NAPIER CARNIVAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 71, 23 March 1908, Page 3

NAPIER CARNIVAL.

■AMATEUR SWIMMING CHAMPION- ".■ SHIPS. .(By Telegrapli.—Own Correspondent.) -- ■;■■■ , NAPIER, Saturday. The amateur swimming championships of New Zealand were held this morning at West S'lore, Napier, under the auspices- of the.Ha'svke's Bay centre of the N.Z. Amateur Swimming Association. -' Swimming from otago, Canterbury, Nelson, Wellington, Wanganui and Auckland, together with the local men, competed in the ■various handicaps and championships; Despite the presence of a choppy sea, which accounts for the slow : times recorded, the original programme was adhered to. BREAST ' STROKE CHAMPIONSHIP. The proceedings opened with the 200 yds. breast stroke championship of New Zealand, -in which event F. Truscott (Canterbury N.Z. champion, 1005—1906) L. Bull (Canterbury), A. Russell (Canterbury), and b. K. Turnbull (Wariganul), competed. A good start being effected, Turnbulf immediately went to the front, and at 50 yards he was a yard- in advance of Truscott and Russell, > with Bull four yards away, last. Russell and Truscott ranged alongside the leader at 100 yards, and the positions were' unchanged'till 150 yards had been covered, when Russell assumed: the lead, Bull also: maKing a forward movement, swimming strongly. • Russell, reached " the finishing rope three yards fchead of Bull, who defeated Turnbull for second place by a narrow margin. The winner's time was 3mins. 17 l-ssees., which is well within the stands ard time of 3minsl 45secs. ' CARNIVAL HANDICAP. ' , i The Carnival Handicap of 50 yards, which attracted tin entry of thirty, was won by W. McKinley (Port Ahuriri), in 445. 100 TAEDS CHAMPIONSHIP. ,The next eyent, the 100 Yarde Championship of New Zealand, brought out sis competitors, B. C. Freyberg (Wellington), J. McCarthy (Tomoana), M. 8.. Champion (Auckland), B. J. Dawson (Dunedin), P. E. Dodge (Canterbury),- and Q. D. Campbell (Wanganni), facing the starter. Freyberg gained a slight advantage at the start, but" at 25 yards all were on equal terms. After covering 35 yards Champion was a yard in front, of Freyberg, and Dawson, Dodge, McCarthy, and Campbell were three yards from the leader. At this point the lay lot the course seemed .to trouble the competitors, but Champion, forging ahead/increas-: ed his lead at 60 yards, and eventually won by four yards from Dawson, who was a couple of yards ]in .front of■ Dodge. .The time recorded, 735, was good under the adverse conditions. After covering 75-yards Freyberg swain wide of the course, and though he passed the judges in front of Dawson, second place was awarded to the 'itter. ■ • 150 YARDS HANDICAP. . . The Napier Handicap, 150 yds,' was won y F. Seymour (Port Ahuriri), who swam com-the 13s mark, and covered"the distance l 2m 12s. J. S. Emmerson (Nelson), who tarted from the scratch mark, -swam into ecoud place. HALF-MILE CHAMPIONSHIP. The contestants for .the half-mile chamlionshlp of New Zealand included F. J. Kerlot't (Auckland),- A.- Bridges • (Wangariui),' 5. C. Freyberg (Wellington), M. B: Chamilon (Auckland),, and.H.-Rich (Canterbury). Trom the start, ' Freyberg and Champion issumed .the lead, and maintained -it till he 100 yds faark, 'When Champion was first, l yard ahead of Freyberg, Rich, Bridges, md Kernott following in that order. Cham)lon reached the first turn (220 yds) in 3 nihs. 9 sees., being four yards In'advance )f Freyberg, with the others well up. At Ssoyds Champion had increased hls;lead to Rich and Freyberg being in close lompany, while Bridges and Kernott were Uready feeling the hot pace set.by:the eader. Kernott retired at 440 yds, at whlcii point Champion was nearly twenty' yards n front of Fheyberg, who had-a slight advantage of Rich. .Champion's , time, at J4oyds-was 7 mine. 7 sees., "Freyberg's, 7 ruins. 25 sees. ''poing down the third lap, the positions. ;wer.e ■ unaltered,; ;and, whun Champion passed the 660 yds Tmark,. the watch showed 10 mins.- 58 sees. Meanwhile, Rich and Freyberg were swimming stroke for stroke, and several times fouling wascarrbwly. averted. Freyberg was swimmiivs. a very erratic course, and was plainly making every effort -to. ■ decrease Champion's lead. At 750 yds ' Champion was. 30yds in advance, and, contenting himself with this advantage, he reached the terminating-point Iv Is*mlns. 4secs. : Freyberg finished three yards in front of -Rich, their respective times being 15 mins. 32 1-5 sees, and 15 mlns". 35 2-5 sees. At the conclusion of the race, Freyberg was completely exhansted, while CUampion was as fresh as : the proverbial daisy; The meeting will be concluded -on Monday, the 23rd tiist-V when the mile, "440 yds, and 220 yds championships, of Hew Zealand will be decided. . THE CAENrVAL EEGATTA. ', • - With the continued" arrival of visiting oarsmen from north and south, interest is growing in the doings of the various champions who will try conclusions on Monday nest at the New Zealand .championship regatta (says the rowing • contributor of the "Daily Telegraph").' For : the Champio Sculls there are six entrants, including the present holder, &., Whelch, of Akarpa. Two of the others entered have won races cently, viz., McDonald and Green; The meeting between these three is being looked forward . to' with interest. Green; it will be remembered, acted as pacer-to Webb, the woridfs champipn. There, is still a doubt in the minds of many who Is thejbetter man, McDonald or Green. Both hail from Wanganui.. The others - in tiis race 1., hardly .think, will trouble- the above mentioned trio, unless Poll, the local man, effects a surprise, -but I-do-not-fancy his chance. Of the others, Fell (Wellington),; was beaten by McDonald In- Wellington', and Stokes- (Aramoho) by Green in Wanganui, and their ' chances of .annexing the championship seem, small. . Thfc Champioa'Fours has .'nine entries, and the Wanganui Union are the present holders. Nearly, air the crews entered have won senior races this year, and the finish should prove very exciting. Waitemata will probably start out 'favourites, but I have my doubts if they will succeed in catching the judge's eye first. The local crew representing the Union shed have not trained sufficiently hard to expect to have a chance. The first mile will be about as far as they can travel.at championship pace.