SWIMMING CARNIVAL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 462, 22 March 1909, Page 7

SWIMMING CARNIVAL.

WELLINGTON CENTRE.

A FINE DISPLAY DY 15. UKAI.V. Wind and rnin in the curly morning throatcned Hio prospects of tho Wellington championship swimming carnival, hold in tho To Aro Baths on Saturday, but tho promoters decided to chance tho weather, and were justified by tho result. When tho carnival opened in the afternoon a strong cast wind was blowing, and even within tho baths the sea was very choppy, but tho sun shone warm and bright, there was no hint of- rain, and the roofs and standing room of the baths were soon crowded with spectators of the sports. The heavy water had a retarding influence upon the times achieved, noticeably in the 100 yards centre championship, which was won by Healy in 67 3-5 see. Towards tho closo of tho afternoon the .water was considerably smoother, and .in the 440 yards centre championship Healy was able to repeat his New Zealand record timo of 6min. Bsec. Tho swimming of the champion was an attractive feature of tho afternoon's sport. Tho race for the 100' yards centre championship was exciting a contest as one could desire, Freyberg, Ronayno, and Roberts all being possible winners till tho last few yards. Most of 'tho events resulted in closo finishes, and tho programme was got off well to time. Tho entries wore good, and the carnival may be. pronounced a most successful one. Tho concrete wall which has been erected round two sides of tho bath, and along the outer portion of the eastern end, is fairly effective in keeping out the heavy seas, but they can. break with violence over tho wooden palisade at tho eastern end, which might woll be higher. , A dead cat and a dead dog, found in the bath on recent days, presumably came in over this wooden wall. During' tho sports afternoon lea was handed round. Tho following were the orScials of the carnival:— Referee, Mr. T. Shields; judges, Messrs. A. St. Clair, A. Stovcnson, and A. Somorvrtle; starter, Mr. E. 'J. Fleming; check starter, Mr. E. , Donovan; marksmen, Messrs. Morpeth, Skegg, and Aekins; timekeepers, Messrs. L. W. Luclwig, G. S. Hill, and 6. Sadd; result hoard, Mr. H. A. Lamb; costume stewards, Messrs. D. Joslin and F. Wilton; press stewards, Messrs. H. A. Anderson, and J. 11. M'llroy; megaphonist, A. W. Smith; diving judges, Messrs A. St. Clair, A. Stevenson, and. A. Somerville; life-saving judges, Messrs. L. W. Ludwig and A. Stevenson; bandicapper, Mr. W. Barry Smith; hon. secretary, Mr. A. M. Adams; assistant hon. secretary, Mr. C. Moore. ''■< 50yds. of Boys' Championship.Tne championship is decided by competition over four distances—'2s, 50, 75, and 100 yards. Points are given to each placed competitor for the different distances as follow: first, 4 points; second, 2 points; third, 1 point. The com : pctitor gaining the highest number of points is awarded a gold medal, and the second a silver medal. First heat: J. Devine, 1; It. Rutledge,. 2; W. Leslie, 3. D. Scott, . It. Leslie, and W. Eicks also started, lime, 38 2-sscc. Second heat: A. Laing, 1; J. Robinson, 2;. A. Hugh, 3. R, Packer, J. Seaton, and N. Curry also started. Time not taken. Third heat: A. Crowther, 1; V. Littlo, 2: F. Jamieson, 3. K. Sandilands, H. Pethrick, and E. Paterson also started. Time, 39 3-ssec. Final: Robinson, 1; Devine 2; Laing, 3. This was an exciting race, Robinson being first by a yard, and Donne and Laing almost together., Time, 34 3-5 sec. „ , 50yds. Inter-Club—Only first man to start in the final. First heat: J. Wareham,' Usee., .1; A. W. Smith,. lOsce., 2: K. Wiggins, 6sec, 3. T. L. Ackms (lZsec), W; G. Morpeth (Bsec), W. Johnstone (7 sec), F. Delaney ("see), E.'