Swimming. (By "Header.")

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 45, 22 February 1908, Page 14

Swimming. (By "Header.")

COMING EVENTS. Feb. 29— Wellington A.S.C. Carnival, Te Aro Baths. March 14 — Wollington Centre Championships, Thorndon Batho. March 19 and 23 — New Zealand Championships, Napier. Favoured by fortune as the Swifts Club was last Saturday, it was merely in keeping with its reputation that a more than usually interesting programme was carried out in excellent manner by all concerned. To those spectators who are not in, the habit of attending the baths_ regularly, it must have como as a surprise, after hearing the number of complaints against tho state of affairs at Te Aro, to find such a perfoct swimming area as the bath presented during the afternoon. With a. blazing sun beating into tho enclosure, a tide -which was at its height in tho middle of the afternoon, and water which was clear and undisturbed by tho merest ripple, nothing was lacking as far as the elements were concerned towards providing an enjoyable time for spectators. The competitors wore indeed to be envied tho privilege of being ablp tp enjoy tho pleasure of swimming whilst spectators and hard-working othcials were forced to remain out of the water until the last item was got off. The favourable conditions were reflected in the_ successful endeavours of several competitors to break their previous best times, one notable instance of this being tho club champion's (B. C. Freyborg) great performance in liis heat of th% 220 yds Inter-club Handicap. Freyborg held the Now Zealand record for this distance up tiJ] last Saturday, with 2mm 43sec as his best performance, but ho had no difficulty in winning his heat in two seconds better time than his provious best. Starting from scratch against ' six other competitors^ with tbo limit man on the 22 seconds mark, the champion went out from the plunge at a pace which looked to those who did not know hit, powers to bo too solid to be maintained for the distance. His turning was done beautifully, and being entirely unhampered by tho other competitors he assumed tho lead after having covered 150 yds,' with Fred Roberts and J. Lyrtch in close attendance. Up to the 'ast turn at 200 yds the pace nover slackened, «.nd for the last 20yd\ Freyberg summoned up a gioat burst of speed, which surprised oAen those who know him best winning from J. Lynch by a margin of about 10yds amidst gront applause, which was renewed when it was announced that his attempv on his own record had been successful. J. I Lynch swam a game race,, with a start of 12sec, and managed to shake, Roberta off in tho lnst 20yds. The distance appeared to be too far for Roberts, as at the finish ho was passed by R. lionayne (20sec), whom he had previously overhauled. The other heat wan even moro exciting, and resulted in two young swimmora (Li. R. Paterson and C. M. Ward), wlm were scratch in their heat, with 27 sec, swimming together until 200yda hod been covered, where, they had caught tho field with the exception of C. Morse, who still held a slight advantage. Ovor tho filial 20yds, Paterson, with a good sprint, managed, to beat. Wr.rd by a few inches, with Morse, who had the other men on his blind bide, a clots third.

The best finish of the lQOyds Inter club Handicap was thaC in tho third heat, in which Ashford, Lynch, and Bridge secur«d the places, with Kroyborg just beaten. Ashford is a sturdy little swimmer, who, on account of a weak ankle, has not been swimming nt his best during thjis teason. P. J. Kivoll, who won tho Maiden Raco and Lady's Bracelet, was let off rather lightly by the handicapper?, as was M'Leod in the 100 yds. Both men, howover, showed great impro\ oment on their previous performances, and deserved their wins. It was hard luck for young' Arthur that he had to be content witb second place to each of these men, as he is a plucky littlo swimmer, who must come to the front in the near future. The diving competition was only contested by the recignised top-notchers in tho arf, and was deservedly won by C. A. Macdonald, whose first dive off the sprmcr-board gave him a substantial lead. C. Mooro again filled second place, his high dive being eq^uai to the best that tt a V v ™ mr n seen ln th .° To Aro Baths, b. F. Bennett rather spoilt his reputation, which was gamed at. Masterfon on Anniversary Day, by not being placed, but it was evident that the boards were not to his liking. The event of the afternoon io thoso not particularly interested in swimming records was undoubtedly the comic dive (in fancy costume) contest. Most of tho costumes were screamingly funny, that of J. Townsend (representing a Chinaman) which gained first prize, being complete, down to tho smallest detail. G. P. Hanna, as one of Satan's imps, was also veil got-up, and set 'the spectators wondering what on earth such a prominent member of the V.M.C.A. Club was doing in such garb. The comic dive was somewhat of a misnomer, as the orthodox dive was entirely absent * but some of tho entries into theV.aler voro both clever and amusing, C. Moore, in particular, being good at this branch,. Tbo 30yds ClotWs Race was interesting, and proved to bo harder to the competitors than 'some of them expected. This oyent was w P n by E. S. Forne, the club o hon. secretary, 1 to whom, by tho way, a word of praise is due for the very complete arrangements made for tho carnival. A private letter received from Mr. \X. r of Blenheim, ex-captain of the Swifts, shows that that gentleman is still interesting himself in swimming mutters. An agitation for the construction of a tank bath has been raised lately, and' a committee, of which Mr Churchward and tho Hegglun Brothers are members, has been formed to canvas for a sum of £400, which i! is estimated the bath will cost. With Lhese men, in addition to a number of prominent business people, on tho iob, tho prospect of Blenheim nossesinjy a bath by next season seems very promising. Mr. Churchward is following up the Swifts Club's doings very keenly, and wired his congratulations to "Tiny" Freyberg on his recordbreaking swim of last Saturday. Entries for the Wellington Club's carnival closo pn Monday evening, and so far are coming in freely. The w^ater polo championship has been , Bottled by v the Swifts Club during the week by their decisive wins against Wellington on Monday by nine goals to nil, and against Thorndon on Tuesday by throe to nil. This leaves the Swifts in an unassailable position, thoir record boing three matchos played, all of which were won, and twenty-four goals for and none < against. Thero is no doubt that, despito the good form shown by the club's younger members, most credit for the position held by the team is duo to W. Wilmott and J. Lynch, who are pastmasters in the game. In the match against Thorndon on Tuesday, the absence of Lynch was greatly felt, as the placing of the team had to be altered, thereby spoiling the combination. Tho local centre ha<i been advised that its application for tho holding of the water polo championship of New Zealand has been granted. A sum of £5 5s has been voteM to cover tho cost of prizes to the winning team, and a condition has been made that teams from at loast two centres must compote. Tho tournament will take place at the centre's carnival on 14th March, and should give a big impetus to the game locally. Somo mischievous urchins (says the North Otago Times) possessed themselves of about .a score oi (rags and wrapping thorn in a sheet of paper threw them into tho swimming baths while tho ladies were disporting themselves. Of course, the pajper burst when it touched the water, nnd the frogs flew hither and thither, and for "safety tried tp climb on the backs of tho lady swimmers. The experience was ,an unusual one, and tho ladies, 'with one '?.cqord, mad© a dash 1 for tho' shore, divjing, in their consternation, into the nearjiost rqception-jrooms. ]y[ rs . Hunter, how[,ov'er, was* equal .to tho emergency, and, i ■•obtaining tho services of a number of I bo>3 off tho street— probably the same young rascals who threw the frogs in— they soon cleared the baths of tho reptiles, and transferred them to tho creek.