SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1360, 10 February 1912, Page 12

SWIMMING.

[Bγ "Octopus."]

THE WEEK AT THE BATHS. The Outing at Thorndon, The Thorndon Club was favoured with a lovely day on Iho occasion of their annual carnival last Saturday. Unfortunately, however, the Thorndon Baths are so situated that only half of it can receive the sun at ono time. Some time ago an agitation was set afoot in tho Thorndon Club in favour of approaching tho City Council about new baths. As this merely amounted to a gnat opening its mouth to swallow a camel, it failed, and only the old baths remain. This was not the greatest of the club's difficulties, however. Thero was also the hare-brained tram strike to contend with. In spite of these difficulties tho popularity of the club members, individually nnd collectively, stood to them, and ;i good crowd gathered to see the fun.

Strange as it may seem, outsiders seldom win anything at the Thorndou meetin;,,. This curiosity was again in evidence last Saturday. Only one nice was won by the representative of another club. Some mistake must surely have been made about Stevens, the winner of the 50 yards I'jlrotric Handicap, as he won his heat and tile final with ease. In eacli ease he kept with his field for about thiry yards, and then swam away to win as he liked. The quarter-mile Wellington Provincial Championship was not a particularly interesting race as it was evident to everyone with a knowledge of form that Heaiy must win easily. During the first. 100 yards llurroll was with Hcaly, but after that the latter had matters all his own way. The boys—Crowther and Newtonswam pluckiiy, but. not at any time did cither look like having a chance. The other bis race was the President's Handicap, but this was remarkable for nothing in particular, except to emphasise the habit which our handicappprs seem lo be developing of putting the backmnrkers out of any possible chance of winning. Bniee's time for the final was given as G!) 3-ssec, and the hamlicappcrs must have had some idea of his capabilities, yet Brice, who has not got insido G.Osec. for some time past, hod to give him 20.--CC. The sarao thing has been noticeable in other races this season. It is all very well to encourage the limit men, but. the back-markers have to be encouraged too. Local swimmers are taking up the. breast-stroke stvle. In Saturday's event there was a field of twenty-three. Many of them are not by any means adepts iii this style yet, but some of them are good athletes, and tho good hefty athletic person, must do well in any branch of swimming. Tliec pmic events were indeed rather comic for a chnge, the'most amusing of all being undoubtedly Smith's unrehearsed fall into the water out of his skiff. lie looked quite surprised, and hurt about it, tDO. The Gathering on Wednesday. Wednesday afternoon's gathering was quite a small carnival in its way. Several club events were got off before tho trials were proceeded with. The first item of importance was a trial between Cyril Brice, Fred. Koberts, and Ilealy over l'OO.vds., to determine who is to represent Wellington over that distance at the championships. If Koberts had kept lo his course he must have won, but, as he swam all over, Brice got; there first by about a yard, in G'i 2-Ssec. Brice's. form lately is not good enough to win tho championship, and it looks at present as if Champion will win over.all distances. The second item was a 220 yds. breaststroke trial between T. J. King and T. ■Woodcock. This was also a trial, and, as expected, King -won with some yards to spare. The tine was not take'ii, so one cannot get a line as.to his chance.? neainst Jerrom and Horton, of Auckland. His time last Saturday was (iscc. bettor than Horton could do. The Polo Final. ■Wellington supporters reckoned Hint, their men were a good bet against Swifts on the same evening, and so they should have bnen on the run of the game, but, in racing language, they only "got up to make a dead heat in the last stride." Stratford was, as usual, very deadly with the ball, and played his best game'of the season. Morpeth and llauiia wore patchy, playing well one minute and letting chances go the next. Kelly was good at back, but Gosling and Bridge wove only fair. _ In-goal Neal played a fine game, making some very good "saves." fie will have to be considered in picking tho polo representatives:. Of Swiit?, •TcMikinson, Wilmnlt, and Foidham were the best, and ench played « .sterling panic Wilton, too, played very "sale," and is improving in his now ixv-ition. Smith really threw away |\vn goals by crawling, and so not seeing I 'where ho w»* going. Kach time that this happened Xcai came out, and took tin- bail from him. M'Grath did nut play quite so veil as usual, while the {roiil-koepoi' wa» nut up to thr- marl;, Our Australian visitor, Mr. Solomon-:, m.vlc his tii'st uppenrance hero as rctClcfc