SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1043, 4 February 1911, Page 12

SWIMMING.

(By Tkudgeon.) February 1, 8, and 11.— N.Z. Championships. February 25—Y.M.C.A. Club. March 4—Swifts Club (Ladies' Branch). -March 11.—Victoria College Club. March 25—Wellington Club. Swifts Carnival. The writer put in an interesting day last Saturday at the Swifts Club's annual carnival. With a splendid afternoon and warm water, both spectators and competitors were satisfied. The carnival, from a spectator's point of view, was fairly interesting, the events calling for special attention being the Flying Squadron Race, tho 100 yds. Ladies' Bracelet Handicap, and tho diving competition. From a competitor's point of view, however, there was not enough racing. Had a 220 yds. handicap inter-club race been included in- the programme things would have been more satisfactory. Clubs should remember that tho competitors, and not the' spectators, keep the sport going. The Competitions. Tho Flying Squadron Race provided an easv victory for the Thorndon Club's team, but the real tight was between the Swifts team and the Wellington team for second place. The times put up by the Thorndon men were good. Brice registered Gfcec., Roberts and Healy 65 l-ssec., Rouayne 66 2-ssec., and Nelson TOsec. For Swifts, Freyberg did 05 l-ssec., and Stranger 05sec. , Congratulations to '/Tiny" FreyberEj 011 winning the Ladies' Bracelet Handicap (100 yds.). It is now about three years since he lias caught the judge's eye in a handicap race. Considering that he had already swum two distances of 100 yds. earlier ill the afternoon, his time (04 1-5 sec.) was distinctly good. "Len" Blundell swam well into second place, and'S. Fornc, tho club's bustling secretary, was third. Blumlelt has been paying closer attention to swimming this year than in years past, and is quite capable of considerable improvement. Sammy Forne is a fairly smart performer over 50yds., which distance he is capable of doing under 33sec., but, in 100 yds., he camict register better than 80sec. In the diving competition tliero were some good and some bad periormances, and the less said about the latter the. better. The winner of the competition— a boy of 13 named W. lticks —gave a good display, and should in after years |)e one of tho best iu tho Dominion. "Trudgcou" is of the opinion that boys under 18 years (i.e., junior members) should not lie allowed to compete in open diving events, for a boy does not mako so much splash when entering the water as au adult, and in that they have a great advantage. In tho event under notice noiuts were given for flight, entry, and recovery. The latter has been done away with in' Australia and in other parts. of New Zealand, and should be done away with here. 11. Lcvestam's win in tho Medley Handicap was a very popular one, the young grey-haired one being cheered oil to victory by his Wellingotu club mates. The number of starters in the 50 Yards Open Handicap caused a little mix up. A. M. Smith, the winner, showed improvement on previous performances, doing 32 2-5 seconds for the distance. H. Litclo wao tipped to win, but swam disappointingly. He was conceding Smith 1 second start, and is quite capable of doing the 50 yards under 31 seconds. New Zealand Championships. To-day tho 100 yards and mile .championships will be decided, and "Trudgeon" is quite confident that the -New Zealand'record (64 seconds, held by M. Champion, of Auckland) will go by tho board in the short event. . With sucll" men as Champion and O'llaro (Auckland), Seymour (Hawko's Bay), and Brice, Roberts," Stranger, and Freyberg (Wellington) competing, a very close finish Should bo witnessed, with Stranger, Brice, Freyberg, and Champion in tho lead. The mile should be fought out by Champion and Healy, and if the former can produce his form at his roccut performance at Auckland he should be _ tho victor. , Splendid entries have been received for tho 50 Yards Open Handicap, and good performances should bo put up. Over 70 swimmers have entered, and' over GO should face the starter. Tho other events have attracted good entries, and as there will bo two rounds of the polo competition, spectators will bo sure of a good afternoon's entertainment. General Notes of Interest. Tho Swifts Club's innovation of confining competitors to tho open room at the western end of the baths met with general approval, and the centre and the other clubs will no doubt follow the good lead thus set up. The confining should, however, - be at the eastern end, so that competitors could have the benefit of the sun, if there is any, during tho afternoon.

The amount of swimming done by sonic of our local men is having its effect, and it .was very apparent last Saturday when quito a number failed to do themselves justice. A spell of a week or two would not como amiss to some of them, bu'o they do not appear to realise it, for they are still regular attendants at the baths. The local polo representative teams have been practising during the week, and tho "B" team is now playing with better combination than was the case last week. The weak spot in ea'ch team is the goal-keeper, and although G. Neal (the "A" representative) is easily tho better man of the two, ho cannot be called a champion. Auckland competitors for tho championship meeting 'arrived oil Monday afternoon, and during tho week have been training at the To Ato Bath?, where Uic. championships will be held. They found turning more difficult than at Auckland, owing to tho fact that there they lmve tho assistance of a chain lo pull themselves round, and have consequently devoted a fair amount of time to that art. On Wednesday night two of the Aucklanders, Messrs. W. H. Horton and W. B. Jerrom started in tiie "Wellington Club's 220 yards breast stroko handicap. From lijsec. behind scratch Jerrom swam into first place in the first heat, while Horton from 12sec. behind was content with third placo in the second heat. Both men are a long way ahead of the local breast stroke swimmers, both in style and pace. M. Champion, tho Auckland crack, is credited with having swum the hundred in 63sec. oil Wednesday last, nnd tho Auckland contingent will not hear of his defeat in the championship over that distance. As both Brice and Ffoyberg have both broken Gtsec. lately tilings look very open. The Boast of Wanganui. ,Wanganui has telegraphed that it has tho first life-saving reel imported into New Zealand, but "Tnulgeon" can assure his readers that to the Wellington Swimming Club belongs the honour, for they imported a feel last- September, and the City Council imported two reels in November. Wanganui no sooner had its reel than it was called into Use to effect a rescue. Luckily, there hap been no occasion for a reel .rescue at Lyall Bay, but, should that ever occur, then the members of the Surf Club, under the leadership of W. G. Morpeth, will not: be found wonting. 'I'he Victoria College Club, although it has a limited membership, is a very live body, holding races every week for club members. Although \io trophies are given, splendid fields start, and all hands are "triers." Tho Y.M.C.A. Club, save for its polo team, appears to bo defunct, and the writer does not know how ft will hold a carnival all on its own.