SWIMMING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 154, 16 November 1912, Page 7

SWIMMING.

The New 'Plymouth Swimming Cluh will open its season on Wednesday evening, December 11. An attractive programme of swimming events is being drawn up. In future, the club would be better advised to adopt the policy decided on by the East End Bathing Reserve Committee and fix upon an annual opening day for all time. Otherwise there is a danger that it may go on week after week waiting for the fine dav that is suitable.

M. Pouliquin, the well-known French swimming master, accomplished in Paris on November 2 the feat of remaining under water Gmin 20scc. He emerged from his long submersion declaring that lie felt perfectly fresh. At the Shorediteh Baths, London, on September 26, J. G. Hatfield broke the ■IOO-metre world's record of smin 24 3-5 sec. put'up by the Canadian amateur, Hodgson, at the Stockholm Olympic Games. Hatfield almost touched the 440 metres record at Croydon a few weeks ago, for, though unpaeed, he was only 2sec. outside Hodgson's figures. On this ccasion he was assisted by a limited handicap, in which he gave 30sec. to H. E. Annison, of Croydon, and 3Ssec. to F. P. Giles, of the City Police. Such would not be allowed a man going for an English record, for they are only allowed for scratch races and unpaeed performances, but under the International Federation handicap attempts on records are permissible. Hatfield swam in brilliant form and reduced Hodgson's figures by no less than 2 4-ssec, his time being omin. 21 3-ssec. The handicap, framed by Mr. Hudson, was for smin 20sec, and proved a great success, for Hatfield and Annison touched the rope together. Who won the race it is difficult to say, for all were interested in Hatfield, who finished willi a grand speed. The Middlesborough man (states the London Sportsman) is a very graceful swimmer, and it is almost safe to write that all the existing records are within his powers.