Swimming.

Evening Post, Volume LXXIX, Issue 83, 9 April 1910, Page 14

Swimming.

(By " Header.") WELLINGTON CLUB'S SEASON: A REVIEW. About tho ond of October last thero appoared in this column a report of a conversation with an officer of tho Wellington Club, in which it was stated that "the club was going to boom this season." It was added that tho sport generally should experience a splendid season. Now that the season has closed, it will bo scon that these prophecies have been more than realised. So far as tho Wellington Club is concerned it has closed the finest season in its records. Tho officials are to be congratulated, for they dcecrvo it. Recognising that the committees in the recent past had failed to cater for the various grades of swimmers, it set to work, devised new ideas, and drew up a programme which was welcomod by all swimmers. Tho result was that the club hat* had tho 'best entries and best racing for muny years, and has had a steady stream of now members all through the year. In the seasons ending 1908-9-10 the number of members securing trophies was 14, 19, and 41 respectively, figures which speak for thomsolves. This club is to bo heartily applauded for the steps it took rogarding the junior department. Although running this at a financial low, the club ia doing a fino work for swimming; in fact, is doing what should be a very important branch of al} club work. It is important thai swimming clubs should realise that their object is a higher ono than that of football, hockey, cricket, and liko clubs. This is not speaking disparagingly of these games — for tho bulk of swimmors tako part in one or other of them — but a good knowledge of this art, apart from it& well-known health-building propensities, is a preventive against the great loss of life (especially in New Zealand) from drowning -Bearing this in mind, the club is doing all in its power to encourago swimming among boys at an age when they learn most readily, and it is very encouraging to tho committee to see the enthusiasm displayed by tho juniors in their support to the movement If space permitted much more could be said about the season's work, and the forward movement of the club, but it is sufficient to say that the Wellington club has enjoyed a very fino season, and if its members will realise that still better work can be dono by working hand in hand, and placing tho good of tho sport first, then swimming in this citj has very j bright prospects indued. ' (A review of the work dono by the other clubs this year will appear next week.) Fancy diving al carnivals provos ono of the best moans of entertaining the spectators. This, few will deny. How is it, then, that fancy and trick diving aro no sadly neglected by local clubs? It can't bo that at present carnivals are quite lively enough, and do not need further enlivening; on tho contrary, they are, as previously stated in this column, apt to drag. In nearly all other contres fancy diving _ exhibitions find a place, or in many instances, places, on ft programme. At carnivals in Australia for instance, a« many as three such exhibitions aro given in ono afternoon. Nor can it bo that there aro not the right mon in Wellington to give exhibitions if called upon. They only want a leader. At tho carnival at Hastings, which . tho Thorndon. swimmers visited at Eaeter, Mr. Ribbands and his band of "demon" divers gavo an exhibition of fancy diving which completely surprised the Wellington men. But thero thero is tho leader who has shown the way, and been successful. The Thorndon Club's racing season has Jjeen brought to a close, tho last shots having been fired on Monday, when tho annual teams' relay race was decided. The result was a popular win foi Picot, Wigginsj and Donovan. The same club's consolation race last week resulted in a well-earned victory for Roy Nelson. Nelson has started in nearly all the Thorndon Club » events this season, but has not previously been ablo to swim into any higher position than second.

When the Bishop of Truro, Dr. Gott, wai dean of Worcester, his absent-minded-ness wsj» so notorious that ho earned for himself tho sobriquet of "Dean For-gott." On one occasion he n*d invited eomo friends to dine with him; on their arrival a short timo before- tho dinner hour ho suggested that in tho interval of waiting his friends would perhaps liko to walk through the grounds. After sponding about a quarter of an horn in admiring tho flowers, shrubs, and greenhouses, they suddenly eamo upon a door in tho garden wall. "Ah !" laid tho dean to hia astonished guosts, "this will bo a much nearer way for you to go homo than by going back to the front." And, all unconscious of his invitation, ho opened tho door and bowed them out.