SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 746, 19 February 1910, Page 12

SWIMMING.

(Br SrnsttJ CABNIVAI, DATES. N.Z. Championships (Auckland), February 19, 22, and 25. Thorndon Chrbr-March 2. , Wellington—March 12. .^'

The Swifts clubmen have reason to be satisfied with the success of their carnival, yhich was held at the To Axo Baths last Saturday. The big cricket match, pony racing, and other attractions lured a few people away from the baths, but the crowd was still enough to fill tho-enclo-sure. Competitors have-rarely, if ever, turned out better, than they did on Saturday. For the 50 yards inter-club • handicap there were over 60: entries,..and only thirteen of these failed to face tho starter; This event fell to W. G. Morpeth, who won both hia heat and the final. Tho junior handicap attracted sixteen of the nineteen entrants, into, the water, Hicks, the winner, leading all the way, and never being pressed. Again, in the 100 yards ladies' braoelet, thero were ' only three of thirty "acceptances. H. Mullins, with 2 .showed... thoway home in his heat, and had' something like six yards to spare at the end of the finaL A, Smith,: who won the third heat of this event, used the single over-arm. over the: first 50 yards, and adopted tho double over-arm ■ with more effect for' the final stretch. ..

_ Healy and Froyberg being in the second heat,of the 220 yards inter-club .handicap, apparently: scared a number of the competitors in this event, as there were, fifteen Bcratchings in tho two heats. Tho first heat fell to'J. Waxeham,' who passed H. Mullins in' the last 20 yards, and ,won fairly easily. , Tho second heat resulted in a-great raoe between Freyberg, Watsoil, Ward,- .and Healy. r . Tho- winner (Ereyberg) had about 2 feet to spare at the end of the journey,' and a yard would have covered the next throe men. Wareham succeeded . in ;: tho, final,' which - was decided on Tuesday. The race, of the day was tho'loo yards centre championship, in 'which-- Bricc, Ereyberg, Healy, and Roberts met. Roberts and Freyberg got: the . best of the starting plunge, and the Swifts man set oil at a great rate, with the others in llot pursuit. At-the turn, Ereyberg was etill in tho_lead, but few expected to see him show Healy. and Roberts the way home. The' spectators choered; Eroyberg ,on,, but all the time, they 'were, waiting for Healy to make his, dash. The dash, however, did not come, arid'Preyberg, won. by a fair , margin, in the excellent' time of 61 sec.. The winner had,been, doing a goqd deal of quiet training in anticipation of his mooting' with Healy., and Co.,'. whilst tho Thorndon, men had done, a . little too much,'and were "stale."., Freyberg's victory . was a . really popular one, , and the next time' he and Healy, meet over,: 100 yards' there should ,be something . worth looking at in tho >vay of-competition. :The Y.M.C.A. men had, a. "day-out"- at the meeting. Only -six. of their' members competed, and ail, secured: first places. Four of them won the relay raco, Morpeth won the 50yds., and. accounted for the diving. ' Tho programme drawn up " for the Thorndon Club's carnival, which is to be held ,on the evening -of .March 2, is as under:—soyds. 'boys' (18 years and-urider), 50yds. ihter-ilub handicap, 100 yds. -preei-' dent's' handicap (club event),' 300 yds. uiterclub handicap, diving .competition, musical lifebuoys, expedition to discover! the South Polo (explorers to start blindfold and; search for polo' suspended, by. a rope and just, touching the water). -There will also be several comic events new to .Wellington: A special feature about the fathering is that tliere are to bo no waits between races. Tho club' has made arrangements by, which, spectators will be fully entortained between . the, different events, and competitors who are not on their ,'marka thirty seconds- after tho bell is rung will have .the,-pleasure,, of seeing, the race swum without, them.

