SWIMMING.-

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1623, 14 December 1912, Page 12

SWIMMING.-

' .' • [Br "Smash."] SATURDAY AT THE BATHS. Was the Carnival Much Good? Well, tho Sydney cracks have been and gone, but are to return next Saturday, jjuring their short stay a large hand of hospitality' was extended in thoir direction, and, for once at least, the celebrated Wellington icincss thawed a lot. Tlie carnival on Saturday last was a big financial success for the centre, but the writer does not think that the carni-val-itself was really much good. :.Taketie Manly "cracks" off Hio programme, and the carnival would have been nothing. Unless it was the free dip to which the band were treated, there was nothing of note, excepting the performances of the visitors. .-.As to the band'splunge, some say that they "would not have missed that for pounds." The fact that the centre had exit the comic items out of the programme no doubt had a good deal to do with the collapse of tho bandsmen's staging. As it turned out, however; . a real "lion comique" was staged—or unstaged. The DisaA/aniago of Officialdom. : On the whole, the carnival dragged. There was too much time wasted between the events, and the spectators sitting iu uncomfortable positions, became restless and bored at the long wait. It appeared to the writer that there were' too many officials, with different ideas, endeavouring to straighten out an entanglement ■which had occurred at the commencement of the teams' race. According to the programme, ■ eleven teams were to compete, but only nine teams faced the starter, and the officials of the day decided to have the race in one heat, thus nine teams of four men ' each were standing about the ; platform', and inquiring from the confused officials where tnoir starting-point was. The race was certainly not the success which it ought to have been. However, tho Sydney "cracks," who were scratch, and who gave the Thorndon Club "A" team 2sec.,'won easily. This Tace would have been much more interesting had it been decided in heats, as originally intended. The event was originally interesting, but all the interest 'soon left it, when the band struck up "A Hundred Fathoms Deep"—or something to that effect. Ono Right Royal Race. , The second heat in the 100 yds. handicap was perhans tho most closely-contested race of tho "day, "Tod." Solomons, Harry Hay, and Cyril Brice had the race to themselves, and' when near the finishing line all three were pretty, well abreast. i The race was a hard-fought one, and Solomons just—and only just—got first place from Brice. The latter just—and only just—got second placo from Hay. Brice swam exceedingly well on Saturday, and there is no doubt that he has been doing a good deal of quiet training. His performances on Saturday were a credit-to both himself and the club which he represents—Thorndon. ! Hay—Coming Champion? Sydney swimmers have theimpression that Hay is a coming champion, and, after seeing his performances on Saturday, the writer has gained the same imI'pression. He is a very fast swimmer, and, in fact, it was very noticeablo on Suturday that Hay hung on -to Solomons I all through the races. . In tho 100 yds. handicap Solomons gave Hay lscc. in tho second heat, and Hay kept with Solomons all the way. Hay bas developed practically tue same "crawl" stroke as Solomons, but ho does not appear to bo so powerful. Solomons goes through the water with his powerful "crawl" stroke. Hay, however, gives one the impression that lio is not putting all his strength into tho raco. Impressive Feats of the Divers. The diving exhibition given by "Sid" Riddington impressed the spectators more than anything. His feats were well worth the applause of the onlookers. Ho is perhaps Hie neatest diver whom Wellington baa seen, and forty feet in the air is n good height from which to do a neat somersault dive. Oli the forty-foot staging, "Sid" can "do" ono and a half somersaults, and then get. in a clean dive into the water. Hay is also a good diver, and he, too, dived off the forty-foot standard. "Pat" Hnniiii, tho local diver, was "against something" when be competed with nUUiingtoH nnd Hay. Howover, ho did eome rather neat dmnj, whioh woe quite a credit to him.