Swimming.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 13, 16 January 1909, Page 14

Swimming.

(By "Header.") COMING" EVENTS. b —•— • January 22nd — Wairarapa Carnival, at Masterton. January 23rd — Swifts Club Carnival, at Te Aro Bathß. February 6th — V.M.C.A. Club Carnival, at To Aro Baths. February 11th and_l2th— N.Z. Championships, at Timaxu. February 20th— Wellington Club Carnival, »t Te Aro Baths. March 6th— Thorndon Club Carnival, at Thorndon Baths. March 20th— Wellington Centre Carnival. Tne entries from Wellington Swimmers for the Wairarapa- Carnival at Masterton on Anniversary Day were, up to time of writing 1 , very poor. It was not until Monday last that posters containing full particulars of the meeting: were received, and this fact, in conjunction with_ the unfavourable swimming weather during the preceding few weeks, is responsible for the poor response ma-de. Entries for the Swifts Club Carnival next Saturday are coining in slowly, but doubtless the final rush of entrants during the lost day or two will bring tho number up to past standards. Those who have not yet entered should note tha fact that tho sheets are to be removed on Monday evening next. "Header" learns that the commiltoe of tho club is doing its utmost to keep up the reputation of the club in the matter of providing «.n entertaining afternoon's sport for its supporters. Tho South Canterbury Centre has deoided upon the 11th and 12th February for the New Zealand Championship meeting at Timaru. These dttes fall upon a Thursday and Friday, which fact lends colour to the statement made recently that the Timaru body is being worked for the benefit of Christchurch swimmers. Otherwise, why is net t, Saturday fixed upon as one of the days, instead of leaving it for one of the Cnristchureh clube, which will thereby have the advantage of tho presence of the contestants from the championship meeting at its carnival on tho 13th Febtaary. Thero certainly is no other good reason apparent for the action ot the controlling body in foregoing such a good day as Saturday in favour of a Friday. In any case, the meeting seoms to bo rushed on unnecessarily, there being only four weeks' notieo given to intending competitors. The Australasian Championship meeting cora*iences at Sydney to-dijy, and will extend over a period till next Saturday. New Zealand will have nothing but a general interest in this meeting, owing to the decision of the N.Z.A.S.A. not to send repreientatives to it. It is poor encouragement for men like Champion, of Auckland, Freyberg and Healy, of Wellington, and sundry others, to endeavom to improve themselves -when, they are denied the only opportunity of the year to meet the best mun that Australia can produce. The Wellington Centre, at a meeting held last Monday, appointed Messrs. Adams, Mark, Moore, and Somerville as a sub-committee to arrange for the carrying out of its annual water polo' tournament. f Thorndon Club ig said to h» a. strong tip for lhi» year's championship, but if the Swifts can only regain the combination they displayed last season, they will take a, good deal of ousting from the top position. T.M.O.A. Club is understood to be contemplating placing a race fot- ladies on its programme for 6th February. This item is a good draw, if well supported i by the fair entrants, but it is understood that the difficulty in securing entries was the reason for dropping such an event from the programme of one of tho other clubs a. few seasons ago. Tho ladies' branch of the Swifts Club has not yet held any races this season, on account of there baing no facilities for racing in their bath in its present incomplete slate. B. C. Freyberg put in an appearance at the baths again this week, after a fortnight spent in holiday-making in tho Marlborough Sounds. He is looking in first-class fettle, and a good performance may bo expected from him in the 220 yards handicap at thu Swifts Carnival next week. In this distance he will meet E. Hoaly, the late New South Wales crack, now a member of the Thorndon Club. It will bo remembered that at the last carnival of the SwTfts Club Freyberg mado new figures— vie., 2niin 41see— for this distance, and it should bo interesting to see whether theso can bo lowered by either swimmer at the forthcoming meeting-.