SWIMMING

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 33, 8 February 1913, Page 14

SWIMMING

.(By "Header.")

CARNIVAL DATES. Wellington Club— 22nd February. Old Boys' Club— Bth March. New Zealand Championships (Wanganui) —3rd to 10th February. Star Boating Club— Bth February. WANGANUI. If the championship meeting, which is being held here this week, does nothing else, it will convince many that New Zealand is going to produce some real swimmers before very long. Monday night was the first of the four nights meeting, and the standard set throughout—both in handicap and championship events — was indeed high. The opening carnival was a revelation, and switnmers from all over tho ■> Dominion admitted that they were both nurprised and pleased. Itwas^ot long ago when a swimmer efficient in the crawl stroke was regarded in the light of a curiosity, but on Monday night, in all the racp* but tho mile, everybody seemed to crawl. And some have got the stroke to perfection^ including several from the Wanganui clubs. In the 75yds Dash, _ ninfc heats were necessary ; but the times l given were obviously unreliable, and it ie therefore impossible to give an indication of the performances. Suffice it to say that many did, extremely well. The whole nine heats provided heaps of interest, not because one knew the swimmers, but •on account of the excellent crawling. Some, of course, have a stylo of their own— a little crude; but after four days in eXee'lle'nt company they ' should improve out of, sight. Yes, we may look to New -Zealand to produce some good sprinters yet. * • Wellington's only hope in the 100 yds championship — Briee — did not even succeed m getting into the final, and was last to finish in the semi-final heat. Perhaps he was unfortunate, but more likely the comP§.ny was too "hot." Brice was in the fourth heat up against L. C. Armstrong (Wanganui) and F. Bridges (Napier). It was particularly noticeable that few gave Brice a chance against the Napier man, and in the eyes of many he was beaten before he entered the water. As it was, it turned out to be a great race — by far the best of the heats — and even now the result is * extremely doubtful. "Header," who was in a position to see the finish, is, with many others, quite confident that Bridges ;ust got there first. Brice led after the initial plttnge, but he soon caught. The two kept together the rest of the journey, and Bridges exerted himself at the finishing mark. Brice swam a bad hundred, and led some to think he was "holding back."' However, he went to pieces in the final, and to make matters worse, knocked his head at the third turn. His time for the heat wr.s 65sec, and this known, nobody gave him the slightest hope against Champion, who -had jusf previously done 61 l-ssec in a race v/hich he v.-on easily. Champion did not appear to take the other competitors seriously, though Atkinson (Christchurch) gave him a very- good run. But to see Champion turfc quite leisurely at the 75yds mark, have a look round and c smile at acquaintances, was to make one wonder what he is really capable of doing. O'llare (Auckland) and Seymour (Napier) ve:-e a well matched pair, and both swam very well in their heats. O'Hare was not pushed in the first heat,' for the Hawkes | Bay representative v/as content with second place. In the semi-fifial it was different, for there the two were up against Welson. They went right out, and the result was they dead-heated.. , Welson, O Hare, Seyftiour, Champion, and'Atkinson vere left in the finds -and' although the' result' was a foregone conclusion, vain endeavours were made to decide as to the probable Eecofcd'man. * Champion won pulling up in 63 3-stfec, and Atkinson was two or .three yards behind. .Welson was very Close' up, third. His time was given tt 64 3'ssee, While Atkinson's Was 64, 2-ssec. .Among the other competitors Iwcs om», Pfankuch, the Blenheim, boy, whom So!oJnofls has talked of a great deal. At pr«>. I -sent he is no more than a£ ordinary swim*' mer doing 68 or 69 second^ for the hundred. He may improve', but his style' is' not as promising aswe were led to believe. He also started in the mile, and was hopelessly o\i| of it. He £ives slight hope of ever being a distance man. - • Champion, Rich, Welson, Pfankuch, and Seymour faced the starter for the mile. A detailed description of this event would become very monotonous, although the race itself " was different. A mile meant 70 lengths, and- throughout the whole distance Champion, ever smiling and confident, held his opponents safe. He kept wrth WeJeon and Seymour for a long time, and all at once decided to take charge, which he did without apparent effort.' Each lap he increased his lead, and went out to win by 52 yardstwo yards over two lengths. As for the remaining competitors: Pfankuch was lapped at 350 yards, and a little later", when he found himself getting in the road of the others, he dropped out: F. Seymour swam exceedingly well until an old complaint troubled him, and he left the water when even with Weleon at 1000 yards; Rich, the Christchurch veteran, swam better than he .has done for many a long day, and his fine performance' in finishing 75 yards behind Champion was fully recognised by the crowd; Welson appeared to make harder work of it than any of the others, but finished well and strong. The polo team is very satisfied with itself, for at the time of writing it had won the two games played by good margins, and there, was not a .goal scored against it. The team was somewhat different to that originally chosen, and was made up as follows:— G. P. Hanna (in goal), Levy, Jenkineon, Smith, Plealy, Stratford, and Fordham. On paper the team is undoubtedly the best Wellington has yet sent to the championship. Hariua ie the only doubtful one, but he has given every satisfaction so far. As far as goal-scoring is concerned, Jenkinson has been the mainstay, and his sudden ehofcs from all positions have been remarkable for their accuracy. Healy has held the team together wel], and he fully recognises the asset Wellington has in Jenkinson. Levy was not prominent in the first game, though he marked his man well, and broke up many a dangerous rush. He was better in the second match. In the two games Wellington has scored twelve goals — six* against Wa» nganui B and six against Hawkes Bay — and of these Jenkinson has scored eight, Healy two, and Stratford (who is playing very well) two. Wellington does not play again until Monday, when they should play in the final. Their chances 'against Canterbury are not to be despised. Healy, Levy t and Stratford went back to Wellington, but they are to return in time for the final. All the Wellington visitors are well, and are having a good time.

Arrangements are well in hand for the forthcoming Christchurch regatta, and it is a pleasure to note the hearty co-operation of the LytteltOh people to mako tho regatta a big success. The Star Boating Club and the Petone Rowing Club have decided to send, crews. ' A charge of lack of enterprise lias been levelled against the Canterbury Rowing Club. A visit was paid to the , sheds by "Coxswain," who was surprised to see the state of lethargy into which the club is falling. There were ho officials about ' and no 'coaches, and ohly one or two crews were doing some desultory training. , The Star Club selectors have chosen J. D. Eves to fill the vacancy in the | club's maiden _ regatta crew. .. If the crew i» able to train systematically they ought to 'do well, but they' have yet to cultivate a hard, nippy, style.