SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1384, 9 March 1912, Page 12

SWIMMING.

[Bi "Ootofus,"] Place Aux Damci, Swimming locally has been marking time lately on account of tho weather, ft wa» so bad last Saturday that tho Woreer Bay Club hud to postpone their carnival till a later date. In spite of the rain and wind, tho Swifti lady swimmers turned out iu good numbers to tako part in these races. This class of swimming sooins to be on the upgrade in Wellington from the point of numbers, but as yet we have not Unearthed any world-beaters. Miss Olivo Arthur is still champion, tkough somo of the others are getting much closer to her than they were a year or two ago. Her time of (Msec, is only fair, and is still tome distance outside Miss O'Lcary'a okauipionehip burst. Xor yet can sko be compared to Miss Durack, of whose latest performance tho Sydney "Daily Tolegrapn" publishes the following:— Miss Fanny Durack, the undoubted champion lady swimmer of Australia, knocked no less than 3 3-sscO. o& th» ladies' world's record for 100 yards. When her time—lmin. 9sec—was announced, great excitement was caused. It was indeed a wonderful performance for a girl, and every effort should be made to send tho young swimmer to the Olympic Games at Stockholm, as has been suggested. In her present great form, there is not another lady swimmer in the world who could defeat her over distances from 50 yards up to a quarter of a mile, and-in all probability sho could defeat all-comcra over practically any distance. It is hoped (hat tho Australian team of men will win the world's premiership at 6vrimming. Why not send Miss Durack, who would be practically certain to nnnex all the ladies' freo style events, and would show to great advantage in tho diving. Miss Dnracli is tho holder of the 100 yards and 200 vards championships of Australia, and world's record holder for 50 yards, 100 yards, and 440 yards. Hiss Durack will Do remembered ne taking part in the late series of carnivals held bv tho Wnitemata Club on tho occasion of the visit of the Sydney Club team to Auckland. , Tho outstanding performance of the other events was tho win of Miss Jnnet I Ward, of Clyde Quay School, in the schools' championship. She is continuing tho long line of good swimmers hailing from this school. Perhaps thoir proximity to tho To Aro Baths has something to do with this proficiency, Champion not Going to Stockholm. IV will be n great disappointment to aU enthusiasts to find that after all Malcolm Champion is not going to represent us at tho Olympic Games. Apparently the trouble is about the amount (.£80) tlint he asked to bo given to Mrs. Champion during his absence. Tho writer does not think that Champion , could have won from Longwortli over any distance, but the colder water would have been in Champion's favour, so that he might have had a chance. There is somo talk of Champion taking over ono of the buths in Auckland next season, so this would have been his last chance to distinguish himself. Certainly he has a record of twenty-two championships that will take some beating, but one doubts his ability to add an Olympio championship to liis long list of successes. Tho Lyall Bay People. That very live bodv, the Lynll Bny Surf Club," have decided to hold a big meeting on March 30. They are a very "modest" lot of young fellows, so that when tlicv say that it is going to bo ' tho biggest thing of the kind ever held in Now Zealand" we can well believe that it will bo so. • Tho Polo Final, It has bfon nrrnnpi>d that. "»* e "' and Wellington polo teams will play off early next, week in the niiai m ..■> r»«J championship. Swimmers will remember that their last meeting resulted, in a draw, but now Swifts will l>o greatly weakened by the absence of Jrnkmson, who is laid'up with appendicitis. On form, Wellington should manage to get home, especially as several of their players were playing againet Canterbury, and should have gained a few points lroai tho champions. Mr. Atkins, chairman of tho Wellington Centre, is leaving on Friday /or Sydney, in order to have a brief holiday.