SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1657, 25 January 1913, Page 12

SWIMMING.

TBT "Splash."] .. . | - ' \

THE MONTH FOR CARNIVALS, To-day—Swifts. Club Carnival. ' February 15—Shifts La dies'. Carnival. • February 22—Wellington Club Carnival. March B—Old Boys' Club Carnival. Swifts' Carnival To-day. Judging from entries for tho Swifts' carnival, thoso who have lately'been asserting that competitive swimming is on the decline have .been talking ontirely ■ without tho book. No fewer than 56 en' tries havo been received for tho 75 yards event. Other events, including a 220 and a teams' race, aro exceedingly well supported. The hundred ynr<ls championship will bo cut up between Brico and Stranger, for, unless Henly comes to tho surface with something exceptionally fashionable in tho way of crawl strokes, he will lmve to bo content with third place. Tho boys' race looks a very healthy uffair on the programme, and, altogether, the Swifts' carnival should bo a good long way better than the two that were lately served up by the Wellington Centre. Last Saturday's' Carnival. . The Thorndon Club, decided its annual carnival on Saturday Ibst. "Splash" visit-. <)d tho baths on that data 'for th(j' fljrit

time for ten years, and he came away from tho carnival thoroughly satisfied that the Thorndon Baths are not tho best baths in which to hold a carnival.

Tho accommodation for spectators is inadequate, and in a wind—such a wind as blow on Saturday—the water seems to be far from smooth. Swimmers cannot put up good performances on rough water, so it was rather unfortunate that tho club met with "a bit of a Wellington blow."

Still, one hastons to congratulate the olub on the large number of swimmors which they had competing. Every event, too, was very woll contested, and the competitors were noticeably enthusiastic. There wag "go" in the function right through except near the end, when—like a melodrama which has crammed all its sensations into tho first two acts—matters appeared to drag. Tiie principal event of the carnival was tho teams' race for the Walker and Hall cup. Each year tlie Thorndon Club has put up a strong team of swimmers, who have been successful in winning the cup each time. The club again put in n very strong team last Saturday; and this team mot the situation and romped over it— they swam homo easy "firsts" at tho finish.

In one respect, however, the olub is unfortunate. The cup cannot be won outright. One of the conditions states: "The Walker and Hall oup shall be a challenge otip, and be competed for annually by teams of five men.. . . The teams representing Swifts and Wellington fought Teally hard in the event. The Wellington team just got second position' ahead of Swifts.

It is possible that one of the Te Aro Club's will put up a team next year which will about win .the cup. My reason for stating this is that I havo that one or two of the Thorndon chaoks contemplate retiring from the competitive ranks.