SWIMMING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 137, 28 October 1912, Page 3

SWIMMING.

With the advent of warmer weatliei the baths are beginning to present a more animated appearance, and it is time the swimming club got going. Owing to the atrocious summer, the past season was rather dead, but given line weather there is 110 reason why the next few months should not see a revival in swimming circles. It is understood that the annual meeting of the club will be held very shortly. ■O. Atkinson, late of the Opawa Club, and more recently the British breaststroke representative at Stockholm, has returned to these shores. In conversation with a southern scribe, he stated that he was swimming better than ever prior to competing at Stockholm, but iiad no chance with the Germans, whose style is far in advance of anything he had seen previously. He also referred to the great performance of Malcolm Champion in the teams' race and spoke of his great popularity, both at Stockholm and in England. Atkinson stated that the water was not so cold as re- , ported, as. he felt no inconvenience ii that respect.

T. S. Battersby, the erstwhile champion of England, is eoming to New Zealand, and is expected to arrive in Christchurcli next January, when it is reported he will swim for the Opawa Club. 15attersby's best performances are: 300 yds, 3min*3l 2-sscc; 440 yds, smin 26 2-ssec; and mile, 24min 1 2-ssec. The latter distance is the accredited mile record, which no doubt will be replaced by Hodgson's mile at Stockholm recently. With the return of Atkinson and the inclusion of Battersby in the Opawa team, the prospects of the club should be very rosy at the next New Zealand championship meeting, to be held at Wanganui mext February.