SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 336, 24 October 1908, Page 9

SWIMMING.

(BY Splabh.). - , The advent of the . wjtrm weather has given an .'impetus ;:to; J .synmping, and. club officials are .at rpfesept' cpßitatiiig.'. over their plans for the' season, which,, as far as can be seen at present;r.bids fair' t6'be"a very' successful one. In addition-.to the ordinary racing programme and water polo, the various clubs afp, moving ■ iu the, direction of: placing lifeT.saving oil a sound footing. It must have been news to those-who have doiie':So"\ ! inuch"to encourage \the. sport- to hear the. statement made by, a.'.'local schoolmaster at the Cricket Association meeting that,., ( schoolboys were, being attracted -by swim'ming- and tennis. - The clubs have catered libfjrally. for boys, for a-'good while past, and the results .heretofore have not been too successful,' and if. the ' statement of, the /schoolmaster in question • isfcorrect, those at the head-.of the' sport .must ; b'e' 'alwut'-foTeapi-a harvest: that-has • been ,long on the way. Writer had a loolr.-nt' some" of :tli'o youngsters -in :;the -water last ' week,' .and noticed -ran exceptionally large'percentage:of. expert lads who should oome. .to-'thevfore when ' the. racing' begins'. In . the-' senio T lariks • there will be_ special interest in; that B. C. Freyberg will-not have things all -his- own •.way;Ho had' an opponent of. the ■ first order in Reg. Healy, 'ex-champion of New South Wales, whei -is now resident, in' Wellington. Hoaly finds the -water very cold orf this side, but hopes to .'be able ,to : get fit -arid 'do -something .:in -the swimming world this -year.'. : .- .It .is .to be .hoped, provided 'the new Te Aro: Baths will be ready," that the Welling-ton-Centre will make a'big 'effort. to have.the New, Zealand 1 , championships',held here -this season. 'If - i<>. is found" r 'that tho baths will riofcbe ready, Wellington should 'at once give way -to another, centre. It would not do .to have a repetition of the mix-up .of the last: -New - Zealand: championships. . I "It looks as'though we are going to have ,a iboom, in-swimming', this season," says an Auckland 'writer. The ■ fact. that the ener-getic-J.' Mulvihill ; retains the secretaryship of the Waitemata Club is sufficient guaran•tee'thatithe affairs' of that club .will not be allowed to'- stand still/ i. ' Club/secretaries and'.swimmers; who'have siny •; club.; gossip (or.- items of; interest"would facilitate.'the '..work''...'of- this column if -they could sendl-along) contributions 1 .-addressed to '.'Splash," who will.-:be glad!- to' acknowledge them, at any time.' .. .' j The ■•• Ppnsonby : Swimming Club,. Auckland, have' sent - their / secretary;- 1 Mr! P..; Sydney;.where,'he-will consult, with somej of" the .fastest swimmers.; in 'the; Hope of bringing theni to Auckland to, race.

AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. ! Perhaps the biggest, thing in'the way of the control of swimming was the conference held in London, on July 19 at tho Manchester Hotel,' Aldersgate. Street, says' an English paper/ for Ss the result of several-hours' deliberations. between the 1 representatives of Ireland; ;!Walesj Belgium, ( Sweden, Germany, Finland, Hungary, 1 France, and Denmark; rules were passed'which'- it is hoped Will -syithin'. 'the- next. few ; years bring tho amateur of the -.world- into line with' each other! The meeting was of a most harmonious' character arid thoroughly busi-ness-like. . Had it'been otherwise the representatives, would have soon-come to a deadlock.' - During- -tho progress of the.- business Mr;" Oscar Gregoire, : Vofr 'Belgium'; expressed: his ' great-'--satisfaction'v with the method- and; fairness'-with : 'winch 'the 'English' A\S.'A-. had co'nduotcd'.thoir portipn• "ofi'tlijo Olym'pio games, ; with ; which Mr: - Edward P. ■ Penriyi" of'-the' U.S.F.S'Ai-'of 1 France, asked to-be allowed'to identify himself. ; ■ .- :: The following resolutions were passed:--; • THE AMATEUR DEFINITION. An amateur is one who has never competed for a money prize, declared, wager, or staked bet; who; : has never-taught, pursued,- or as-, sisted in or ani"other athletic exercise as a means of pecuniary gain (a committee, .consisting-.of Col. Mr.. Bruell, and iilr. @:s.W;Hearn.'woie appointpdlto "inquire,iiito question)', and who'- has not /-knowingly and.-without protest taken part in any competition or, exhibition with anyone who is not an amateur'whilst in military ,or naval, service'. '• '' -The following exceptions shall be made in tho foregoing laws: — Schoolmasters : or. school teaohers, giving instniction'. in. swimming as part of their scholastic duties, to their school • pupils or :tt eyeing-, schools organised, -by ; the education • authority,', shall not.-thereby- endanger, their amateur, status. -.-- i Payment-may be accepted-'for the'teaching of ' elementdryY swimming, ; but' r a : swimmer shall'"- not ■'. bo qualified -to compete'an amateur '.until■;.a' period 1 , of* 12., months-froni the Henniriation :, of such instruction,; and then -•■•only:-.-.by resolution >of the governing body: , ." • . Members of clubs j. affiliated .to. national swimming ; associations which observe the above-amateur .definition shall be duly accepted as -amateurs by. the- national' association of the country in which .-he is competing. ". ' " % JURISDICTION OVER SWIMMERS. ;; The amateur definition of each, association shall be binding on the member's of .its own clubs, whether at homo or, abroad. Swimmers intending to compete in a foreign country must obtain the signed authority of their own governing body. AVORLD'S AMATEIJR RECORDS. The following distances shall be recognisedfor world's - records by all national associa-. tions:—-100 yards: 100 metres, ISO yards, 200 metres, 220 yards, 300 yards, - 300 metres) 400 'metres, 440, yards, 500 yards, 500 metres, 880 yards,. 1000 yards, 1000 metres, 1500 metres., One-mile : 100 metres and 150 yards back; 100 metres,-200 yards, 200 metres, and 500 metres breast-stroke. . Records can only, be,made in absolutely still water, without current or tide. For distances 100 yards-to 500 metres tho' course must be in .a bath not less-than 25 yards long. From 880 yards to one mile inclusive, in open water, the' course shall not be' less, than 100 .metres in length: No claim for record.can be considered unless all' swimmers ' wear recognised costume with drawers.under the costume.' A record can only be made in a scratch competition or in an- individual race against time decided in public and advertised before the day, together with the names of the timekeepers, No competitor shall start whose name is not advertised,' and no one, whether entered or not, shall join in the, competition after. it has' started.' The competitor or competitors shall start at.the word "Go." • Starts" shall be made with a diva, with the exception of the back stroke., The time shall be taken by two or more timekeepers, who shall be appointed or approved by the governing body, and whose names shall appear on- the advertisement of the competition. The watches shall be certified - accurate to the satisfaction of the governing body. The course must be measured at the time and certified correct by a ; surveyor or, a duly qualified official appointed or approved by the governing body. All .records must be applied for within 14 days of their having been. made,, and all applications must bo'sent to, the .secretary, of the goyerning_ body of swimmftig in tho country*'in which the nice takes place. Providing all. tho record conditions have been complied with and tho record accepted, the hon. secretary of-the country passing the record shall at. once notify each foreign association who recognise ;this agreement. "When two timekeepers are appointed the slowest to. count. • -When three timekeepers are appointed the -middlo time to,count. WORLD'S-CHAMPIONSHIP. That no nation shall institute', or allow to bo institutedj' _within their jurisdiction any race or competition which shall havo tho title of a world's championship. . , . CONFERENCE.' That a conference bo held in Paris in August. 1909, to consider matters which may bo considered of importance to tho sport. Two representatives from each nation shall bo allowed to the conference.' Mr. G. "W. Heani (British .Isles) was elected hon.' secretary to' the conference. '