SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1675, 15 February 1913, Page 12

SWIMMING.

TBt "Spr,Asn."] ■ '•' i

MALCOLM CHAMPION-WONDER. The Historian of 200,000 a.d. Good weather, good crowds, good competition, good entries, good Malcolm Champion, good everything. That is the wholo story of the New Zealand championships. If, in 200,000 A.D., some ono should caro to blossom out into the role of a M'Nab, and write up a book on "Tho Strango Habits and Customs o'f Primitive Man in New Zealand in Bygone Aeons," ho will surely not be too rough on the New Zealand championships of 1913. We put it to him now—in ca3o hia "researches" should bring him into contact with some ancient nnd mouldy copy of

The "Dominion—whether his generation, advanced though it doubtless will be, could under tho circumstances havo run a better carnival than the Now Zealand championship meeting which, has just finished at Wanganui. But beshrew the historian of 200,000 A.D! Let us take a more practical stand, and put it in one simplo question: What have tho croakers whoso croak over tho meeting was.so loud in tho land a week or two ago .to say about it now? Not a syllable as far as "Splash" can hear.

As things turned out competitors representing tie North Island were particularly strong, and the South Island supporters were also very strong, when it is considered that only two, centres were represented. The team sent by Canterbury numbered 30, including two polo teams, two life-saving teams for tiro Wigram Shield, and representatives for the ' several championships, including Misses Enile and Ostler for tho ladies' ohampionship,, Auckland's Horo—M; E. Champion. Malcolm E. Champion (Auckland representative) again came to the fore and demonstrated his superiority over other aspiring champions. Writing in the "Weekly Press," "Leander" says of Champions

Champion is ovidontly fast improv-. ing as the years roll by. Champion first came into prominence in 1901, when he annexed tho 100 yds., 220 yds., 440 yds.i 880 yds., and mile, a performance which ho repeated in 1908, 1912, and 1913. In 1910, at Auckland, he won tho 220 yds., ■440 yds., and mile, whilo at the recent meeting at Wanganui he created fresh New Zealand records in tho 100 yds. (Clsec.), 220 yds. (2min. 35 2-ssec), and 880 yds. (12min. lSsec.J, in each case lowering his own previous records. In 1911 he won tho half-mile and long-distanco championships of England, and also competed as the New Zealand representative at tho Festival of Empire Sports, whilo. last year he was the Dominion's representative at the Olympic Games at Stockholm. In the 100 yds. championship he put up a new record, in .the second beat of tho 6emi-final, 01 l-sscc, and in the final he defeated Atkinson by two feet, and -won in the new record time ofj6lsec. The 880 yds. was oriother easy win for the champion, as he took matters leisurely throughout and won easily. in 12min. 155e0., which is 21-ssec. better than his previous best. In the milo championship he won without an effort by fifty yards from Wclson, his club-mate, in 2, r imin. 34sec. In the 220 yds. championship he swam a great race. . He won the first heat very easily in 2rain. 40sec. by a dozen yards, and the final by a similar distance in the record time of 2min. Sosec,' being 2 3-ssoc. faster than 1 is previous record.

Atkinson, of Opawn.', C, Atkinson, of the Opawn Club, Christchurch, proved to bo tho world's Ticbrdbreaker, in tho 220 yds. breast 6troko championship. Atkinson is undoubtedly a very fast and strong swimmer, und he has several very creditabb perforona'aces against Ms name. The Water Polo Struggles. Tho water polo matches havo not for several years riecn so interesting as they were at the championship meeting. In all, about five teams .wore competing and Borne very interesting play resulted. . Bridge to Bridge Race. This event took place at Wangannl on Saturday afternoon lost, and was won by Baxter O'Neill, a prominent Wellington enthusiast. Tho race was over a distance of about two miles and a, half, and O'Neill proved nn easy victor. The event attracted considerable interest, and there were nine starters. • However, tho cvint is over, and local swimmers havo returned to town expressing entire satisfaction with the meeting. Wellington Club's Carnival. On Saturday next the Wellington Amateur Swimming Club is to decide its annual carnival at tho To Aro Baths. A capital programme is ij preparation, and the entry, forms aro rapidly bring filled up.