SWIMMING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 223, 26 October 1909, Page 4

SWIMMING.

( By "Splodge.")On Tuesday 'evening last the spovt of swimming in llawke's Bay got a big lifl forward when the energetic Mayor of Napier, Mr. J. Vigor Brown, M.P., formally opened the newly built Municipal Baths on the Napier Marine Parade. These baths will supply a long felt want ill Napier, as their old baths, which were miserable ones at the best, had been closed some years; and the season before last when the N.Z. Championship -Meeting was so ill-ndvi*cdly held at Napier, the race* had to be swum in the open Inner Harbour, and the bad weather which attended that meeting practically spoilt everv race. The new lialhs are 100 ft long ami 50ft wide, so that they are the same length as ours but 10ft wider. Their depth runs from Hfl t» 10ft. A .horl sports programme of splint races and diving was held both on (lie Tuesday night and the Wctlncsr.c'lil and included an c\hiliilinn of diving by Mr. 11. S. Ribbands, of Hastings, the mint enthusiastic follower of diving in the Dominion. Among others taking part in the openiiiL' 1 noticed Hie name of 11. .1. Bailey, f< inicrlv of Wanganni. and one time champion sprinter of New Zealand., lb was probably about the last holder of a' championship-who used the over-arm siil. stroke, which, however, coupled with with his famous kick got him along at a g'md pace. Talking gf the same Bert Bailey reminds me of a yarn 1 heard of him when lie first moved to Napier. They were holding some swimming sports at the I'orl there, in the Iron Pot. apd during the proceedings Bailev accidentally on purpose fell in clad in his full heavy'fiveman's uniform. Three would-be heroes witnessing his struggles bravely followed suit without waiting to strip. The three same heroes later in the day somewhat enhanced their reputation for capacity for language and fullness of vocabulary. At the opening of the llawera Baths some years ago one of the officials similarly fell in, but not one of the fully clad spectators .was desperate enough to follow him, though one of the best known of the City Fathers., who could not swim (at least I'm told so), and who at any rate wasn't game to risk it, but who was blessed with a particularly shrill voice, lustily encouraged any one an J. every one to go to (he rescue. VVJ'cn the water-loving official had betaken himself from the water unaided, an.l the laughter had siiWuled, the aforesaid City Fallier was still holding the lloor witli dire threats of vengeance, mid with the use of a fulness of vocabulary and shrillness of expression that it is not given to everyone to possess. Still thinking of llawera, but getting back more to business, I have heard that the llawera Club arc file, lucky possessors of two handsome cups given for competition. One is called the ''Senior Cup," and is competed for annually in a scries of six handicap races ranging from 50yds to 140 yds. The competitor gaining the highest aggregate of points in the six events holds the nil? toy a year. The other .cup is similarly competed for by the junio r members of the club. Pity someone didn't present the local club with a trophy, as it would probably encourage swimming here a lot. The desire of the Swifts Club to fee more time devoted to the teaching of swimming among the yonHiful attendants of the baths is laudable, says the New Zealand Times. This branch of the swimming clubs' activities has in the past been greatly neglected, Mr. T. Shields being practically Hi" only gentleman in AVellington to devote anv time to it. It is to be hoped that the Swifts' exhortation to members will have the desired result and that a greater number of Wellington's leading swimmers will pay more attention fo this important mailer. There was a choppy sea at Blackpool on August 2lsf. when the 1000 yds Open Water Championship of England was decided. There were only three competitors—W. Foster, Baeup (holder of the baths record for the lOflvds); T. S. Battersby, Snuthport (holder .if the English mile record); and TT. Turner, champion of Blackpool. Battersby went away at the start, and at, half-way was half-a-dozen raids ahead of Foster. Swimming with a strong stroke, he increased bis lead, and ultimately won by hvcntv yards from Foster. Turner being n considerable distance in the rear. 11a Itersbv's time was l-imin 2 J-ssee.