SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1049, 11 February 1911, Page 12

SWIMMING.

■ . +__— NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. (By TitUDGr.os\j February 11,— N.Z. Championships. February 25-Y.M.C.A. Club. March 4.—Swifts Club (Ladies' Branch). .March 11.—Victoria College Club. March 23—Wellington Club. The officials of the local centre are to bo congratulated upon. tho manner, in which they are conducting the championships, nil the events being well drawn up and brought off promptly. Tho spectators have been supplied wjth exciting races and good diving, and, given another good day to-day, tho Te Aro Baths should again be packed to overflowing. Tho programmes, for tho meeting have, so far, been well above tho standard of the programmes issued for sports meetings. In fact, tho writer does not remember seeing programmes that wero anywfcero near the standard set by the local centre. The centre handicappeiy Mr. F. Wilton, must bo complimented upon his adjustments, all tho handicap races resulting in splendid finishes. A good handicap raco is more interesting to watch than a onesided championship. ■*.-■■■■ • -.' -

First Day's Racing. As predicted, the New Zealand record of 01 seconds for 1M yords was broken on Saturday*, and by Three men, Drioe and Stranger, of Wellington, and Champion, of Auckland. Brice's performance will Ion? bo remembered by. the. onlookers, for it was his first appearance in a New Zealand championship, and In it ho was opposed by tho best of the Dominion. Champion was the popular selection, but could not nuilo make up tho advantage gained by Brico over tho first 50 yards. Champion's milo was a meritorious performance, nnd, y despite the fact that ho was takinjr things easy all the, >vav, he succeeded in knocking 19 seconds off the New Zealand record (his own), Mmin. 37sec. Hud he been extended at all ho ninit have done about 24min. 40sec. : ' ■ Hcaly, who ; was second'in-the mile, seemed to bo without dash,, but lie never has, in this country, done the tiiyo that the winner did; M'clson (Auckland), tho third man, will : no doubt' improve,' and should Champion'retire within the next few'years tho northern city will still hnve a worthy representative. The be§t performance in the 50 yards handicap wn« Fordhom's. Ho did the distance in 27.2-ssec., but in the final was conceding too much start, and finished out of a place. ~.:..• ..•-, *. ,'■.'■■ .; At the closo of the day's swimming the micstion of tho records made was under discussion, when it was pointed out that the starting board was more than 3 feet above water, and consequently tho times for the"100 yard* and mile could not be passed by tho New Zealand Council. As this is so, it is distinctly hard luck for Brice and Chnmpion, rsneciallv the latter, for an extra bit of heig'ht in 'tho starting board does not make much difference in n milo .race.

Second Day. Thojnrincipat''events ..on .Wednesday were tho 410 yards championship, 220 yards breast-stroke championship.- ami the flying -squadron race.- In tho ItO • yards championship, Auckland's ' crack.. Champion, took tilings easy after he had disposed of Freybcrg, at about 150 yards, and won by about three .yards- from his club mate, Wclson, wlro surprised the spectators by beating Healy by about fivo yards. Champion was not out for the record, as tho lido was low and the starting board ■was about 4 feet, above tho water, but nevertheless ho was only 3 2-ssccs. outside of it.

. Tho flying squadron raco was confined to,tho Auckland and 'Wellington teams, and tho local team won by a touch alter a ding-dong go all the way. Tho last two men to go olf wore Chauiniori (Auckland) and Brico (Wellington), n"nd as they both started together tho spectators were well pleased, especially as Brice defeated the crack Aucklander by tho smallest of margins. It was a repetition of tho 100 yards championship* Brico gained over tho 50 yards, and Champion made up lost ground over tho second.part of tho journey. " ■ ■" , - ■■■ ■•- ■•: ■

Atkinson had no trouble in winning the 220 yards breast-stroke championship. His time, 3mih. 17 4-sscc, was only 7 2-ssec. outside tho world's record (his own).. Brice succeeded in downing all opposition in tho 50 yards scratch race, winning easily in the fairly, fast time of 27 4-ssec. Prospects foe To-day,-On performances to' date, Champion appears to bo a certainty tor tho 220 yards and 880 yards championships. Second placo in tho 220 yards should bo hotly contested by Frcyliorg, Healy, and Wclson, and in tho 880 yards by Healy and Wclson. Brico is almost sure to be a-ctarter in tho 220 yards, his object being to get under standard time. Ho has not yet shown himself in a favourablo light in distances above 100 yards, but should attain his object, if ho does not try to stick to vho pacemakers over tho first hundred, but takes his own tiino. The Water Polo Matches. Tho standard of play in the two matches played on Saturday, Wellington 1) v. Canterbury B and Wellington A v. Hawko|s Bay, was not very high and tho less said about it the better. On Wednesday, however, tho Wellington B team met and drew with Canterbury A. It was;'tho first gnmo played' by the Canterbury A team, and they showed' good judgment and combination. Tho Wellington B team gavo a much better display than on Saturday but wero deoidcdly lucky to mako a draw. On Thursday night one match was replayed and after a good exhibition on Canterbury's part they wero victorious by three ijoals to one. The Wellington, A team will, play off for tho championship to-day and a keen struggle should result. . • • General Notes. Our local swimmers did not roll up in force to tho picnic at Day's Bay last Sunday. It is to be hoped that they will muster strong at the smoko concert tonight. As G. Neal, A. M. Smith ("Bim") and Auli. Smith wero equal in points for the Smith Cup, the Swifts Club decided that they should swim for it over n distanco of 100 yards. Neal was first homo from "Dim" Smith, with Anb. Smith close up. Neat's win was extremely popular. ' C. Astpn and T. Ronayno dead-heated for the Victoria College 100 yds. breaststroke championship with P. Grey third. All tho placed men, in the opinion nf soiuo people, should liavo been disqualified, Aston for not swimming straight-oii, and Ronayno' and Grey for using the scissor kick.

Jinny of our local aspirants for fame are adopting, more or less, Champion's method of flapping thd water, much to tho amusement of the onlookers. The most conspicuous is Jimmy Aston, and "Tnidgcon" advises him to keep to it, as ho doss not roll as of yore, and consequently does not run much chance of getting sea-sick, • "