SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 664, 15 November 1909, Page 5

SWIMMING.

';;■ OPENING-OF TEE SEASON. :.. . Almost' p erfeot weather conditions favoured the .Wellington Centre' of the 'New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association.for the opening of: the season,which: took .place at the, Te . Aro Baths on Saturday afternoon. The opening oeremony in connection with the extension of thebaths was performed in conjunction with the commencement.'of the season. :.The Mayor (Dr. A.'"K.'Newman), in a short speech, expressedthe .hope-that- swimmers were satisfied ..with the improvements carried out at the, baths. The-work'that had been done was only an instalment, but, like-many people, in the city, (the council 1 was. "a bit hard up." If. the people'expressed their satisfaction by using.the baths regularly, more revenue.would be forthcoming! and the .council Vwould be able to improve the'baths In passing Dr. Newman congratulated Mr. T. Shields s!nd : those who gave; up muoh of their time to teaching the young people to swim? The Dominion, said Dr.* Newman; had turned out ■its rowing; running, "and ,foptbalt champions, and he looked forward to the time when we would add'swimming to the list. The Mayor went oh- to. recount an' old : Maori, legend, of the 'Native woman, who had, so the story went, swam from Wellington Harbour out across the: Straits and on to the South Island.

■ Three oheers were ■ ; given, for Dr. -. Newman, and.further, cheers 'were .given: for. the city engineer (Mi. : W.H. '■ and .his 'assistants, and for the president of the centre (Mr. T. Eonayne). - ' Miv: L.. W; Ludwig expressed the. ■ gratitude of clubs and swimmers generally to the City Council for what they had done to thebathV The-.council had treated• swimmers well, "and hadV granted them practically everything that had been asked for. The city engineer 'and his'. assistant, Mr. Stone, had! done everything in: their, power to help the baths along. The water polo banner, won by I the Swifts Club last: year and the year .before, was presented to: the captain of the club,' Mr. F. Wilton, by the. president of ; 'the centre, Mr. Eonayne.. ' : .;'; .. Officials for* the gathering-; were:—Referee, Dr. Newman; judges,' Messrs! Eonayne; Stevenson, and Stephens; starter,' .Mr., E. J. Fleming;.: check starter, Mr:' A. W. .Smith; time-keepers, Messrs. L. W. Ludwig, G. S. Hill, , and T. Shields;, press stewards, Messrs. Dyson and F. Wilton; hon. secretary, Mr. G. S. Hill; marksmen, Messrs. F;' Wilton and D. Joslin. Detailed results :of the races '■':• :■.''' ■' ■■: .•'.■' -.' '50- Yards -Handicap.—First heat: P. A.' Wilton,' sseo., 'lyJ. A.'M'Lean,' ssec., 2; H. K. sseo.,' 3. ..Also started: E. Donovan, 9580.\. Time, 34 Z-ssec. Second heat: C.- Ward, 2sec.,l; B. Sl.Forne, feeo.,2; W. F. Dudson, lsec., 3. Also started: J. Stratford,. 2sec.; B. O'Neill, lsec.; C. Moore, lsec. Time, 32sec. Final: J. A. M'Lean, 1; E. S. Forne; 2; C. Ward, 3. Trmo, 35 2-ssec; A. capital race, Wouby a touch, with the others close up.. - 100 yards Handicap.—C. Brice, lOsec., 1; J. Dovine, 19sec., ; 2; W. Wilton, 21sec., 3. Also started:G.' Bruce, 13sec.;V. L. Allan, Usee.; B. O'Neill, Usee; W. Dudson, 10sec.;,H. Ashford, 7sec.; C. Ward, 6sec; R. Healy, scr. Time, lmin. 10 2-ssec. Brice swam a capita] race,' and won by about five feet from Devine. E. Healy, .who .got .up into fourth place, out out-the distance : in the smart time of' 63 3-ssec.': ; - ■ ••' I. '.' '50 Yards Boys' Handicap.—A. Mlean, 4eec, 1; J. Robinson, scr.,'2; E. l B.'Scott, 2sec.; 3. Also started: B. Lambert, Usee.; J. Hamilton, 4sec; H. Russell, 3seo. . Time, 36seo. The winner had about Ift. to 6pare st the end of the journey.:.''. ■'.'•