SWIMMING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 206, 5 October 1909, Page 3

SWIMMING.

(By "Splodge.") Once more one is greeted with (\i' sight of the towel-round-neck enthusiast wending his or her way bathwards foi a daily dip. And though as yet it is only the more enthusiastic that one sees thus, it is, however, a sign of the in coming season. _ Likewise it "was only the enthusiast that rolled up to the annual general meeting of the New Plymouth Amateur Swimming Club' on WedneMiav n.glil. But, despite the small number in attendance, fhe meeting went oil' well and augurs well for a successful season. The newly-elected officers and committee ale a likely and energetic lot, and snbuul keep the club moving during the season. Most of -them are old hands at the game, but we hope this will not be Altogether' a disadvantage to the club. One lilt-s sometimes to see new blood infused into any club, and perhaps more especially its officers, as more up-to-date methods generally creep in then. Though I notice only one new name, S. Burgess, on the list of officials, 1 think the others are all still keen enough, and the cluo should not suffer in that respect. It was this creditable wish to see new blood and freeh ideas take command that, I fancy, induced C. Brown to refuse a position, and though we re're■ his decision, we can also commend it, especially as we kno w hr will lie none the less energetic in his endeavors to help the dub along. The proposal to form a separate Taranaki centre will be a subject for the committee to deal with, and in; my opinion tliey would be wise to push forward the matter as much as possible. A separate centre is bound to be formed some time, and the sooner the better. The present centre is too scattered, and. so to speak, unwieldy.

The generous donation by Mr. J Smith of a cup for a mile olub championship is much appreciated by club members. I, for one, will be glad to see more interest taken in long-distance swimming, and consider it should be encouraged as much as possible. Together with water polo and life saving competitions, it tends to increase a swimmer's powers of endurance and make the sport » more useful one. And swimming, as well as being a healthy recreation, should be a useful one.

Referring to mile swimming, I notice, m the columns of the Referee, that f. S. Battersby on 9th August last put up a good performance in the English mile championship, which lie won by about 45 yards from H. Taylor in 24min 1 ?-5 sec. The late B. B. Kieran still holds the record . however, with the marvellous time of 23min 10 4-ssec. But Battersby's performance is, I thinlc, about the next best, at any rate for an English championship. In the same paper I notice that those "sports" on whose souls the almighty dollar is writ large, and who do not consider th" enjoyment derived from heaithy exercise can compensate for the time spent on it, are pushing into swimming circles in Sydney. A league has been formed by them, with Dick Cavill (ex-champion of the world),' George Read (an ex-Australian distance champion), and a number of well-known" professions! footballers, among others, at the head of affairs.