SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 770, 19 March 1910, Page 12

SWIMMING.

[Bγ Sidb-Sthoxe.]

The feature of the annual carnival of the Wellington Club, which was held at the To Aro Baths last Saturday, was the meeting,of Healy and Freyberg in the 220 yds. Provincial Championship. Taking a- line through the recent performances of the two men, Freybere eeemed to have an excellent chance of winning, and, in the first 150 yds. of the race, he certainly swam welL Healy, however, swam a beautifully-judged race, letting Ereyberg make the pace for the first 200 yds. On turning into the final 20yd». stretch the men were equal, but Freyberg was tiring badly, whilst Healy was going strong. The ex-Australian dashed over the last 20yds. in fine style, and won by about four. feet. C. Brice, who finished third, swam a good race, but the hot pace .sot by the two champions was just a shade beyond him. Murrell and O'Neill, the only other starters, plugged along gamely, but were not in the same class as the other three men.

G. Crawford's persistence was rewarded on Saturday by two wins—the 50yds. Maiden 'T3" Class Handicap and tho 100 yds. Ladies' Bracelet. The winner has faced the starter on many, occasions during the past three seasons, but he has nover been very fortunate until last Saturday. In both races ho held the lead throughout, and won comfortably. The 50yds. Inter-Club Handicap attracted 50 starters, and had to be divided up into nine heats. Some of the heats furnished interesting racing, but in the final Gosling led all the way, and won without any trouble. Another uninteresting event,was the final of the MOyds. 'Intor-Clnb Handicap, in which N. J. Gandy led from start to finish, and won by six or seven yards.

The sealed handicap dive attracted some capable performers. The winner turned up in G. Neale. G. P. Hanna dived beautifully from the three different heights, and won genuine applause from the spectators. C. A. Maedonald and E. Nelson also dived well.

A miscellaneous assortment of comio events were essayed during the afternoon, but none of them were strikingly successful. One really good comio item would have been preferable to the go-as-you-please offerings. . : . There was plenty of -room for improvement in the management of last Saturday's carnival. One striking point in which the officials were lacking was in not keeping the starting-board at the southern' end of the baths clear of spectators. Men, and ladies'too, crowded into the starting area so that it was almost impossible for officials to move about, and attend to their duties. If the baths had been overcrowded there may have been some excuse for allowing the overflow into the official' area, but there was room in plenty, outside the starting point. Every other club has held the southern platform for officials only,, and they certainly showed wisdom in so doing. ■ ■■ •

A. M. Enssell, winner of tho 1908 and 1909 breast, stroke championships, and C. Atkinson; ' winner at Auckland and worlds Tecord holder, have both left Clmstchurcli for the North Island. Eusselrhas gone to Napier, and Atkineon to Auoklaud. . • . .;

In a report of a swimming carnival held by the Waitemata Club recently at Auckland (says the Christchurch' "Press") reference is made to the bookmaking nhieh went on unchecked during tho afternoon,, several of Auckland's bestknown fielders plying their calling. The Anniversary Handicap was particularly noticeable owing to the number of "nontners engaged, and one competitor nnblushingly called out to another during the progress of the race, when.he had a chance,: of winning: "Hold- on," "Take your time," etc., and the' incident was passed over without notice by the "officials. . Amateur sporte cannot 1 be run satisfactorily when betting is carried 1 on openly. The blot on the recent championship meeting was the , amount of betting done by bookmakers, who plied ' thcJT calling in a very vigorons manner, despite the fact that two constables were present at the-night' carnivals and' the officials of tho Auckland Centre were also present. No doubt the council will have something to say -in'-'this connection. , . ■■'..'.■•■

.The f,ollow.ing table of winners of the 100 Yards Championship of New Zealand will be of interest to swimmers:— ' IS9O, at Hamilton: H. J. Bailey ; ' (Auckland). Time, lmin.. 20sec. ; " 1890, "at Christchurch: W. Sneddon (Chri6tchurch). Time, lmin. 17 4-ssec. 1891, at Auokland: H. J. Bailey (Auckland).. Time, lmin. Msec. . . ■ 1892,, at Christchurch: H. J. Bailey (Auckland). Time, lmin. 15 2-"sseo. 1893, at Hamilton: H.'S..Hedges (Auckland). Time, lmin. SOseC. ; :'■■■■..■ 1891, at . Auckland: T.'.Meadnam (N.S.W.). Time, lmin. 9 4-ssec. 1895, at Christchurch: L. Lee (N.S.W.). Time, lmin.'l3 3-sseo;. ' .'■ 1897, at' Ashbuxton: 'T. Wauonop .(Christchurch). Time, lmin. 18 l-sseo. 1898, at , ChristchuTch.: A.B. Truscott (Christchurch). Time, lmin. 18sec. 1899,. at, Wellington:: T. : Edwards (Christchnrch). Time, lmin. 9 4-sseo. .-■ IDOI, at Christchurch: 11. E. Champion .(Wanganui). Time, lmin. 6sec. 1903, at Greymouth: J. M. Hamilton (Greymouth). Time, lmin. .12 2-ssec. 1904, at Lyttelton: H. E. Creaghe (Dunediii). Time, lmin.' 7 3-osec. ;. ' ' 1905, at :Wanganui: J. M. Hamilton (Greymouth). Time, lmin. 7eec. 1906, at. Nelson: B. C. Freyberg (Wellington). Time, ,lmin. llseo.' 1908, at Napier: M. E. Champion (Auckland). Time, lmin. 13sec. . 1909, at Timaru: E. Eonayne (Wellington). Time, lmin. G'4-ssec, 1910, at Auckland: B. C. Freyberg (Wellington). Time, lmin. seec. :