsiof Mr. Charles Buckland, formerly of Hawora, says the local "Star,"' will be glad to hear that information roaches us of his success in America at high diving. learn further that ho proposes to give exhibitions in Now Zealand next year; and that he dives various heights extending from 30ft. to 65ft, into water but 5J feet deep. .'':-,'