Swimming.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIII, Issue 28, 2 February 1907, Page 14

Swimming.

[Bt Sidk-stbokb.l. j The Swfts Amateur Swimming Club has drawn up a programme to complete the season next month. Included in the events is a 440 yds Invitation Handicap, which has been specially put on for the Australasian swimmers who, it is will be passing through about the date arranged. Last Saturday the Thorndon Amateur Swimming Club held its annual carnival, Everything was favourable for swimming, and as a result all went well. In • swimming circles the Flying Squadron Kace was an event of some interest. Each club was entering its best team of four swimmers, and it was thought that there would bo a good contest. Such, however, was not the- case. Ihe Swifts team did not compete, Freyberg not; being well enough to swim, and another member of the team did not turn up.' The contest -between the Thorndon and Wellington teams was close until the third members of the team covered their respective distances. When the third length had been completed tho Thorndon team had a slight lead, and, with Fred Roberts as last man, won rather easily. The winning team is a splendid combination of sprinters, viz., Fred Roberts, R. Ronayne, C. A. Alacdonald and IS. D. Healey. The time was 2mins 4 3-ssecs, which is very good when compared with that of other centres. The average time per man was faster than that of the winner of the 50ydu championship of Canterbury. The 50yds Presidents' Handicap was won by v. Howard (lOsecs) in 36 2-ssecs, with G. Comes (6secs) second. D. Howard, who won his heat in 35 3-ssecs, is a young swimmer who has shown much improvement lately. R. Nelson, who won the junior 50yds in 32 2-5 sees, is another young swimmer with a good turn of speed. In the 50yds Presiaoni Handicap R. Ronayne (3secs), and Fred Roberts (lsec) dead heated in .31secs and 29secs respectively. The tOyds Electric Handicap was won by A. Scott (7se;s) in 33 2-6secs L. Bridge won his heat in 30 l-ssecs. The final for the 100 yds Club Handicap was a splendid race and resulted in a win for K. Ronayno, who had 7secs handicap. The Diving Competition was good and gave tho judges some difficulty in ecting tho winner. The result was K. Wiggins, 1; C. A. Macdonald, 2; C. Moore, 3. R. Nelson also dived well. B. C. Freyberg has been nominated for all tho Australasian championships which commence at Christchurch to-day. Freyberg has been laid up with influenza. He has only had the last few^days to train for the championships. I ' 'This is ipty unfortunate. A fortnight ago the young champion was in excellent, form and much was expected of |>im. The question of a representative ' from Auckland to compete in the championships at Christchurch was discussed recently by tho Auckland centre, but the delegates, while agreeing that it was a, good thing to be represented, were faced with tho financial difficulty, and as tho centre had no funds it was decided not to be represented officially in the scratch events this year. It was also reported to the delegates that the centre had not been communicated wrco on the matter from Christchurch, and much surprise was oxpressed at what was considered a si i gilt to the local centre, especially when it was authoritatively stated that individual swimmers had been written to. A number of Auckland swimmers will be competing in tho handicap events at Christchurch, including R. Bell and D. Neven. The Canterbury Times Swimming writer says: — In the matter of trophies there has been a tendency of late among local clubs to place too much importance on the value of the trophies they can give. One club has just been patting itself on the back on the strength of having given the biggest pfyizo that has ever lieen given in tho colony for a handicap swimming race. Tt is satisfactory to know that clubs are flourishing, but a competition amongst them in prize-giving shows the antithesis of that amateur spirit which they have been formed to foster. Swimming has been a model amateur sport, and I, for one, should bo very sorry to know that any element may be introduced into it likely to damage its purity. A. M'Millan, the Scottish champion swimmer who has been selected to represent New Zealand at ' the Australasian swimming championships, states that he will not takb part in tho 220 yds breast stroke, an event for which ho has been set down by the New Zealand Swimming Association. The Canterbury Centre has decided to institute a 50yds provincial championship for ladies.