CLUB SWINGING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 188, 4 May 1908, Page 9

CLUB SWINGING.

j SUCCESSFUL ENDURANCE TEST. ! BURROWS ESTABLISHES A NEW RECORD. 1 ■ In tho preseneo of a large and represen ' tativo assemblage, which completely fillec 2 tho Theatvo Royal, and amidst a sccno o 1 J intense enthusiasm, "Tom" Burrows, o t Victoria, on • Saturday evening re-estab i lisiiod his claim to tho title of champior > eildnrance club swinger, of tho world. 1 When tho curtain was raised at 10.3( !. p.m. tho building was packed to its ut-mosi . ptcnt. Among those' who occupied seat: ■ 011 tho platform were Mrs. Burrows, . tin • Mayor (Hon. T. W. Hislop), Dr. Napiei M'Lcan (referee), Mr. J. Doyle (chairmai of tho Committee), Mr. R. W. M'Villy (vicc-prosidont of tho • Wellington Boxing Association), members of tho committer and officials. During the interval, between 10.30 ami 11. o'clock, a number of popular songs wen contributed,: tho assomblago heartily joininp ' in the choruses. Burrows continued ;t< swing ;as faultlessly sis hitherto, giving fancy displays every now and again, ■ ancl , occasionally keeping time'with the music, At 10.42 p.m., when it was announced that he had broken his former record, lie waf 1 greeteid with continuous cheering, and the ' company sang "For lie's a. jolly good fcl- > low. As the hand of the. clcck reached 111 o'clock—the 'winning post—the excite- '• iuont grew intense, and- Burrows, whe 1 shared the delight of tho largo crowd, begar ■ to swing windmill combinations. Burrows 1 achieved his goal amidst the ■ enthusiastic singing of "Hot timo in tho old town to- : night,"'followed-by cheering reminiscent oi : the celebration rin this city_• of joyful events I. such:as tho relief of Mafeking. : The Mayor,: in tlio course •of a few re--1 marks, congratulated-; Burrows upon his 1 groat achievement. On behalf of numerous admirers and friends, ho had great pleasure in asking him to accent as a memento oi New Zealand ancl tho occasion a valuable I tiki and expensive pair of greenstone sleevelinks. ' "Upon coming forward, Burrows was unablo to make his voico heard, for fully a minute; so groat was • the - applauso. He said ho was extremely grateful for the kindness which had been shown, him. Seeins.that he was a professional, ho never dreamt that tho Wellington Boxing Association and sr many other patrons of amateur sports would take such a £reat interest in him. In conclusion, lie; thanked everybody who had assisted him. (Loud cheers and " For lie's ■ a jolly sqod follow.") Before ■ tlio : assemblage - dispersed hearty cheers were also given for Mrs. Burrows. , : THE REFEREE'S STATEMENT. Dr. Napier M'Lean, Who acted as referee, ■informed our representative that at 9 a m. v on Saturday Burrows's heart-beat was little accelerated above normal. 1 Tho. muscles oi the shoulder showed signs of ■ fatigue, n;.d of the jomts tho knees/were giving the greatest trouble, owing to tho continuous standing oh'the feet ; otherwise there were no trapes of exhaustion. At 4.30 p.m. bis condition was practically unchanged.- During the concluding hour of tho test the muscular fatigue was a little' more generally .''apparent; 'his pulse had risen very little, ancl'tho feeling of drowsiness experienced at 4.30 p.m., which . had worn off during the evening, was once more asserting itself. Such tests would not have a detrimental effect on. the system if not undertaken • too.' frequently. ' WHAT BURROWS SAID, i When a Dominion representative called iipon; Burrows yesterday afternoon ho found him'.reclining in, bed. Ho had apparently q'uito recovered,' and "was chatting away in interesting .manner to several friends. Among other' things he stated that after tho ■" test" liq had a hot bath, and whilst being massaged, fell: asloep. In, answer to an inquiry- Burrows said that he. • had never felt bettor forvthe. first .day after a test. .Tho only ,thii)g that' wasi,tho matter ,>yith him •was..,that- his,..hands)'-wore,- slightly-.".puffed. 'Describing :his r Condition', during tho? test Burrow 3 said that tho-first half pf tho period was ;.the most trying, and that tho critical timo • was- between' 3 and'- 6 o'clock On tho , last' morning. •Ho was, ho said;'so drowsy at, 5 o'clock; on Saturday- morning that ho had-to send : post-haste-for a cup of strong black." coffooi When ho had done ■ about- 30 hours! "swinging he began to feel pain in tho deltoid muscles' and sin tho' heels; and fivo or six,hours later,- tho muscles of his forebegan to trouble him. After 40 hours had passed, his' hands became puffed arid tender. Ho had never finished/in better form. 1 This' satisfactory state of things he ■attributed'to. tho climate, which;was not .too cold at nights; uor.'too warm in the daytimo: It .was probable that ,he had lost jive'pounds in wjoight,. but ho would, pick that up again during. tho ■ next few days: Asked whether there was'a chance of a match between liimsolf and Griffiths, ho said ho hoped that it could bo arranged to tako place., in, Wellington. / In, conchision, Burrows stated that it was .'not 'unlikely that lie would' undertako one or more tests during his visit to New Zealand. Burrows was to leavo this morning via New- Plymouth-for'Auckland, whore ho will give further exhibitions- under tho auspices of Messrs. Fuller 'and .-'Sons. ! . PIANO PLAYING. A- MERITORIOUS PERFORMANCE. Whilst the: enduranco club-swinging tesl was in progress Mr. Charles Parnell, pianist to'Messrs;-.-Fuller and Sons,- at -Wellington succeeded in breaking his record for continuous piano playing of 3G hours by 2 hours anc 2 minutes. , ;' . ... .Mr. Parnell, who is an executant of considerable ability, commenced playing botl: classical and popular music at 9 o'clock oi Friday morning, and -stopped at 11.2 or Saturday evening upon tho announcomeiil being made that Mr. Burrows had achievet ; his object. It is worthy' of note that Mr. Parncl finished in grand style, and that at the conclusion his fingers wero not puffed oven ir tho slightest degree. Indeed ho was greatlj . disappointed at not. having an opportunity ■ to break the world's record, which ho'understands is 48 hours. It is probable that In will essay to accomplish tho feat when Mr - Burrows undertakes his next "test." On behalf of a -largo'; number of admirori the Mayor at tho conclusion of tho perform ance presented him with a valuable golc watch, bearing a suitable inscription.