SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1019, 7 January 1911, Page 12

SWIMMING.

(By Trvdgf.on.)

February -1, 8, and 11.— N.Z. Championships. i January 14.—Thorndon Club. January 28.—Swifts Club. March 4.—Swifts Club (Ladies' Branch). March 11.—Victoria College Club, March 25.—Wellington. Club. New Zealand Championship Meeting. In a month's 1 timo the New Zealand championship meeting will commence, and although the programme has been drawn .up. it has not yet appeared at cither'of tho local baths. One would imagine that the local centre would do its'utmost to make the meeting a success, and the right way to do so is to boom' it. The other centres should bo supplied with at least twenty copies of tho programmes'for distribution, for quite a number of swimmers.will oorno to tako juirt in the handicap events. If entries tor tho handicaps we.re to close a week boforo the meeting tho local handicapper would be able to mako proper adjustments,' for he could obtain tho visiting swimmers' performances and times from the hnndieappers of tho other centres. Any way, it is time that th« centre got to work and .ceased being a talking-shop.

Water Polo. Tho sub-committee appointed to look after the water-polo started its work well, and then seemingly went to sleep. Matches were arranged up till December 17, but, so far, nothing has yet appeared of matches to be played this year. The games, for at least tho next six weeks,, should ■ have been drawn up and published by this time. At tho beginning of tho season it was decided to > form a "B" .grade, and tho movement met with a good reception from the clubs which started 'to put swimmers, not in tho ."A" learn, through their paces. Now these swimmers are beginning to lose interest, as they cannot- get an}' information as to when the "B" grade games will start.

Carnival Datos. At the last meeting of the centre, tho Swifts Club was allowed to take January 28 for its carnival; the ladies' branch of the same club had been allotted tho date mentioned, but willingly gavo-it up and took March 4. As the Swifts Club will manage the Flying Squadron Race, the three clubs, Thorndon, Swifts, and Wellington, will now be sorting out their teams. Members of the Wellington Club are talking of their carnival date, March 25, and consider that it is too late in the season. They have thought of holding the carnival on a night of the New ■Zealand championship week, preferably on Thursday night, February 5. With such a date, the club should manage about the most successful club carnival held locally. Goneral Notes of Interest. Ronnyne, ex-100 yards New Zealand champion, who is now stationed in Auckland, is back in Wellington on holiday. He may have his leavo extended until after the 2?cw Zealand championship meoting, and, if so, will be able to assist his old club, Thoriulon, in the Flying Squadron Race. Ho-will make a big difference to tho Thorndon team, which with his assistance, will just about land tho. coveted cup. If ho docs not compete Thorndon's chances will bo materially affected. Tho newly-formed ladies' club Seagull Club, is a very enthusiastic one, and is about to inaugurate a life-saving class, under tho tuition of Miss 0. Arthur, tho oulv lady in Wellington holding the Royal Life-Saving Society's Order of Merit. The local cracks, Hcaly, Roberts, and Freyberg, nut in solid training during ' tho holidays. Healy and Roberts wero at Paromata, while Freyborg was out pig shooting and walking. All three appear to bo in good condition. During the holidays tho members of tho Surf Club wero in attendance at Lyall Boy, and had good practice with tho reds. There was a couple of cases wiiero the beach custodian, and ono case where a member of tho club, pulled persons out of somo dangerous holes. ■ As these Surf Club members would be of great assistance in times of accident, they should receive assistance from tho City Council, and the best form of assistance would bo tho erection of a club-room. The Swifts Club is to bo congratulated on having such a good secretary. Tho club's programme for tho season is posted -up, and a fortnight beforo each event comes off a list for entries is also posted up. On tho adjoining board tho Wellington Club's, there is no programme, and members cannot find out until four or five days beforehand anything about races. Now that the holidays are over, the local baths are drawing more bathors, and numbers of beginners are to be seen

daily. Much advice, good and bad, is tendered them. The clubs should pet a squad of competent men to instruct those learning the art of natation.

J. Stratford, with a total of GJ points, won the trophy presented' at the Petonc Aquatic Carnival on January 2, and was timed to do tho hundred in 55 seconds. Query:-What was tho distance?

Two local scribes are in tho habit of judging Jimmy Aston's work harshly, but the writer reckons that Ashton can show both of them tho way over 100 yards. One of tho abovo writers also made reference to what ho termed tlx? methods of training adopted by several of the local swimmers. Knowing several of tho men intimately, "Trudgeon" has no hesitation in stating that there was no foundation for the mention of their names in the paragraph in question.