SWIMMING.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14583, 6 February 1913, Page 9

SWIMMING.

>'EW ZEALAND AMATEUR CHAMPION-

SHIPS,

AUCKLAND IN THE LEAD.

(SPECIAL TO "TUB rBESS.") WANGANUI, February 5. V Tho New Zealand Amateur Swimming Clurapionships were continued this, evening b ths presence of a large attendance. ." The first championship event was the 2%da Breast-stroke Champion-hip, in which there wore four starters, including two from Canterbury, L. Poison, the present holder of the championship, anil C. Atkinson, holder el tie Now Zealand record. Tho two Christtluirch men immediately drow away, and at SCjda, Atkinson was leading his team mate It isccs, the other pair being a similar distance behind Poison* Atkinson, who is in peat form, increased his lead to 7bocs, Polfcn being a yard ahead of Neal and Squire, Squire retiring shortly afterwards. In tho rait fifty yards, Atkinson further improved Mj position, and Poison, who was. still in .*axmd place, retired. Atkinson continued lo swim strongly, and eventually won by 1 35yda in 3min 6sec, breaking his own record W 5 2-sth sec, Neal's time being 3min 33sec. Poison retired owing to having been indis- , posed daring the last few days. Th« 880 yds Championship provided a fino . i»ce between the two Auokfanders, Champion r »id Welson, and the Napier representative. All three swum in company for BOOyda, whoa Chimpion increased his pace and drew away, .wiuls Seymour also lost ground on Welson. .Champion continued lo improve his position, ird won in. 12min 15see, beating his own *»rd by 2' l-sth sec. Walson's time wasISniin 23 l-sth sec, while Seymour took 12min 30 4-sth sec, all thieo doing standard times. Hich. the Canterbury representative, also

started, but withdrew, reserving- himself for tho polo. In the first polo match Canterbury B team met Wanganui A, and after a good frame, in which tho visitors surprised their supporters, they suffered defeat by 2 goals to nil. Davidson, at half-back, played a good .game, repeatedly saving his side. Bull also showed to advantage. In the second game- the Canterbury A played Ne'.son, and nfter an interesting garao in which tho holders always had tho upper hand, they won by 6 goals to nil. Atkinson, Rich, and Sterling, played splendidly, although tho others all did their work in first-class stylo. In tho inter-club events most of tho Canterbury men scratched, so as to do justice to their province in the polo game. Sterling swam well in the 100 yds, _ and qualified for tho final, and finished third in the spring board dive. Gemniell, Poison, and Atkinson, dived ia flrst-olass fashion, and were loudly applauded for their exhibition, the three judges placing them in s that _ order. From a very large field in thii Ladies' race, Miss Ostler finished first, with Miss Ends second, but owing to a mistake in the start this race will be xe-ewum to-morrow morning, when Miss Ostler (Richmond) should score.

Tho Canterbury team are all in good form, and are suro to put ujp a good fight to retain possession of the pofo banner. The points for tho Yaldhnrst Shield now stand as follows:—Auckland 25 points, Canterbury 10, Wellington 3, Hawke's Bay 1. Duncan Memorial Shield: Opawa (Club) 23 points, Sydenham one, Christchurch Ladies ono, while Richmond will be suro to score one to-morrow in the Ladies' race with Miaa Ostler.