.-The officials for. tho gathering .will be:, —Referee,. Mr. T.'; Shields; starter, Mr. E;-;'J. -Eieming;' judges,. Messrs.';'A.'.;St Clair, A.i H. Stevenson, and H. C. Blick; check starter and • costume steward, ifr. D. Joslin ; ,: timekeepers, Messrs. ,L. W. Ludwig, Geo. Sadd, and:A. !A.' Somorville; ' preSs steward, Mi'., C. ; J. Todd; handiciippor, Mr. W. B. Smith;. ' marksmen, Messrs.' H.: Henderson,; F. Malfroy, and F. Bruce. ;

The hrimbor 'of enfaies received for; the. New Zealand championship meeting cona record for New Zealand championships, and Canterbury holds pride of, place for; entries. No fewer than thirtytwo competitors from Canterbury are ;taking part,- and a, large, number, of these have entered for several events. , The following are the entries ffom the .Canterbury v Centre:—looyds. . Championship—F.' ■E. Dodge (East Christchurch),: L. Atkin. son - (Opawa), , ,L. Dingle (Richmond). 220 yds. ' Championship—F, VE. Dodge/ 440 yds. Championship—F. E. Dodge, C. H. H. Rich'(Opawk), yf.' Hi- Mahhire (Ad-' dington). HaK-mile Championship—F. E. Dodge, C. H. H. Rich, W. Manhire. ■ One Mile Championship—F. E. Dodge, C. H. H. .Rich, W; Mfirinire. 220 yds. 'Breaststroko ' Championship—C. Atkinson (Opawa), W. Cooksori (East Christ-: church);,- A. M.' . Russell (Sydenham), F. Truscott (Opawa). , 180 yds. Flying, Squadron; Championship—F.' E. Dodge, C. Atkinson, P. Mason, S. Dingle, and A. Brightling. One Mile Relay Championship—E. E. 'Dodge, W. Manhirw, C. H. 1 H. Eicn. - .Water Polo Championship—A team: G. Gemmell, H. Rich (captain), H. S. Williams,: W. Cook6on, P. Schwartz,"L.Atkinson,- and L. Hales; B team' to be •selected on arrival in.Auckland.; ; ■ ,

Describing" the' 220 yds, Australasian championship, the Sydney "Kcferee" 'sa;js that for tho. first. two. laps Beaurepaire -was content: to look on and soo just how: much Hardwick had in-hand) from Graham. Alter this GGyds. was done with, Hardwick ;was clear of Beaurepaire by about a length,; with : Graham about the,same distance off. It .was ; in the third lap ; that.,tho. Victorian: began to settle down to it in earnest, and only the least perceptiblo quickening of.his delightfully smooth trudgcon action; but at next., turn he was level, with. Hardwick. Both" mon disappeared, for the next lap together, but when they camo to tho. surface Beaurepaire had gained quite a length, and a half in turning. Try as Hurciwick might from that out he could make no impression on Beaurepaire, who, creeping away bit by bit, "finished 6ix lengths ahead of Hardwick, who had swum throughout with tho greatest determination: '.Graham was four lengths behind Hardwick.' When it was announced that Kieran's world's record, gmin. 28 3-ssec„ had' been' equalled,. tiera was frantio cheering.' '• . ,'' . Every .swimmer 'should- be . 'acquainted with the grips recommended ny -; the Royal Life-Saving Society. : Mr. Walter Betts (says an exchange) writes, describing what he terms "tho fifth: 1 grip," which ho has found quite unknown among many' swimming-bath attendants and practised swimmers ho has met, though be has himself' saved lifo by its means. "Tho rescuor," ho writes, "places himself on his sido as for side-swimming, and grasps from behind with right hand under left arm-pit of the drowning (or vico versa), so that. rescuor's arm and elbow cross or rest upon tho back or loin of the' drowning. Tho pressure of elbow on tho back (which forms a fulcrum) depresses 1 tho lower part of the subject's bodv, and at samo timo raises tho head backwards without the teudoncy to submerge the rescuer as ■ in direct lifting, ifs advantage over other grips aro that no shifting of grasp is required! no' turning on back of either rescuer or drowning; and instead of having to tako hold in two : .placcs,.only ono is necessary, rind that mav be on either side, or with either hand. The grip under tho arm-pit with tho elbow on tho back has tho double effect of keeping the head up and the lower limbs down, and out of tho way. Tho rescuor has ono 'arm and legs unimpeded for swimming side-stroke. They are extended away from the drowning, and not likely to becomo entangled.

Moreover,; propulsion or pushing ia exorcised, which is easier than dragging or lifting, especially for. a weak swimmer. Tho drowning man reaches shallow water, or assistance from shore, in advance of tho rescuer, which, if only a yard ? or a second,.may bo of vital.importance, and' in addition ho. has both hands freo to grasp ft ropo or .anything pushed or thrown towards him, whils he cannot grasp the rescuer. Tho lattor. can loose liis grip at any moment—if exhausted."