SWIMMING NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 32, 7 February 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

SWIMMING NOTES.

Matbersin swimming cirelesare very quiet just now, owina 1 no doubt to the Athletic Championship Meefciug, some of the men being engaged in the running handicaps.

Next Saturday the half milo of the Mar-shall-Ehrenfried competition will be decided. It is proposed to swim ib along tho breakwater at Mechanics' Bay, but this place has nob as yeb been definitely decided upon. I myself would suggest Lake Takapuna, and leb the Club have a "meet" there.

Very little training is being done for the Hamilton championships. I would warn swimmers not to hold the Hamilton boys too cheap, as they are in full preparation for these events. "Mercer" Porter has proposed to the A.S.C. to have a swimming race ab the Mercer Regatta under their auspices.but I do nob know how it would succeed, as the river runs very swift and competitors would not know where they might fetch up at tho finish. However,tho proposal i 3 a generous one,arid should have a fair discussion. A couplo of Christchurch swimmers are at present in town tor the purpose of attending the Championship Meeting. Thoy have interviewed the secretary of the New Zealand Swimming Association about tho much-vexed question at present attending thab tribunal. I can only hope thab the present opportunity will be taken to make everything right.and that the Christchurch people will see their way clear to come in. Bines, the champion swimmer of New Zealand, is at present in Dunedin.

Now that Professor Bunnell's classes are being so well patronised wo may hope in tho near future to have a ladies' race on the programme of the A.S.C. Sports. At the Hamilton Sports the.se items are always well contested.

The following is from the " Referee " : — " Tho Christchurch Swimming Club have considered tho letter of the Auckland Clubs re joining their Association, and have arrived at a proper decision. They agree to join an Amateur Swimming Association if formed on a sound basi3, but decline to consider the Auckland Association as such. Now is the time for all grievances in the matter to be settled. Let tho Auckland Clubs, who have started the affair, remodel their Association with the help of the different Clubs in New Zealand, and I am sure satisfaction will bo given. If tho Auckland Clubs fail, then tho different Clubs in the South will be able to form an Association of bheir own."

I hear that Wellington is bo be provided with a bath, the sum of £5,000 being devoted to such a purpose. This will, no doubt, boom swimming matters in Wellington, and I hope wo shall soon hear of a club being formed there.

Tho Regatta was a grand success as regards tho sailing and pulling races. It was a perfect day for the occasion, the wind jusb being strong enough to allow the yachts to carry all their kites, while the water was not too lumpy to interfere with the pulling races. In the first-class yacht race the little Arawa again proved her superiority, by winning easily from the Spray, her old antagonist the Matangi, and Mr H. Haines's Ngaire. The winner looked a picture, being one mass of canvas, while she was handled with great skill by her owner, Mr L. Blomfield. The Spray, except for tho error she made at the Sugar Works marked boat, and also in standing too far out into the tide off tho Bastion on the second round, was well sailed by Captain Gibbs. This yacht had a big advantage over the other three boats on account of him drawing much less water, thus enabling him to work close inshore out of the tido. There was not enough wind for the Matangi or Ngaire to show their qualities to advantage.

The second-class yacht race, which promised to be an exciting race, proved an easy win for the Mapu. The new yacht, Moana, was very badly handled by Frank Cunningham, for, in standing across to Shoal Bay, with a strong ebb, he showed greab misjudgmenb, and threw away all chance of winning. The Moana beat the Mapu on the run to the Rangitoto Reef, but when they came on a wind the latter, which was steered by Noll W'aymouth with his usual skill, soon took tho lead* The Tawera had Tom Henderson at the tiller, and was never better sailed bhan on Regatta Day. On the beat up the harbour bhe firsb bime she caught the Moana, and gained considerably on the Mapu. The latter also had tho advantage by being able to work in by the shore out of the tide. Tho four-tonnors' race was one which caused a great amount of interest, on account ot the four new boats engaged. But Mr T. Kilfoyle's Tangaroa, sailed by Barlow Madigan, beat her opponents all the way, and won by over ten 'minutes. The La Mascotte and Mizpah had a close fight for second money. Both these boats should improveagreatdeal when they get in proper trim. Drummond'snewboabMinnio.sailedby Charlie Nelson, proved herself a little wonder.for she completely lost tho Mignonebbe and Venice. Coming up the harbour the firsb bime.the Arawa and Spray had about bwo mile 3 sbarb of her, yeb she overhauled and rounded bhe boat ab tho Sugar Works half a minute before them.

The open boab Era (20 feeb) had everything her own way, and won by nearly an hour. The whaleboab race, although robbed of a greab deal of interesb bo Aucklanders on account of the Waitemata crack crew not competing, was a splendid race from start to finish between the first two boats, the Hauraki just winning from the Waitara. Both these crews fairly lost the Waitemata and Manukaus. The Haurakis pulled a fine, steady stroke, averaging about 38 all through, while Waitara'tT were too short, averaging aboub 41 strokes to the minute, and ifc is a wonder to me how they kept ib up. Hauraki also won the maiden whaleboat and Ponsonby the junior races in good style.

The Stab tips for the sailing events have been the talk amongst yachting men, all bhe forecasts except one proving correct, and in that one the boats thab wore placed firsb and second, came in second and third. All yachtsmen should secure a copy of tho " Now Zealand Graphic " of last week, for with it is issuod a special sheet, giving a true sketch of all our principal yachbs.