SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 449, 6 March 1909, Page 15

SWIMMING.

(Bt Srusn.) , CARNIVAL DATES. March 6.—Thorndon Carnival. March 20.—Centre Carnival. Tho annual swimming sports under tho auspices of tho Star Boating Club wore hold last Saturday, and an iritoresting aftornoon's sport was provided hy tho rowing men. Very satisfactory entries had hoen receivod for tho sports, bat a considerable proportion of the entrants could not, scomingly, draw themselves away from their lady friends when tlio races camo on. However, those who did start made- up in entlmsiam for tho poorness of tho fields. Tho 100 yards club championship was a gift to B. C. Frcyberg, whoso only opponent was E. E. Jonkinson. Jenkiuson Birnm a good race, hut was not up to the champion of tho Swifts Club. The other big event of tho afternoon was tho 440 yards handicap, from tho Queen's Wharf to the boat house. This event resulted in a win for the limit man, F. Jacobson, with W. S.- Wheeler, who also had a big handicap, filling second place, and'E. E. Jenkinson third. K. Wardrop accounted for the 50 yards maiden, after a good race. homo with A. R. Brewer. 11. 51. Brewer lifted the trophy for the 50 yards handicap, W. Harrington, who competed in local club races i.few years ago, gaining second place. Tho 50 yards brcast-stroko handicap fell to Morgan, who had lOsoo. start, but ho was being overhauled by Barron. (3sec.) when ho touched tho tape. Tho diving competition,' which was judged by Mr. A. W. Smith, of tho Thorndon Club, was. carried off by D. Hunter, tho win being *a popular.ono. For some time past several enthusiasts at the Hutt (notaMy Messrs. Jenkin, Tocker, nrid Silver) have been making efforts to popularise- swimming in that district. Although a swimming club has not vet been formed, quite a number of the youthful popnlation consistently strive- to 'improve their swimming,- going in from a. shed on the river bank'' which has been built chiefly through tho successful efforts of the enthusiasts named above in canvassing the district for oubseriptions. Last Saturday afternoon, tho "club"_ hold a small carnival at their shed, the swimming at which was of a very promising order. The chief race of the day was J tho 120 yards handicap,'which resulted in a win for D. Jenkin, who also won the 50 yards race in full dress. B. Tocker swam ■ into second placo in tho 75 yards handicap, and put up a fine performance in the diving competition. Burn and Trovethiok also did well in tho diving competition. L. M'llvride, T. Burt, and E. Alexander showed promise of better things. The officials for the gathering were:—Judges, Messrs. H. A. i Anderson and A. A. Somerville; starters, Messrs. F. Jenness and W. Bond; handi-1 cappers, Messrs. L. Silver and W. Bond; i marksmen, Messrs. A. Tocker '&nd D. Jenkin. The results of the races appeared in last Monday's issue of The Dominion.

Tho world's record for tho high divo, formerly held by a Canadian, has jtist been gained by M. Pemisson by a dive of 110 ft., made in Trance, The diver began the descent with his body horizontal. When within '30ft. of the water he changed to an oblique position, and entered the water in the. usual way, with hands pointed over his head. The water in the pond was only 7ft. deep. So violent was the shook that tho diver's swimming costume was half torn off,; and his left arm was paralysed for four mjiiutes.— "Science . Siftings," December, li) 08.'

I'Vank Beaurepaire, the Australasian champion, -accomplished a splendid feat in tho 100 yds. championship of Victoria on Saturday, February 13. .: H0,n0t only won tho event by one and a half yards from IV W. Mason (holder), the finest swimmer over the 100 yds. distance, save Beaurepairo, Victoria has produced \fof-'.some years, but be established a new-,rccord-r-61. 2^sec—for the distance in water, much against fast times. Mason's previous record, made this year, was 61 3-osec, at St. Kilda baths, e, P r |7 at e-wnjtoh- ; niade- Beaurepaire-'s' time 61 3-osec. To realise Beaurepaire's : ' great achievement (says the "Australasian") it must , be considered that he was never' regarded as a sprint swimmer,' that the championship has never been won under 65scc, and that the time made in such water as that m The Dive"—which is as heavy as lead—is equal to about 59scc. in the sea— outside Healy's—one of tho world s best sprint swimmers—Australasian record. This to be accomplished by a distance swimmer in a" sprint championship must, .bo regarded .as.one of tho.best performances yet achieved by a Victorian swimmer. Bcaurepatro was tho last to leave the board, and Mason, slightly in the lead at dUyds., was using the crawl to great advantage. Excitement was intense as Beaurepaire gradually lessoned tho gap, and obtaining the lead, drew away from Mason, It was tho finest race seen for many a year .Beaurepaire's performance came as a compete surprise to many. What probably lost Mason the championship was changing his stroke from crawl to trudgeoh near tho end of tho race, and swimming an erratic courso nt the outset. W. Bradley (Hobson's Bay Club) swam remarkably well, considering the fast time, and was only a yard behind Mason.