SWIMMING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 31, 6 February 1913, Page 4

SWIMMING

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS AT WANGANUL (flr TELEGRAPH— PItESS ASSOCIATION.) WANGANUI, sth' February. The New Zealand amateur championships \vere continued this evening in fine weather, and there was another large attendance of the public. The results of the championship events were as follow : 220 yds Breast-stroke Championship.— The starters were C. AtkinSon (Opawa, world's record holder), L. Poison (East Christchurch, holder of ' championship), C. H. Neal (Wellington), and* A. Squire (Wanganui). The men got away well together, and Atkinson led at the first turning, and at the next was 4ft in front of Poison. At tho 100 yds the Opawa crack increased his lead to about 6yds. Poison, Neal, and Squire wero then well together, but Squire gave up shortly afterwards, and at the next turn Poison also retired. Atkinson then went ahead, and won in fine style by about 26yds from Neal. These jtWo were the only competitors who finished. Time, 3nnn ssec. Atkinson beat his own wqrld's record by 5 2-5 sec. 880 yds Championship.— The starters were F. Seymour (Hawkes Bay Club), Welson (Waitemalo), E. Pfankuch (Blenheim), C. H. H. Rich (Opawa), and M. E. Champion (Waitemata). At the 100 yds Rich had fallen back, but Seymour, Champion, and Welson were keeping in line. These three kept together for some distance, drawing further away from Rich. Progress was made in this manner until after '300 yds had been traversed, when Ricli withdrew. There was no change in positions until there were but 75yds to go, when Champion drew right away from Welson, Seymour being then well back. Champion finished well, winning by about 9yds, Seymour j being some 15yds behind Welson. Champion s time was 12min 15sec, thus beating his own record by 2 l-ssec. Welson's timo wan 12min 23 15sec, while Seymour covered tho journey in 12min 30 4-ssec. The finishers all beat standard time. Other events resulted as follow :*— 100 yds Inter-Club Handicap. — Wilson (Napier), 12sec, 1 i Laing (Inglewood), 13sec, 2; Sterling (East Christchurch), 3. Time, lmin_ 19sec. The final inter-club handicap for ladies is to be swum to-morrow. Spring-board Dive.— Gemmell (Opawa), 1; Poison (Sydenham), 2; Atkinson (Opawa), 3. Polo.— Wanganui A beat Canterbury B by 2 goals to nil. Canterbury A beat Nelson by 6 goals to nil.' notes on the events. recordsTbroken. (BT TELEOBAPH — SPECIAL TO THE FOBT.) WANGANUI, This Day. There was perfect weather for the second evening of the championships. The water was again Very warm. Between two and three thousand people were present, and 'many were turned away. A temporary staging had been erected, but it was not nearly enough accommodation for the big crowd. The' carnivals are being very efficiently managed, and people are extremely enthusiastic. All interest last night centred in the 220 f vds breaet-stroko championship, in which the competitors were Atkinson and Poison (both of Canterbury), Squire (Wanganui), and Neal (Wellington). Atkinson made no secret of the fact that he was out to beat his own world's record of 3min 10 2-ssec, created at Auckland in 1910. In this he succeeded, taking no less than saec off the time. Atkinson, did even better than that at Christchurch a little timo back, but the record was disallowed, owing to a technical breach of the rules.- Last night he made a beautiful start, and immediately began 'to leave his opponents behind. Poison did his best to keep with him, but at 100 yards found the pace had been too warm, and pulled out. Squire left the water at the 75yds mark, but Neal, who, it was plain, had no chance of succesß, ■ lasted out to the finish. Neal swam very well, but is not in the same company with the Canterbury man, and was beaten by about 25 yards. The announcement of record time caused loud cheering. The 880yd8 championship was generally thought to bo a foregone conclusion, and nobody was surprised at Champion's win, but it was a surprise to soo the way in which Seymour and Welson stuck to the winner. The three were swimming together right up to 600 yd s; then Champion, with much ease, pulled ahead, and won quite comfortably by 12 yards. Seymour began to drop back at 700 yards, and finished 6 yards behind Welson. Champion's time created a new record, it being 2 l-ssec better than that made by him last year. Both Welson and • Seymour got within standard time, tho former doing the distance in 12min 23 2-ssec, and the latter in 12min 30 4-ssec. The water polo matches were both good, especially that between Canterbury A and Nelson. The former showed excellent combination, and is a team to be Beriously considered. Wellington will not have another game \ until Monday evening, when they will probably ha\e to meet Canterbury in the final. i i i i inn— ■«.