NOTES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14903, 17 February 1914, Page 8

NOTES.

(special to "the press.**) BLENHEIM, February 16. To-night tho visiting swimmcra received a civic welcome at the municipal baths, and later participated in the opening carnival of the championship meeting. These carnivals are to bo held on alternate evenings, the days and off nights to bo devoted to entertainments. There are about 34 visitors from the Canterbury district present, and the total number of visiting swimmers is well over 100.

The baths, cf course, came in for comment, which was, in the main, favourable, although the artesian water was expected to be heavy going and against fast times. This anticipation was not altogether borne out in actual practice.

The chief interest'centred in Champion. It is probable that th_» meeting will mark Champion's final appearance as an amateur, as it is expected that he will close with an offer of a position as custodian of an Auckland bath. He will be badly missed in amateur swimming circles.

The first heat for the 100 yds championship saw a race between Champion and Atkinson, .Vnnand being closo up, third. T*he second heat was won by Jerred, with Sinton a few yards in the rear, Stevens third. The Opawa man won fairly easily in C4sec. The time for the first heat was 62 l-sth sec. In the final Atkinson led first time down, bet Champion forged ahead and won by almost three yards from Atkinson, who boat Sinton by half a yard. The time was 61 4-sth ccc. a New Zealand record. The champion received a great ovation on it being declared. Annand was well out of the. race, his club mate showing a great deal of pace against the chr.mpion.

The 75yds Handicap brought otrt a big field, Truscott, Poison, Geddes, and Matthews beine the Canterbury competitor- to qualify for the semi-finals. J. Bristed (Nelson, lato of Christchurch) also quaJified, and thc final re-s-ltcd in a great race between Levy and Bristed, who were together at the touch, well ahead of the others. Both swam a beautiful race.

Poison distinguished himself by winning the spar boxing, but had to take second to Stevenson, tlio Wellington boy, in the high dive. The sympathies of the opectaton. were with the youngster.

The ladies' . 60yds handicap was an easy thing for the two O'Learys, the others being bunched well together at the finish-

The mile championship was an easy win for Champion, who went ahead early in the race. Hill 6tuck well to him up to halfway, when the leader steadily went forward, winning eventually by three lengths of the bath from Hill. Sinton retired at 750 yds and Rich, who swam a plucky race, pulled out at 1425 yds.

In the water polo championship round between Blenheim and Nelson combined and Canterbury A, the local men did not do very well, and were beaten by eight goals to niL Goals were scored by Jerred 2, Atkinson 5, and Davidson 1.

Thc relay race was won by the Canterbury old-timers, Eldridge, L. A. G. Rich, C. Bryant, and R. Hamilton, who were warmly complimented en their victory, v. C. H. Rich and F. Truscott, two veteran Canterbury swimmers, made a smart journey from Christchurch to be present at the meeting. They left Chrktchurch on Saturday morning, entraining to Paraa-sus. thence cycling through to Seddon, where they were met by several friends. The only mishaps on the journey were a puncture and a broken pedal. They arrived none the worse for their strenuous journey.