SWIMMING

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 473, 3 April 1909, Page 12

SWIMMING

(Br Splash.)

Last week, practically the closo of the season, was indeed a busy ono for swimmers. With tho exception of Tuesday there was ono or more races on eaoh ovening at Te Aro, and, on the last threo nights tho Thorndon Club held a race at their baths. Y.M.C.A. started with a 50 yards raco for the Crouch Cup on Monday ovening, and tho writer was pleased to seo P. Hanna break Ilia "duck." Ho has been knocking at tho door of success for the Inst couple of seasons. The time, 35sec., is a decided improvement on any of his previous performances.

On Wednesday tho Wellington Club had the baths and got off the 410 yaids events for tho AV.B. Mission Cnp._ This raco proved an easy thing for B. O'Neill, with 80secs. start. He swam a very determined raco from the timo his number was called till the rope was reached. W. Morpoth, who finished second, swam a good plugging race, and even after O'Neill onught him, he did not slacken his paco. N. J. Gandy, tho present holder of the cup, finished third. 13. C. Freyberg, from scratch, swam his usual plucky raoo, but he was asked to concede too much. His time was fimiu. 23 2-dscc.

W. Morpeth went one better next evening by accounting for the Swifts Club HO yards handicap. Ho was followed home by E. K. Scott, who, had he swum with bettor judgment, must have been tho winner. He bent Freyberg; whoso time was Gmin. 9seo., by a touch. E. E. Jenkin6on, who finished in the ruck, did not show anything like his last year's form.

As O'Neill and H. Capper had each scored the same number of points for the Mission Cnp it was necessary for them to swim off. Tho distanco decided upon was 220 yards, and 'the • Wellington Club's handicapper pat them on tho same mark with the result that a great struggle ensued, the issue being in doubt up to ten yards from home. The two men raced practically level for 200 yards. At each turn, O'Neill would gain at least a yard, but Cappor would make it up before tho next turn. Tho latter has a fine long easy stroke, but did not put half the "work" into the contest'that O'Neill did. It was only O'Neill's splendid condition that,won him the cup.

P. Hanna, who seems now to have got tho habit of winning again, caught tho judge's oye on Friday. The event was the Y.M.C.A. 220 yards for tho Crouch Cup, whioh he holds now for the presont soason.

The writer must congratulate F. Roberts on his fine performance in the Thorndon Club's 100 yards events. It seems that he can hold his own over the distance with any swimmer in the Dominion, provided the water is smooth. Tho Thorndon Club's team's race was a success, although the winning team's last man, R. Healy, had an easy swim. IC. Wiggins, one of the winners, put up u good performance in his "lap," and Smith, the other member of Healy's team, proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that "the old gentleman" is still to be reckoned with.

Tho Consolation Handicap of Thorndon Club finished this season's operations. It was decided in one hoat, nnd, as thero were ten competitors, a great deal of bumping ensued. The winner was W. Allan, Gsec., his timo boing 35 2-ssec. D. M'Lcod, 2Jsec., finished third, a touoh behind K. Wiggins, who started off tho samo mark. E. Donovan, Bsec.. should practice plunging. Ho simply fell in on Wednesday evening, and then had a bad passage. 'The Thorndon Club are holding a smoke social on Tuesday evening. Th Christchurch "Press" discourses in the following interesting strain:—The performances /egistered at the Tliorndon Bath by F. Kober'ts, R. Ronayne. and It. Healy over 100 yds., show that swimming is on the improve. Tho times recorded are all inside of the New Zealand standard of 65sec., and, allowing for the half-yard short of the 100 yds., each of them have lowered existing records or equalled it. In 1903 at W.inganui, R. Murphy cut out the 100 yds. in 61 l-ssec., and this lime has not been beaten by a Now Zcalander. The next best wer.) M. B. Champion and R. Creaghe, equal, 65seo. Roberts has shown splendid form this season, and I am not at all surprised at his time after tho way he moved in lie 50yds. a short time ago at Wellington. It is a pity that such a sterling performer was unable to take part in tho New Zealand championships. R. Ronayne, G3seo., ; s Ssec. hotter than ho did at Timaru, wleu ho won the 100 yds. New Zealand championship a bare touch from Champion. In this event several of tho competitors were interfered with, 60 it is evident that Ronayne was very fit to cut out tho distanco. in such good time. 11. Healy,, tho .distance champion, and star porformer at Timaru, must be getting down to sprint championship form, and, like Beaurepaire, the Australasian champion, we may expect to see Healy annex all distances from 100 yds.-to the mile- .v .

B. C. Freyberg is another swimmer who 'S making his name frmous for standard breaking, His recent performances prove that undor the tuition of Healy and Co. ho will further reduce his best times, and I look forward to the erstwhile New Zealand champion again filling first placo in championship events. . Malcolm Champion is still smashing up. existing records. Not content with establishing a New Zealand mile record of 25min. 41 4-ssec. last month, he now astonishes the swimming world by leaving Ihe -110 yds. behind him. smin. 59sec., 3soc. faster than R. Healy did at Wellington four weeks ago. These fine performances prove conclusively that Champion was not in form at Timaru. In ■ conversation, lie told me that he found the water too dead, and could not do himself justice, and the climatic chance also affected him. The council have passed his two records for i-he mile-and his application for tho J-iOyds. leoard will bo dealt with at tho next meeting of (he council.