SWIMMING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 276, 18 November 1905, Page 12

SWIMMING.

A welcome home carnival is to he tendered R B. Kieran by the North District Club on the 2Sth instant at S p.m. Kieran is to compete in the Northern Suburbs Championship Relay Race of 500 yards; and in an Invitation 250 yards scratch race. At the annual meeting of the* New South Wales Swimming Association Mr. E. S. Marks said that he had heard on good authority that Billington, the English champion, would visit Australia if his expenses were guaranteed. The .Association should give the matter fuH consideration, as it would pay handsomely to bring out the Englishman, (From Our Special Correspondent,) LONDON, October 2. To-day ""Barney" Kieran and his mentor, Mr Hilton Mitchell, embark on the Crontes for Australia. Kieran has I thoroughly demonstrated that those responsible for his English tour were justified in sending nfrm, and the fact that he has been more successful than any other colonial swimmer that has visited our shores is a remarkable tribute to his ahility. We have had Percy Cavill, F. C V. Lane,, and Jack Hollings, but figures have proved that, outside 100 yds, none of them were as speedy as Kieran. The appended summary of our ! English championships and records furnish a more reliable guide to the j j AustraHan's performances than any- [ thing else. It will be seen that he has competed in six championships, winning the 220, 440, 500 and 800 yards, and finishing second in the mile and Jong distance to Billington. In winning the 500 yds and Half-mile mile he broke the English record, and later under record conditions that for 300 yds as welL Thus, in addition to four championships, he takes three English record medals, j He was second in the King's Cup Race over 400 yds at Blackpool, -won four events at Stockholm, and both in Ire- ; land and Scotland has broken records. Further, he has established new figures for 200 and 600 yds, but these distances the A.S. A. in its wisdom does not recognise as being worth a place in the book of records. In the opinion of many good judges, had he been acclimatised he would also have won the mile and possibly the long-distance. It might also he mentioned that in the 440 yards Championship at Southport his time—omin 22 1-osec—is worthy of be ing placed among the records, as the Marine Lake is quite stfll water, and the conditions were, if anything, adverse to the swimmer when Kieran put up the figures quoted. Kieran and Mitchell have both proved themselves exceHent fallows, and leave the Old Country -with the best wishes of aH the swimmers. The send-off concert on Saturday evening at Frascati's was a very happy, social function. Mr Guy Camp bell, chairman of the Central Executive of the Life-savers, who occupied the chair during a portion of the proceed*_ag_, presented certificates to both Kieran and MiteheU. These were the ordinary certificates of the society, surmounted by the crossed flags of England and Australia, On Eaeran's were the words, "In recognition of his great ahility as a swimmer, and for the services rendered to those interested in promoting the art of natation in the United Kingdom," and on Mitchell's, "For services on many important occauaons-'' Mr W. M. Benjamin, president ecf the A.S,A,, handed to Kieran his record medals, and paid him warm compliments. Kieran's modest reply was couched Chairman, ladies and gentlemen,—l hope you will excuse mc for not making a long speech. I may be at home in the water, but as to public speaking, I must admit I am not. I have nothing else to say, but to express my very best thanks to everybody wherever I have visited, and if I spoke aU night I could not say enough in appreciation of the great favours conferred upon mc and the splendid welcome I have had during my visit." 1 must, however, thank Mr.Henry for his very great kindness and trouble in arranging the many details connected with the visit. I have thoroughly enjoyed my stay at Home, and I shall never forget the many kind friends 1 have made during my tour. Again thanking aH swimmers, the Royal life Saving Society, and the Amateur Swimming Association for the favours 1 have had, for which I shall ever be grateriiU' Mr MitcheD also spoke, and said how happy they had bean in landThe f oHowing are the English Championship results for the year:— Zollar de Kalrnay 1, J. H. Derbyshire 2, time 59see; 100 yds (ladies'): Miss M Scott 1, Miss D. Curwen 2, time lm, 25 l-ssee; 150 yds (hack): W. Call L W, Brack 2, time 2min 1 3-ssec; 200 yds (breast): W. W. Robinson 1, H. Inesen 2. time **—i- 49 1-osec; 220 yds: B. B. ~>*-*-— 1_ C E. Forsyth 2, time 2min 37 l-Ssec; 440 yds (salt water): B. B. Kieran 1, D. Billington 2, time smin 22 l-ssec; SODjtez B, Ik Kieran i, IX Bil-J-gtagi; thnr -ffrm 1 „ B-_fr B-tt nri>%

B. B. Kieran 1, D. _sffi_gt__. ■•' I llnun 28sec; One MSe7t)i_ffi„l "** B. B. Kieran 2, time «_ik «?_i> Long Distance: D. BHlington 1, R*A ■ Kieran 2, tune 66min oteee- *■■'' W.T.y^^.V.^^^ <n_w), 59 3-osec by 100 yds Ladies' in 84 S- ssec " £ gg» Scott and Carmen <new), 85__f jjjg Maekay (old); 300 yds in Smin aggjg Kieran (new), 3min 34 3-ssec hv f Cavfll (old); 500 yds in 6mi_ 7 1 _L£ Kieran (new), 6min 25 2-osec by ffin_2 ton (old); SSOydsin llmin %£r£ Kieran (new), llmin 50 2-ssec hv n? vill (old); MHe in 22min 42 3-SJZ BOlington (new), 24_dn 56 2 _»,. 5 Billington (old). The most rei__rfa-.fi of all these was Kieran's llmin _Bern for the Half-mile—figures that seek likely to stand here for some Ta__ One world's record has been beatoTbT Kieran, and that his own 500 yds time <_ 6mm 10 3-ssec, accompHshed in Ai_! tralia early this year. As I expected,* the proposed lOOOrfii race between Kieran and Billington did not figure in the Australian's »-> gramme, and it is jnst on the aud. that they will never be able to meet again, as amateurs at any rate. The Northern Counties ABJL Execufot Comrr"ttee are "raising a dust" ere* Billing m's participation in the nm_>. boomed Seine swim, in which Miss Xel. lerman, Joey NuttaU, Holbein and ito. gess also figure. The Northern j_> eeutive discussed the matter for hojnr last Saturday, and a proposal to ex. onerate Billington -on the grpmuls tint he had unwittingly competed with an. fessiona is was defeated, the matter heing adjourned for the production" of further evidence, BHungton's Sejeaai is that there were reaHy two races one for professionals and one for ainateiirs. Seeing that his name was prominently set forth as .a competitor long before the race was decided, It seems to ns that the English A-SJL might well Jjijsi given him a timely warning not to take part in it.