.S. Forne (6 sec) J. Nelson (6sec.), and G. Neal (6scc.) also started. A close finish. Time, 37sec. Second hcat:.H. Jenkinson, 4sec., 1; I. J. Kivill 4see., 2; E. Alexander, 6sec, 3. H. Alexander (6sec), A. G. Anton (oscc), A. H Treker (ssec), and T. Ronayne (ssec.) also started. Time, 33 2-ssec. Third heat: O: R, Patterson, 3sec, 1; IS. Fordham, 3 sec, 2; G. Bruce, 4sec., 3 J. D. Hok-kirt-(4sec.), H. Little (4sec.), J. Stratford Msec), H. Dudson (3sec), L. Salck (3scc.), and .C: Moore (2Jsec.) also started. Von on touch.:- Time,-30SCC. Fourth heat: R. Nelson, 2sec, 1; E. Jenkinson, 2sec, 2; J. N. Mawbv, lsco., 3. No others started. A closo 'finish. Timo, 30sec. Final: Y\aroham, 1; Smith, 2; Fordham, 3. Won by a vard ' with another yard separating second 'and third. Jime, 3b' 3-ssec. 100 Yards Centre Championship. bold medal, value £2 25., silver medal value £1 ls.-R. Healy, 1; Fred. Roberts 2; B. C. Freyberg,'3; R. Ronayne, 4. No others started.- This was a magnificent race. Koii-aj-no, who holds the New Zealand 100 yards championship, got slightly behind at the 'start, and did not recover from tho disadvantage. At about 30 yards Freyberg was leading well, but Roberts reached the 50 yards* mark with him, and they turned together. The final 50 yards was a hard straggle for supremacy between Freyberg, Roberts, and Healy/with Ronayno a yard behind: For the first part of the distance Freyberg and Roberts had a slight advantage, but Healy forged ahead as the distance lessened, and just succeeded m winning on touch, with Roberts and Freyberg almost abreast, and Ronayne a reach behind. Time, 67 3-ssec, Freyberg swam the first 50 yards in 31sec. ' Diving Competition. Flight, entry, and recovery. First price £1 Is., second 10s. 6d.—R. Nelson, 1; G. P. Hanna, 2; C. Moore, 3. J. Emerson, N. Watson, G. Neal, K. Wiggins, and T. Ronayne also competed. 100 Yards Schoolboys' Championship.—J. Robinson, 1; J. Devine, 2; A. Crowther, 3. Ten started. This was. a runaway race for Robinson. Time, lmin. 23 3-ssec. ; Comic Interlude, arranged by Messrs. T. Shields' and P. Hanna. Prizes of 15s. for best costume and most amusing competitor. —C. Moore, disguised as a frog, won the costume prizo, and.F. Wilton, in a schoolgirl's pinafore, was adjudged most entertaining. G. P. Hanna, as a "dead beat," alsc competed.' A; more elaborate entertainment had been planned, but was cut down in view of tho weather. ' : 100 Yards Inter-Club.—First heat: V. L, Allau, 12sec, 1; A. M. Smith, 14scc, 2; H. Jenkinson. 14sec, 3. W. R. Stone (18scc), W. J. Kivill (12sec), and D. A. M'Leoc (12scc.) also started. Won on touch, after : good race. Time, lmin. 20. 3-ssec. Scconc heat: H. Capper, lOsec., 1; E. Jenkinson 6s.ee., 2; C.'V. Fordham, 7sec, 3. W. Dud son (lOsec), B. O'Neill (lOsec.) C. Salek (9sec.), H. Ashford' (4sec.) C M. Ward (3sec.), and J. N Mawby (3sec.) also started. Won by a yard second and third almost abreast. Time lmin. 18 l-ssec. Final: Jenkinson, 1; Allen 2; Smith, 3. Won by a yard, with seconc and 'third men almost equal. Time, lmin 12 2-ssec. - - \ 440 Yards Centre Championship. Firs' prizo gold medal (value £2 25.), second pria , silver medal.—R. Healy, 1; B. C. Freyberg 2. .No others started. /The competitors wen together for the first hundred yards, whei Healy gained a lead, which ho increase! steadily despite Freyherg's utmost efforts Healy; swam the first 100 yards in lmin 14sec., second 100 in lmin. 23sec, third ii lmin. 35scc., and fourth in lmin. 41sec His time for the complete distance was 6min Bsoc., the same as tho New Zonland recon registered by him for tho distance a the ■ recent championship sports at Timan Healy's swimming was a model of grace am ease, and he was in excellent condition Freyberg also swam excellently, though In never had a chance' against the champion His timo was 6min. 28 4-sscc. Life-saving Event. First prizo £1 Is. second 10s. Cd.—R. Nelson, 1; C. Moore, 2 There wero no other competitors. The 25 Yards and 75 Yards of tho Boys Championship will take place to-day and to morrow at 5.20 p.m. CHAMPION BREAKS QUARTER-MILE RECORD. 1 (BY Tr.l.El'.ltAl'll — NIKSS »«nTATIOX ) 1 Auckland, March 21. At the Auckland Amateur Swimming Carnival 'val on Saturday, 51. P. Champion broke th ! 410 yds. New Zealand record by 3 2-sscc, (loin ' the distance in Smini 59sec.