Swimming. [By Natator.]

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1899, Page 3 (Supplement)

Swimming. [By Natator.]

FIXTURES. Hawkes Bay Championship Meeting, Ist February. St. .George's Club (Wanganui) Meeting, 16th and 17th February. Thorndon Amateur S.C., at Thomdon Baths, late in February. The Wellington Amateur Swimming Club's fifth annual aquatic carnival, held last Monday at the Queen's Wharf, was on Ihe whole a capital exhibition. The only fault that could be found was the lateness at which the events were got off as compared with the time advertised on the programme. The chief event of the day was the 100 yds Championship of New Zealand, for which there were eight competitors. The general opinion of swimmers was that either Truscott (Christchurch) or Hamilton (Wellington) would win, but the favourites were never in it, "Tommy" Edwards (Lancaster Park Club) beating them all, and at the same time establishing a New Zealand record for the distance — viz., 69 4-ssec. Edwards is a promising swimmer, standing about sft 6in in height, and weighing lOst 71b. Truscott, who won the event last year, was a good second to his successor. Truscott's time for the race last year was 74sec. The next event in importance was the 100 yds Championship of Wellington. This race was also well contested,, and A. B. Truscott won it after a hard tussle with J. M. Hamilton (Wellington), who was evidently not in his best form. One unfortunate incident happened as the sports were nearing a close. The final heat of the Ladies' Bracelet ended in a win for Heglin (Blenheim), who swam splendidly. However, one of the southern competitors in the race lodged a protest on the ground that the winner started before his time. The committee considered it, and although many of the spectators were of the opinion that the start was perfectly fair, the protest was upheld, and the race was awarded to Sadd. It is worthy of note that Edwards, who won the 100 yds' New Zealand Championship, used the Trudgeon stroke all the way, and showed great power. Local "swimmers who attended the Thorndon Club's annual sports recently, will remember how easily the Fijian Tabi Walu won the St. Patrick's College event off scratch with the same stroke. If either the Thorndon or Wellington Club could secure Tabi Walu as a member, he would doubtless be found a valuable acquisition to the ranks of active competitors. He is at present a student at St. Patrick's College. The Christchurch Amateur Swimming Club has agreed on the programme for the annual races, and the dates of the various Harris Cup competition events have been fixed. The Australian Star, in referring to the position of amateur sport in Sydney in 1898 says: — " The. swimming season has been one of continuous success. New South Wales, or rather Sydney, has alb ways been well represented in this branch "of amateur sport, out this season has seen such progress that no previous year can be compared with it. This most healthy and invigorating sport is being enthusiastically taken up, not alone in the comitry towns of the parent colony, but also in the other States of the island Continent. New Zealand has had an amateur association for some time, and one was formed in Victoria a couple of years back. This year powerful associations have also arisen in Queensland and South Australia, with every prospect of success. But New South Wales more than holds its own. We doubt whether in any part of the world outside Great Britain amateur swimming thrives so well as it does here. There are 22 clubs within the metropolitan disctrict, several clubs at Newcastle and Maitland, under the control of the local centre of the asso* j

ciation, and powerful clubs at Bathurst, Wagga Wagga, and Kiama. The Public Schools' Amateur Athletic Association, affiliated to the Swimming Association, has a membership of about 10,000 children, who regularly participate in swimming, and periodical contests are held at the different centres." The next fixture of importance will be the swimming carnival at Wanganui next month ; and, judging from the interest that is being taken in it by swimmers, it should be a successful meeting. Many swimmers will probably almost have forgotten Hoey, of Whangarei, who swam so well in long-distance events some two or three years since, adopting a powerful sweeping over-arm stroke, that attracted considerable attention and was generally admired. At the time he visited Sydney he was quite run in condition, having only just recovered from a severe illness. It is understood that he is now in far better form than ever he was, and he intends coming down to Auckland to swim against all comers in the test races for the selection of a representative to go to Wanganui and uphold the colours of the Auckland Swimming Club in the 220 yds Championship. Frank Hedges, one of the best sprinters Auckland ever possessed, is, I am glad to say, resuming his interest in the sport. Swimmers will remember how closely he rsta Bailey to a finish, even winning the 100 yds Championship on one occasion. An Auckland writer avers that there is no reason why, with a little practice, Hedges should not improve, as he has yet years of active opportunity before him. Both he and Hoey are far better at the turns than G. R. Tyler, and with these two prominent outsiders present, the result of the test race will remain an exceedingly open question. In accordance with the recommendation of the Council of the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, a letter has been forwarded to the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Auckland, asking that they should, in regard to civic and swimming interests, rename the baths at present known as the Albert - street Baths as either the Britannia or the Victoria Baths. Of the Southern swimmers who competed at the Wellington Club's carnival, J. Brown and J. Ross (Lyttelton Club), W. Simpson (Richmond Club), and J. M. Jack (Christchurch Railway Club) will be present at the Wanganui carnival. As it is the St. George's Club that is holding the sports, and that club is not affiliated to the New Zealand Amateur Swimming Association, but to the Auckland Swimming Association, the above swimmers wiV be unable to compete in any of the events. The 180 members of the Thorndon Swimming Clvb — a promising clvb — are greatly indebted to Dr. Newman for introducing the deputation to the City Council asking it to grant the club half of the takings of its championship carnival to be held in the Thorndon Baths during next month. The City Fathers gracefully gave the desired boon, and it is to be hoped the efforts of the competitors will be stimulated by a large attendance of the general public. J. M. Hamilton (Thorndon Club), who performed so successfully at Napier-, recently, and has a leg-in for the 100 yds Championship of Hawkes Bay, will leave here next Tuesday to compete in that event, which will be swum on Wednesday. At a committee meeting of the Sydenham Amateur Swimming Club, a letter was received from Mr. Charles Kent, resigning his position as captain and handicapper through business engagements. A very hearty vote of thanks .was passed to Mr. Kent for his services to the club, and it was resolved to elect him a life member. Upon a ballot being taken, Mr. A. Russell was duly elected captain, and Mr. C. Cameron handicapper. The following fixtures for the season have been arranged by the delegates of the Canterbury Swimming Clubs: — 28th Jan., Yaldhurst; 4th Feb., Richmond; 11th Feb., East Christchurch ; 18th Feb. Sydenham; 25th Feb., Broadfields ; 4th March, Riccarton ; 11th March, Christchuroh; 18th March, Lancaster Park j 25th March, Lincoln.