SWIMMING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 78, 3 April 1926, Page 25

SWIMMING.

There is a cold snap in the air; the water has reached that stage when one is inclined to shiver after a short immersion, and, in short, the swimming season of 1925-26 is nearing an end. The various swimming clubs will, no doubt, hold final carnivals, so that the season has not definitely closed as yet. The Ponsonby Amateur Swimming and Life Saving Club held a most successful gala last Saturday at the Shelly Beach baths, the chief attraction being the annual harbour race. This race attracted 19 starters, and provided much interest. Cunnold, Enwright, and Pelhajn were evidently not feeling up to form, and did not start. This fact was somewhat disappointing, as these swimmers would have given the race a greater interest. Webster, who won the event, is 19 years of age, and swam a good race. He set a more direct course than most of the others, but still had a heavy pull against the tide when coming in at the finish. De Loree and Beattie kept together for a greater part of the distance, but unfortunaely made down the harbour too far, and bad a lot of way to make up, even although they had the tide with them. De Loree swam excellently throughout, using a steady, driving stroke that carried him through the water. Beattie, a young swimmer who has been coming into prominence as a distance man, did well in getting into third -place behind De Loroe. He is a well-built swimmer, who will yet make himself known. Misses Goldsworth and O'Gara, the only ladies to start, finished twelfth and thirteenth after a plucky swim. One of the ladies is sceptical where the distance is concerned, approximately 1500 yds. She expressed the opinion that it was considerably more than that, and it probably was, as she went up the harbour to a great extent and bad to make a course down again to reach the finishing punt. The remainder of the competitors, except those who unfortunately had to retire owing to cramp, finished in good nick. The carnival side of the programme was of a high order, and the large attendance had ample to interest them. The officials have every reason to feel

satisfied with their efforts. Miss E. Stockley and Miss Piri Page were present for the first time since their return from their highly successful tour of Australia, and were welcomed by Mr. T. H. Crawford. Miss Stockley later gave an exhibition 50yds. backstroke swim and a 50yds. free style swim. Miss Page did not enter the water. The Australian diver, B. Young, gave an exhibition of diving that brings home the fact that diving is sorely neg'ected in this part of tbe world. It is noticed that at the swimming carnivals held by various clubs diving is usually confined to the boys. There are sometimes entries from the ranks of the men, but not to the extent that one would like to iSee. Maybe Barry Young will, next season, spread the germ of enthusiasm for diving, and Auckland will probably see that branch of swimming play a more important part than it now does. The Auckland Drapers and Mercers' Swimming Club will have a number o? Auckland champions in its ranks next season, and the carnival given will provide a great deal of interest. A. D. Adamson, Misses E. Stockley and E. Champion will be among the competitors from the various houses, and will give a decided interest to the nature of the events. A swimming race between a bishop and a. famous surgeon will take place in the new swimming bath at the Leeds High School for Girls when .the building is completed in September. Tbe bishop is the Right Rev. Bernard O. F. Heywood, formerly vicar of Leeds, and now Bishop of Southwell, and the surgeon i 3 Sir Berkeley Moynihan, famous for his cancer work. Si; Berkeley, who is the son of a V.C., vigorously pursues his recreations of golf and swimming, despite his 60 years. The bishop also is a man of athletic accomplishments. He is nearly 55 years old. The race is the sequel to statements made some months ago at a bazaar in aid of a fund for the construction of the baths at the school. Sir Berkeley then confessed to having received a challenge from .the vicar— : as he then Was both of the competitors haTe now expressed their intention of keeping the engagement. '••--• .