SWIMMING. '— r—:

Dominion, 24 February 1913, Page 3

SWIMMING. '— r—:

THE CARNIVAL AT TE ARO.

W.A.S.Ci'S GALA,

Unseasonable weather interfered considerably with the Wellington amateur swimming clubs' carnival on Saturday. The attendance was by no means large, but still thevo were sufficient people present to make the carnival look' busy. Through a misunderstanding with regard to train time-tables, a large number of intending competitors, who were in camp at Trentham, were unable to be present. \y For spectators the carnival .wasrvory mediocre, but from. a swimmer's point ot view competition, was lairly keen, tho Handicapping was good, and those two points put together resulted in some good races and finishes. Among those present were the Mayor' and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. M'Laren) and tho Hon. A. L. Herdman, M.P. . . Most of tho interest was centred on tho 22uyds. provincial championship, which was won by 11. Healy. Tho race was ■ a really good one. At the twentyfivo yards' mnrk Healy and Freyberg were' in tho lead together, l'reyberg mado an attempt to forgo, further ahead, while Healy kept going' in easy style. Capper tired at tho 100 yds.'' . mark, and withdrew from tho race. When 125 yards had been covered, Healy and FreybeTg were together again, with . Newman some distance away. O'Neill, who had been plugging along as hard as he know how, was gradually gaining on Newman. At the HOflyds.'mark Healy made a timely, sprint, which placed him a little ahead of Freyberg, and O'Neill had passed Newman, and was 6wimming third. Healy, maintaining his lead, touched tho winningmark a little ahead of Freyberg, and O'Neill was a few yards in the rear third. Before leaving the water, the winner (amid applause from the onlookers) shook hands, with his opponent—Freyberg. The ' 410 yds. race proved, interesting.' There was a good field at the start, but a numbeT dropped out as ; the race progressed. The sprint,at the finish between the three placed men was really exciting. As it is. not everybody who can do a "sprint" after completing a good 400 yds„ it was a very close finish' and this'says a good deal for the judgment of the handicapper (Mr. W. Q. Morpeth). Tho race by schoolboys for the Duthie Cup was also an exciting event, and the holders (Clyde ,Qnay School) hod'a hard fi?ht to win.. \t Is a. maUtt oi six or seven years or more since the-cwvi was presented, and Clyde, Quay School has won the event eaci year. This school has turned out a good many of Wellington's fast swimmers! The boy "who won tho event for 'the,.'school, this year .was a little fellow named Murr'cll, wjiose exhibition of the "crawl" stroke over the fifty yards was really fine. Ho had to keep the. pace on as he was pressed by another little person representing MarisV Bros.' School. The latter also did the "crawl," but it was rather a pity that he did not steer 'a straightor cdurse. However, ho swam well/ for his school,.,