SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1687, 1 March 1913, Page 16

SWIMMING.

[By "SrLASH."] SO LEAGUE MEN CAN SWIM! Promised Lyall Bay Outing. ■ Matters with respect to the gala, which is to be held on the Lyall Bay beach on March 15, are well in hand. The outing is being held in connection with the Citizens' Easter ' Sports Carnival. The co-operation of all swimmers is sought by the committee.. ' - Swifts Ladies' Day.

To-day is the day of the Swifts Ladies' Carnival.' For three seasons this enterprising club has succeeded in conducting very successful carnivals, and to-day's function should by all accounts prove equally good. The carnival is to be held at the To Aro Baths (ladies' portion), and is to commence at 2.30 p.m.

What Will Rugby Say to This? Somo time ago it was stated that the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association had decided to allow professionals in other sports to competo as amateurs in swimming. The matter lias been lately receiving somo attention in Christchurch, and the - secretary of the N.Z.A.S.A. forwarded a letter to tho local centre asking them to contradict it. A. part' of the letter states:— "In the case of the Northern Union ■ Football League, tlio council lias carefully considered its constituilonal rules, and finds no practical difference between it and other football unions." Tho letter then goes on to quote a rule from the constitution of the International Amateur Swimming Federation, which states: "Amateurs shall not lose their status by competing with or against professionals in any game for which no money is offered."

. Those quotations are all very well. But the secretary of the N.Z.A.S.A. evidently missed the point when reading the paragraph on the matter. The paragraph distinctly stated that if the v council has definitely decided to do as stated, it would place itself in the position of allowing swimming in Now' Zealand which is at present amateur, tn become professional. Judging by the contents of the secretary's letter, tho council is going to allow tho Northern Union players to compete in swimming races. The Wellington Club's Carnival. Last Saturday afternoon tho Wellington Club decided a carnival which from an outsider's point of view was a somewhat miserable affair. Certainly it was not the fault of the officials present, for they worked hard, but they surely must have felt somewhat disappointed. There was but a handful of spectators, and about half of those who entered for tho ovents-turned up. The races were certainly interesting, particularly tho 220 yds. olmmnionsliip, which was captured by R. Healy. The winner put up a good" performance.' and only beat his opponent, "Tiny" * Freyborg, by a very small margin. O'Neill, too, put up a. very creditable performance, and this further goes to show that ho is a good man over' long distances.-He camo third, and possibly, if he had had a little further to go, the finish between the three men would have been very exciting. Some Splashes. Mixed bathing at the Thorndon Baths lias becomo quite popular, and on Wednesday last the baths accommodation was taxed to its utmost. This afternoon tlio baths .will bo open for mixed bathing, and tho Thorndon Club is to decide a race.

Seldom has Te Aro Baths seen such a popular win as took place on Tuesday evening last, when F. C. Jones, won tho Swifts Club 220 yds. Jones has swum consistently for two or three seasons without scoring a win. and his well-eavn-ed victory on Tuesday was the subject for quite a deal of cheering and applause. E. Vnngo, another consistent swimmer, rail into second place, while I?. Newman swam excellontly to gain third.