LADIES’ SWIMMING MATCHES.

Evening Star, Issue 4126, 18 May 1876, Page 4

LADIES’ SWIMMING MATCHES.

A novel entertainment was given lately, at the City Baths, Adelaide (records the ‘ S. A. Register’), by the young ladies belonging to Miss A. Bastard’s swimming-class, under the patronage of Mrs W. Morgan and Mrs G. S. Fowler, the former of whom presided. There was a large attendance, solely, of course, of ladies, all available space being filled. The sports consisted of breast and side swimming, floating and diving by pupils, while Miss Bastard, the teacher, gratified the spectators with a display of natatory gymnastics. For the first race, two lengths of the bath, there were three entries. It was well contested, the winner coming in about four feet ahead. In the second match, one length of the bath, there were only two competitors, and they came in a dead heat. The next contest, described as a “ thin steamboat race,” was very exciting and amusing. Four young ladies competed in this affair, in which there was also a dead heat, the two foremost coming in about 3ft in advance of the other two, who were c'ose 1 together. The fourth on the programme was a lifebuoy race. Two diminutive pupils in lifebuoys, having reins attached to each arm, held by two of the older pupils, also in the water, were matched together, and acquitted themselves with great credit. Miss Bastard then went through a variety of evolutions in the water with perfect ease and freedom, showing that she was complete mistress of her art. After an interval of ten minutes the only prize competed for, one given by Mrs Fowler, was striven after by the same two little girls who swam the lifebuoy race, Misses Ella and

Minnie Daniels. The distance was one length of the bath, and Ella won by several feet, the pace being exceedingly good. The next race was by three of the fair swimmers on the back with the feet tied, and was well won by quite a third of the distance. An entertaining diving match followed, iu which four of them tumbled in and darted about under the water like restless fish. Miss Bastard and one of her pupils here performed in imitation of dog swimming; and after a duck hunt, in which three of the young ladies chased and dived after a fourth until they caught her, Miss Bastard and “ the duck ” closed the proceedings with fancy swimming, which was much admired. At intervals a lady played various selections of music.