ATHLETIC SPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1606, 25 November 1912, Page 6

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

SWIMMING. SEASON OPENS. 'A. PLEA. FOR TEPID BATHS/ Though, far from ideal, tho weather on Saturday was at least fine for the opening of the swimming season at the To Aro Baths. There was a fairly largo crowd of spectators present, amongst them being Mr. T. Ronayiie (president of tho Wellington Centre), the Mayor (Mr. D. M'Luren), and Councillors J. Puller, G. Frost, R. Fletcher, and J. Smith. In declaring the season open, Mr. Ronayno said that he_ was very pleased to see the City Council so well represented, more particularly because he wished to say something which he thought they ought to" liear. He referred to the question of erecting a tepid bath in ■Wellington. Other cities in New Zealand already had_ them, and ho !saw no reason why Wellington should not liavo them also. Millions of gallons of warm water wore wasted in Wellington, and he thought that this could be utilised for the purpose mentioned, with very little cost to the community. Ho hoped the council' would seriously consider tho matter, After wishing the swimmers a successful and enjoyable season, Mr. Ronayne, 'who was in swimming costume, walked to the end of tho spring board and performed a back somersault into the water, amid the applause of the onlookers. The Mayor agreed with Mr. Ronayne that tepid'baths wero a very desirable thing, and he also saw no reason why; Wclling- | ton should lag behind other cities in this respect. The council would be very pleased to receive a deputation from swimmers 1 in this connection. Councillors Frost (chairman of tho Baths Committee), Fletcher, Smith, and Fuller also spoke in favour of tho scheme. Before the ' proceedings closed, three swimming events were decided, and resulted as follow:— '• 50yds. Handicap.—G. Forsyth (lOsec.), 1; S. Murrell (2sec.), 2; A. M'Nab (scr.), 3. Also started: T. King (2sec.); A. Crowtner (2sec.); J. Robinson (3soc.); G. .Sievers (ssec.); W. G. Morpeth (ssec.); G. Clark (ssec.j; A. Sommerville (7sec.); K. Russell (Bsec.); L. Butler (Bscc.); E. Vango (lOsec.). Time, 36sec. 100 yds. Handicap—K. D. Russell (22sec.), 1; A. M'Carlie (lOsec.), 2; R. Gnmmett (18sec.), 3. Also started: C. Brico (scr.); R. Watson. (Gsec.); A. Crowther (llsec.j; G. M'Grath (12sec.); J. Robinson (Usee.); L. Butler (22sec.). Time, 81,2-ssec. Boys' race, 50yds.—J. Wilson (tec.), 1; H. Hall (9sec.), 2. Also started: J. Martin (7sec.); — Henry (scr.). The finishes in all cases were close. ■' G.P.O. CLUB OPENING. The opening of the G.P.O. Amateur I Swimming Club took place at the Tc Aro Baths on Saturday morning. The Hon. R. H. Rhodes, who was present, officially declared tho swison open. Two events were then decided, the results "being:— 50yds. Handicap.—C. Cates (lOsec.), lj W. M'Phail (lOsec), 2; J. L. M'Donald (7 sec.), 3. Also started: F. Wilton (scr.); C. A. Mathieson (lsec.); E. C. B. Wilkiiisori (2aec.); ,T. Duffy (2sec.); W. Gilbert (Gsec.); W. Findlay (7sec.); S. J. Smith (Bsec.); M. A. White (9sec.); L. D. B.urke (lOsec.); C. M'Erlean (lOseo.); G. T. Kellaway (Usee.); G. 0. Morgan (llsec.); R. G. Pullar (12sec.). Time, 87 l-ssec. 50yds. Scratch,—C. A. Mathieson, 1; J. Wilton, 2. Also started: E. . Wilkinson, T. Duffy, - G. Morgan, C. Cates. Time, 33 3-ssec. ROWING.. OLYMPIC CREW WELCOMED. By .Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Sydney. November 23. : At a welcome given the Olympic crew, I Fitzhardinge, who acted as stroke, said the Leander Club was lucky to get the side of the course they did. If the Australians had got it he was confident '.they would have won. MOTOR-CYCLING. AN AUSTRALIAN RECORD. By Telegraph.—Press Association—Copyright Adelaide, November 23. Custance motor-cycled 532 _ miles in twenty-four' hours —an Australian record. YACHTING. RACES ON SATURDAY. . On Saturday afternoon the Port Nicholson Yacht Club the first two races of the season. A hard and much .criticised northerly prevailed, but the times showed somo good finishes. Tho wind was rather patchy at the start, but according to yachtsmen, the wind between Ngahauranga and Somes Island was pretty "fresh." The following are the handicaps .of tho first-class yachts:—Waitangi (scr.), did not start; Wairere II (scr.), Siren (4min.), Mahina (4min.), Wairere I (smin.), Windward (7min.). The second-class yachts' handicaps were as follow:—Lizzie (scr.), Rawene (2min.), Isca (2min.), Reverie (3min.), Taipare (3 min.), and Amai (Bmin.). Results:— First-Class, Wairere 11, 5.18 p.m. .. 1 Windward, 5.20 p.m - 2 Wairere 1, 5.25 p.m. 3 Siren, 5.26 p.m. 4 Mahina, 5.35 p.m. ... 5 Second-Class. Amai, 5.17 p.m 1 Lizzie, 5.24 p.m 2 Roverie, 5.2G p.m 3 Taipare, 5.30 p.m 4 Also started:Hawene and Isca (did not, finish). Owing to an error oil the part of the starter, the first-class yachts wore dispatched a quarter of an hour earlier than the proper time—3.ls p.m. . Tho only inconvenience caused was to the Wairere 11, and the Mahina—both vessels starting a few minutes late. When seen on the matter, tho starter explained that he was under the impression that the starting time was the same as last year. ' ACCIDENT AT PETONE.' During a yachting race at the Pefcone Heretaunga Boating Club's opening day last Saturday, one of the 14-footers, the Marguerita, got caught in a curling wind just off Ngahauranga, and was capsized. A passing train (by blowing the whistle) attracted Messrs. Settle and M'Donald's yacht to the'rescue, and Mr. M'Dougall and two boys, \who were on the Margueritft, were rescued, after half an hour's anxious time in the water. The yacht was towed to Petone. ' NORTHCOTE CUP. By TolecraDh—Preaß Association—CoDyriehfc Sydney, November 23. The Rawhiti II has challenged for the Northcote Yachting cup next year.